Carbon fiber engine cover
#4
If it's just OE engine cover, there are numerous dealership websites that'll give it to you cheaper than your local dealer. If you want carbon fiber, it'll have to be specially made or look in the Black Market to see if anyone is selling theirs.
#5
You will have to have someone add a decorative layer of carbon fiber onto your stock cover. This is how it's done. They sand and prep the surface, cover it with resin, lay on the fabric, then add more resin. Somewhere in there, the fabric is cut and pushed into the position. Depending on how it will be finished, it should be covered with something during the cure. Then it's typically sanded and polished afterwards. Sometimes it's sanded and gel-coated with special resin, and sometimes it's sanded and clear-coated with paint. It's a labor intensive process so it will cost a bundle to have done.
You can try doing it yourself, but expect to screw up more than a couple times while learning. The resins are expensive and the fabric is too. Finding them in low quantities can be done though. I've made a few carbon bits, but it's definitely more difficult than it looks. The only real success I had was by taping/stretching plastic-wrap super tight on the faces of two plates of glass (for super gloss finish). Next I poured some resin onto one of the plates and let it spread out on it's own. Then I laid the fabric onto the resin and let it soak in as long as possible (before my resin started to harden). Now I gently poured more resin onto the top of the fabric and tilted the plate to spread it around. Then I pressed the other piece of glass/plastic-wrap on top and taped them together tight around the edges. The next day when I separated everything, the carbon plate looked amazing. It was perfectly smooth with a high gloss finish on both sides, and had a perfect weave pattern. I used it to cut out a new pick plate for my Dad's guitar. It still looks perfect today, and this was probably 10 years ago.
The trick in using plastic-wrap is that it won't stick to the resin. One of the hardest parts about making stuff, is getting it to release from whatever your covering it with or molding it to. Plastic kitchen wrap worked perfect.
The other really difficult part is not getting bubbles into the resin. They don't come out and can/will ruin the look of a finished part. The only way I remember making it happen was by VERY gently stirring the activator into the resin. Then pouring it out without using a brush to spread it. A brush might work if done correctly, but I couldn't make it happen.
Good luck!
You can try doing it yourself, but expect to screw up more than a couple times while learning. The resins are expensive and the fabric is too. Finding them in low quantities can be done though. I've made a few carbon bits, but it's definitely more difficult than it looks. The only real success I had was by taping/stretching plastic-wrap super tight on the faces of two plates of glass (for super gloss finish). Next I poured some resin onto one of the plates and let it spread out on it's own. Then I laid the fabric onto the resin and let it soak in as long as possible (before my resin started to harden). Now I gently poured more resin onto the top of the fabric and tilted the plate to spread it around. Then I pressed the other piece of glass/plastic-wrap on top and taped them together tight around the edges. The next day when I separated everything, the carbon plate looked amazing. It was perfectly smooth with a high gloss finish on both sides, and had a perfect weave pattern. I used it to cut out a new pick plate for my Dad's guitar. It still looks perfect today, and this was probably 10 years ago.
The trick in using plastic-wrap is that it won't stick to the resin. One of the hardest parts about making stuff, is getting it to release from whatever your covering it with or molding it to. Plastic kitchen wrap worked perfect.
The other really difficult part is not getting bubbles into the resin. They don't come out and can/will ruin the look of a finished part. The only way I remember making it happen was by VERY gently stirring the activator into the resin. Then pouring it out without using a brush to spread it. A brush might work if done correctly, but I couldn't make it happen.
Good luck!
Last edited by 94eg!; 09-28-2011 at 12:57 PM.
The following users liked this post:
EvilVirus (12-11-2015)
Trending Topics
#9
A member goes by the name MichaelBenz used to make them but ceased production like 5 years ago. I had my but sold it right after my lease was up.
This was my Carbon Fiber Cover. I also did the whole engine bay in CF BUT those were CF overlay. I didn't have my fab guy make the mold.
This was my Carbon Fiber Cover. I also did the whole engine bay in CF BUT those were CF overlay. I didn't have my fab guy make the mold.
#10
#12
A member goes by the name MichaelBenz used to make them but ceased production like 5 years ago. I had my but sold it right after my lease was up.
This was my Carbon Fiber Cover. I also did the whole engine bay in CF BUT those were CF overlay. I didn't have my fab guy make the mold.
This was my Carbon Fiber Cover. I also did the whole engine bay in CF BUT those were CF overlay. I didn't have my fab guy make the mold.
Yep...that was me.
Sold that whole company years ago unfortunately. The molds went with it.
#13
I saw a CF Engine Cover on the Black Market forum not too long ago... GLuck!
https://acurazine.com/forums/car-par...3-pipe-939234/
https://acurazine.com/forums/car-par...3-pipe-939234/
#14
#15
I don't believe they are making that part any longer. The molds may have been destroyed as most of what they were after was other contract part business I had on the books that actually had volume to the sales. The custom Acura stuff we did was all low volume...which most bigger operations tend to stray away from. They like economies of scale! That's where they make their lunch money.
#16
I got my engine bay painted carbon fibre by my good buddy. Well just the plastic pieces not the whole bay lol. I had a lot of people tell me they wanted it. I would be willing to take stock covers shipped to me, have them painted and then shipped back.
#17
Looks like hydro dipped or water transfer printing or hydrographics more or less? (all same thing) Economical idea there honestly. None of these parts really NEED carbon fiber and being this technology has evolved since we made these CF covers back ten years ago I would recommend it. Not only could you do carbon fiber look...but you could do a multitude of other patterns that already exist, sticker bomb, camo, flame, if you can think of it...they likely have it somewhere.
Heck...you can even do this in your home if you are brave enough to give it a go. Doesn't really look that hard.
Here is a link to the kind of thing I am talking about....
Products Archive - Hydrographics FilmHydrographics Film
check out the many films they have to pick from. Search around...there are tons more suppliers with other kits and patters as well. Great idea!
The following users liked this post:
Murders23 (12-27-2015)
#19
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Yumcha
Automotive News
4
09-15-2015 06:44 PM
Yumcha
Automotive News
3
09-14-2015 10:48 AM
oyayjoe
Member Cars for Sale
1
09-12-2015 04:40 PM