Naked engine / timing belt cover

[zachmac]

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.


Alvon

If I ever get my engine bay and engine looking this good I'll run without a hood!! Nice!

[katsi]

Does anyone know how to make a clear cover? You could mark your timing points on it with some paint. I really hate not being able to check out the timing belt. If that chunk came out of one of our regular cars - That being the non racing and constantly tweaked. That could have gone un-noticed for a long time under that yellow thing. Especially if you just had it changed. Just a thought.

By the way, to combat the big yellow cover, I have decided to fringe all my engine parts in yellow and black just to match up. or

[digitech]

Jeff,
I, too, fretted about whether to run the cover or not. After reading the various comments, I decided to play it safe and keep the cover. I did, however, slice the cover horizontally so I could remove it without having to remove the water T first. That works great!

I then painted it with the Krylon Fusion paint (Yellow, what can I say) and it has held up very nicely. I followed the directions on the can and prepped the cover with acetone.

[zachmac]

Jeff,
I, too, fretted about whether to run the cover or not. After reading the various comments, I decided to play it safe and keep the cover. I did, however, slice the cover horizontally so I could remove it without having to remove the water T first. That works great!.

The splitting part makes perfect sense to me and i had been thinking of doing that. Where did you split it and did you rig any way to reattach the two parts when installed (I was thinking a few sheetmetal screws through a couple of simple metal links just to hold it securely)?

[digitech]

Here's where I sliced it, Jeff. This way, I have been able to use the stock mounting without issue.

[ga.spyder]

Splitting the cover is a great idea,and I will do that to mine soon.I never thought of doing that.Excellent tip ,thanks for sharing.I prepped(cleaned) mine and sprayed it with the black Fusion 2 years ago.Still looks great.The 77 project car I recently bought has a metal cover that I need to do something with.
Craig

[MNspiderman]

Lets look at it from a different angle. How many people personally know anyone that had damage to the timing belt as a direct result of not having a cover installed. Not me. Now on the other hand, if you have the cover on. A pebble can tumble around in there like when a vacuum cleaner catches a pebble. It keeps on tumbling until its discharged somehow. I personally took the ugly covers off of all 4 of my brakes because it looks better too. I don't know what the odds are that a piece of rock is going to be right between the rotor and caliper when i start braking either. Just something you live with. I don't really even think about it anyway.

[zachmac]

Here's where I sliced it, Jeff. This way, I have been able to use the stock mounting without issue.

Digitech,

I duplicated this yesterday during reassembly and I cannot believe the factory didn't make it this way! It still bolts up secure and fitsfine and you don't even need any additional supports or brackets. Now I can easily remove just the top to check timing any time with two nuts! Greta post.

Thanks!

[ventura ace]

What did you use to cut it so nice and straight?

[Foster48x]

That's a great idea!
Did you cut it with a table saw?

[digitech]

I used a bandsaw (because it was available) and rigged up a fence - don't see why you couldn't use a table saw with a fine toothed blade. That's why we're here - to share ideas; lord knows, I've gotten plenty of 'em off this site!

[zachmac]

What did you use to cut it so nice and straight?

I used a band saw. The ridges that exist make it very easy to free hand a straight cut. I cut just above the third ridge using the ridge as a guide.

[katsi]

OK, I have a great reason to KEEP the timing belt cover ON! This weekend I was changing the water pump, radiator and altinator and I found something very interesting. The timing belt tensioner bolt had come off and the only thing keeping it from going BOING was the cover.