Just thought I would share...
I recently modified my engine cover like many of you have already done... but I made a few changes and have some tips for those of you who have not yet accomplished this.
First Tips:
1. Wear a mask when cutting the hole, unless I missed it elswhere, the cover is made of some kind of glass, and breathing that stuff is bad for your lungs.
2. I used a rotozip to cut out the hole, it makes fast easy cuts and smooth curves are much easier and cleaner than a bayonette (sp?) saw.
3. Take off the hardware before you work on the cover, it will get scratched otherwise. Ask me how I know.
4. I used a compass-like tool to scribe a line on the inside of the cover which followed the outside shape of the cover. It basically had two sharp steel points instead of one sharp point and one writing instrament like a compass has. This saved much time, and gave even results.
Now Changes:
Instead of just cutting out the hole and plopping in the mesh, why not scrape off the fuzzy crap? I did mine that way and I think it looks much better.
To shave it off, I used a flat razor and scraped away. Be carful not to gouge your cover as that will show up when you paint it. Since you don't have the fuzz to cover up your mistakes, you have to be extra carful with the shape and symetry of your hole. I used wood files and sand paper to get the hole even and the edges rounded.
I then wet-sanded the whole thing with 300 grit wet/dry paper. Once complete (it was very smooth at that point) I finished up with 600. I them applied the mesh and bent it to follow the shape of the two creases in the cover. I then primed the cover in gray, then applied 3 coats of satin black.
Looks super, cost me a whopping $25 (not including the durrable tools) for the paper, 5 minute epoxy, 3 cans of paint (1 primer, 2 high temp satin black).
Just a winter project for those of you who are bored,.... I was!
Cheers,
Jeff
I recently modified my engine cover like many of you have already done... but I made a few changes and have some tips for those of you who have not yet accomplished this.
First Tips:
1. Wear a mask when cutting the hole, unless I missed it elswhere, the cover is made of some kind of glass, and breathing that stuff is bad for your lungs.
2. I used a rotozip to cut out the hole, it makes fast easy cuts and smooth curves are much easier and cleaner than a bayonette (sp?) saw.
3. Take off the hardware before you work on the cover, it will get scratched otherwise. Ask me how I know.
4. I used a compass-like tool to scribe a line on the inside of the cover which followed the outside shape of the cover. It basically had two sharp steel points instead of one sharp point and one writing instrament like a compass has. This saved much time, and gave even results.
Now Changes:
Instead of just cutting out the hole and plopping in the mesh, why not scrape off the fuzzy crap? I did mine that way and I think it looks much better.
To shave it off, I used a flat razor and scraped away. Be carful not to gouge your cover as that will show up when you paint it. Since you don't have the fuzz to cover up your mistakes, you have to be extra carful with the shape and symetry of your hole. I used wood files and sand paper to get the hole even and the edges rounded.
I then wet-sanded the whole thing with 300 grit wet/dry paper. Once complete (it was very smooth at that point) I finished up with 600. I them applied the mesh and bent it to follow the shape of the two creases in the cover. I then primed the cover in gray, then applied 3 coats of satin black.
Looks super, cost me a whopping $25 (not including the durrable tools) for the paper, 5 minute epoxy, 3 cans of paint (1 primer, 2 high temp satin black).
Just a winter project for those of you who are bored,.... I was!
Cheers,
Jeff
