Timing Cover - Better Options

[76124]

I thought years ago I saw someone producing a polished aluminum timing belt cover that looked really sharp. I could not find it here or any pics on google, but would love to see some options there. Running without, as many do I know, makes me nervous, but the yellow guys for the 2.0 motors are far from attractive.

Thanks

[76124]

Now I remember....http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2904

[carl]

It's all a matter of personal taste but I have no idea why you think that polished aluminum cover looks better than the classic yellow cover.

carl....with no belt covers..........

[4uall]

HOORAY! FOR YELLOW

[4uall]

It's all a matter of personal taste but I have no idea why you think that polished aluminum cover looks better than the classic yellow cover.

carl....with no belt covers..........

Carl, I think you answered your own question

[76124]

Okay, maybe it's not the yellow that is so bad, in the right setting. Basically a big yellow plastic thing in a engine bay doesn't look right to me. Then again the best look is no cover at all and see those nice billet cam wheels etc, Wonder how many motors have died from a lack of cover......

[garion]

I've wanted to try my hand at some metal casting.... One idea is to cast my own versions of the cover, but split in half, so you don't have to drain the coolant to remove it... Once I finally finish my brakelines and all the other small projects to get mine back on the road, maybe I'll try it....

[Ptoneill]

I could not get the yellow plastic to clean up all the way so I went with gloss black which will go with the red and black powder coating in the engine bay,

[v6spider]

The early covers were cast aluminum I think..

Rob

[twincamspit]

I sprayed mine with 'chrome paint'. It doesn't look chrome, but does look a bit like aluminium. Sort of.

Agree that it's annoying (understatement) to have to remove the coolant hose to remove / refit the cambelt cover, especially with adjustable camwheels.

I've recently been discussing the idea of a 'split' alloy cambelt cover with Revival Motorsport Fabrications in York after they made a top-quality bespoke aluminium radiator for my car, and if there's enough interest from other 124/125/131/132 owners then a design and small run for a split-style cambelt cover in beautiful aluminium/alloy is a possibility - anyone interested?

I realise that there's a slight difference in height between the 1.6 and taller 1.8/2L engines, but I guess they could cater for that.

If anyone's interested then comment here, or PM me please. Would be a nice finishing touch to the engine bay, and practical too.

[tartan18]

I would be interested for my 1.8 engine.

[KevAndAndi]

I sprayed mine with 'chrome paint'. It doesn't look chrome, but does look a bit like aluminium. Sort of.

Agree that it's annoying (understatement) to have to remove the coolant hose to remove / refit the cambelt cover, especially with adjustable camwheels.

I've recently been discussing the idea of a 'split' alloy cambelt cover with Revival Motorsport Fabrications in York after they made a top-quality bespoke aluminium radiator for my car, and if there's enough interest from other 124/125/131/132 owners then a design and small run for a split-style cambelt cover in beautiful aluminium/alloy is a possibility - anyone interested?

I realise that there's a slight difference in height between the 1.6 and taller 1.8/2L engines, but I guess they could cater for that.

If anyone's interested then comment here, or PM me please. Would be a nice finishing touch to the engine bay, and practical too.

Richard, I'm also interested (depending on price), as I indicated on Facebook.

If the run doesn't get off the ground, though, I may cut my existing cover in half. I saw a thread here from some time ago about cutting the cover. What is the latest thinking on the best place to make the cut? Anyone?

But as a newbie, let me back up a bit: A split cover obviously does away with the need to remove the coolant hose, but could you remove the cover and access the timing belt without removing the radiator?

[twincamspit]

I would be interested for my 1.8 engine.

Thanks Tartan18, another one interested (all subject to price I appreciate, hoping to hear back from them tomorrow now that there's been some interest)

[twincamspit]

KevAndAndi, the one I saw on a 131 had a removable piece best described as "7 o'clock thru 8 o'clock" if you look at the cambelt cover from the radiator side, allowing the cover to be slotted into place, and then the removable piece became the fiddly bit to refit (personally I might just leave that part off if it's strong enough).

But it meant that there were still 3 upper securing points and one lower, which stops it flapping about, and it meant that (although tight) it was possible to slide the cover into place from above, in a South-West direction.

[KevAndAndi]

KevAndAndi, the one I saw on a 131 had a removable piece best described as "7 o'clock thru 8 o'clock" if you look at the cambelt cover from the radiator side, allowing the cover to be slotted into place, and then the removable piece became the fiddly bit to refit (personally I might just leave that part off if it's strong enough).

But it meant that there were still 3 upper securing points and one lower, which stops it flapping about, and it meant that (although tight) it was possible to slide the cover into place from above, in a South-West direction.

Having trouble visualizing it. I guess I need to go home and look at it to imagine the possible options.

This is the post I referred to earlier:

http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php ... r&start=15

Digitech's approach seems straighforward, with two upper securing points and two lower.