See Through valve cover

Bochek · Post by **Bochek** » January 9th, 2006, 6:10 pm

Has anyone ever heard of such an idea?

Has it ever been done? because it would be so cool, have like a window in the valve cover made of like pyrex or some type of heat and scratch resistant glass.

If it hasen't been done, then im deffently gonna make it. I love the way the golden coloured rockers look in the heads of thoes engines.

Bochek

Post by **Custommx3** » January 9th, 2006, 6:56 pm

it would be pointless, once the oil gets on it, it could melt the lexan and or make it so dirty you wont be able to see through it.

jschrauwen · Post by **jschrauwen** » January 9th, 2006, 7:45 pm

If your really into see-through items, why not fabricate a lexan type of timing belt cover. Add anondized timing belt sprockets and then you'd have something unique and worth looking at .... I guess.

den · Post by **den** » January 9th, 2006, 8:10 pm

Are you guys familiar with transparent hood? I haven't seen one here but when I was in the philippines for a vacation I saw one istalled on a lancer and it looks really good.

freakyalien · Post by **freakyalien** » January 10th, 2006, 6:09 am

den wrote:Are you guys familiar with transparent hood? I haven't seen one here but when I was in the philippines for a vacation I saw one istalled on a lancer and it looks really good.

Theres a civic running around my small town with one...its done poorly, but i think its got a lot of potential

PATDIESEL · Post by **PATDIESEL** » January 10th, 2006, 9:22 am

Good luck. The way to make a see through "Lexan" cover for anything is to make a mold of the item with a very hard material (generally a hard wood) and then vacuum-heat form the Lexan to the mold. Very difficult to make a set-up that will work from home since you need a high grade of Lexan and thus a good heat source like an oven, then a strong vacuum source.
I looked into building one. I couldn't find a compressor vacuum adapter that would make enough vacuum to bend the heated Lexan of a decent thickness. You can't heat it with a heat gun or anything similar since you need an even heating of the Lexan so that it will bend evenly and not stretch any one point more than another.

IMO, way too hard for what it is worth.

If you want more information I found plenty online with a search on vacuum forming.

Bochek · Post by **Bochek** » January 10th, 2006, 1:02 pm

the problem with lexan is that it will melt, thats why i said pyrex.

but I love the timing belt cover idea
Gonna look into that one big time.

Bochek

Hoodzy · Post by **Hoodzy** » January 10th, 2006, 5:18 pm

Custommx3 wrote:it would be pointless, once the oil gets on it, it could melt the lexan and or make it so dirty you wont be able to see through it.

yah u'd have to change ur oil every 20min, plus it would just look all grungy oily, yellow and just overall nasty

tahts if it doesnt melt

Vanished · Post by **Vanished** » January 10th, 2006, 8:08 pm

hahah...sounded better in your head right?

thought so.

I saw some transparent rims once. Pretty cool indeed.
A transparent hood woudl only look nice on a decked out engine(painted very well) with a darkly colored car. I THINK.

Other transparent things that i woulnd't mind?

Air intake would be cool
Hood scoop?
I think thats about it..

oh yeah, head lights hahah...

onderground_mx3 · Post by **onderground_mx3** » January 10th, 2006, 10:01 pm

transparent rims???? link for pics...interested

Vanished · Post by **Vanished** » January 11th, 2006, 5:10 pm

saw it awhile back. It Looks ..odd. If they had like a 5 spoke rim (Edit: never mind it would probably break...the only reason why it can hold up is because its once piece..i think) made of that stuff it MIGHt look kinda cool, but i dunno. You'd have to have a big break kit to go with it tho.

heres another pic i found

Post by **Custommx3** » January 11th, 2006, 5:33 pm

Ive seen those before, and to be honest I bet its fake...

Gro Harlem · Post by **Gro Harlem** » January 11th, 2006, 8:47 pm

so incredibly stupid.....i bet if that guy tried to do a burnout they'd snap immediately

freakyalien · Post by **freakyalien** » January 13th, 2006, 6:23 pm

Gro Harlem wrote:so incredibly stupid.....i bet if that guy tried to do a burnout they'd snap immediately

Probably, but I think its cool to look at

fry_81 · Post by **fry_81** » January 13th, 2006, 7:19 pm

its definatly do able, they used to be really popular in the 70's for v8's dont know what they were made of though.