Naked engine / timing belt cover

[zachmac]

The naked word got your attention, admit it!

Does the timing belt cover serve any purpose other than safety? If I am willing to risk life and limb, is there any reason to install it after a belt change? i prefer the look of mechanical whirring parts and it sure makes it easier to see and seal leaks , checnk timing, or monitor belt condition without it. (I understand that if you have a lot of leaks it serves to catch the oil / dirt and keep it from being flung about, let's assume no leaks).

[racydave]

You will get different opinions. I run with mine on... The eastwood question, do you feel lucky???

[kmead]

The argument for keeping the timing cover is the possibility of stones or other foreign objects getting on the belt or on one of the wheels and changing the timing. Since the majority of Fiat engines are interference, a minor change in the timing can be a real problem (expensive).

The likelihood of stones or other objects can be exacerbated by the fact that most owners have removed, lost, discarded the front tray under the front part of the engine that keeps junk out of the engine bay.

I personally would always run with one. You can do what you like.

[htchevyii]

If you remove it, you'll have to come up with another timing pointer, or reinstall the cover to check the timing.

[deftone]

If you remove it, you'll have to come up with another timing pointer, or reinstall the cover to check the timing.

Good point! I never thought of that....I would prefer the "coverless" look as well, but I just wouldnt be willing to take the change of something getting in there. Even if you didnt get any stones or anything in there, you would get a ton of dust and dirt in the chain.

[zachmac]

If you remove it, you'll have to come up with another timing pointer, or reinstall the cover to check the timing.

Good point! I never thought of that....I would prefer the "coverless" look as well, but I just wouldnt be willing to take the change of something getting in there. Even if you didnt get any stones or anything in there, you would get a ton of dust and dirt in the chain.

First off, on the 1980n FI car at least, the timing marks are on pointers that are NOT part of the outer cover so running without it doesn't change anything timing wise.

However, I think the consequence of a stone or pebble between the belt and a resulting slip is compelling. I certainly prefer the pain of having to remove the water hose T to remove the cover versus the need to rebuild an engine or head. Guess i'll be getting the platic paint out (can't stand the yellow).

[racydave]

The yellow covers are butt ugly! I wish someone would cast a cool alum cover ( hint ). I have painted my cover twice, and it has not stayed on well. I would clean it up, and run it thru the dishwasher when the boss is out. Etching primer is a good start.

[htchevyii]

Maybe the new Krylon Plastic Fusion paint? Also later 2000 timing covers are silver/aluminum colored plastic.

[So Cal Mark]

are you guys plowing fields with your cars? I have several customers' running without covers and since they don't do any serious off-roading, have never had any sign of debris in the belt or pulleys. I believe it's more of a safety issue, having the cover in place is certainly safer when working on a running car.

[azygoustoyou]

Dave,
did you prep the cover correctly before painting it?

[Curly]

My advice is to keep the cover on. I was very lucky to catch this damage to the timing belt on the AC Coupe before it snapped, but it looks like a stone found its way under the cover on my coupe and took a chunk out of the belt.



I don't plough paddocks with it, but we have been known to venture off the black stuff occasionally .

[zachmac]

[quote="Curly"]My advice is to keep the cover on. I was very lucky to catch this damage to the timing belt on the AC Coupe before it snapped, but it looks like a stone found its way under the cover on my coupe and took a chunk out of the belt.



This would seem to argue AGAINST the cover. The cover didn't keep it from happening but did hide it. Without a cover anyone could have seen it easily!

[Curly]

or ...... if that can happen with the cover ON - how much worse would it be without the cover

[kmead]

The roads around LoCal SoCal certainly don't have much in the way of stones and such (unless you venture out onto the far reaches of Mulholland Dr), but many of the rest of us have dirt roads in our day to day environs or areas where they are doing a cheap resurfacing by putting down a layer of liquid asphalt and then spreading a layer of stone chips and then letting the traffic push it into the surface of the road.

Clearly your experiences may vary depending on where you live.

[ventura ace]

My spider hasn't had the cover on for the last 20K miles, and it's been on some pretty rought roads all accross the US (literally). I like the look without the cover, the easy access to the adjustable cam pulleys, and for being able to check for leaks of any sort on the front of the engine.



I do, however, use the stock splash pan beneath the engine, which apparently has done a good job of keeping anything damaging out of the belts. I know where the Zero degree timing mark is, and I've marked the crank pulley with paint marks every 2 degrees (and major marks at every 10 degrees) up to about 40 degrees, for checking the timing advance.

Just my preference.

Alvon