Custom RB20 / RB25 Coil cover. Opinions please.

[Fibre guy]

Just got Image hosting today so I'm throwing some pics up of a carbon fiber mold I'm working on. Let me know what you guys think.If enough of you give me enough good replies I'll talk to Greg (I think) over in the fabricators market to see if he's interested. Lots of advantages with this mold. Since I can make the carbon thin (but strong due to curve) it won't keep as much heat as the thick OEM plastic one.Also, I got rid of the bump with the flaking sticker.Side view of smoothed over coil cover. No bump with sticker, WOOO.Front viewBlue carbon/kevlar test patch with new supplier's material.I also have black, orange, red, and yellow.

[Cjmartz2k]

I really like the idea. That's pretty awesome being able to make your own carbon fiber peices. I'd always wondered though what the center 20/25 covers would like like if they were just a smooth arc across the top connecting the two valve covers, kind of making them look like 26 covers a bit. I like removing the center bulge for sure though. If you wind up making them, I'm sure you could sell them to people over here too. Stuff like that costs $200-$300 cause it's got greddy/tomie/hks/trust written on it.

[Darius]

I like where you are going with that idea Cjmartz2k. Maybe have the cover arc across the two valve covers with the same shape as the upper timing cover and take out the "valley" altogether. Also at the rear, I'd remove that 1-inch tab that hangs down to make it easier to run plug wires through there.

Great idea Fibre guy! Keep us updated on this. A quality piece for a fair price would sell you a ton of these.

[Fibre guy]

My first Idea was to make a coil cover that flowed up with the 25's cam covers but there wasn't enough room to pull off a smooth curve.I can keep trying if people like the 26 style and want it for the 25.Also 200-300 is a big rip.The amount of carbon (not the cheap stuff) for this is only about $50. Then I use about $10 worth of resin.To cure it all I use about $15 of vacuum bagging disposables (ie: bag, breather, release film, etc.)Each one takes an hour to set up and then after I apply vacuum it takes 24 hours to cure.After that I apply a little bit of UV safe clear coat 15$ so it doesn't yellow when you pop your hood to show it off. (I made a turbo elbow with this epoxy and it isn't yellowing 400*)The total supplies cost for me making one is roughly around $90.I can have maybe 4 or 5 going at once. So I would probably make the total w/ labor around 110-120. About 50-60 if you just want a cheap fiber glass one w/ gelcoat that you have to paint.

[Fibre guy]

Also at the rear, I'd remove that 1-inch tab that hangs down to make it easier to run plug wires through there.

Easy enough to do when I'm trimming it after the mold.

Also, if people have custom vinyl window stickers I can embed them on top of the carbon for a custom 1 off piece.

[l0nestar]

That would actually work out pretty well. I like the idea..

I kinda like the 'scoop' in the center. I thought it was a nice integrated tool-tray for holding drivers or screws, as opposed to setting them on the cowl!

[Thanielson]

I agree it would look sick if I looked like the 26 cover but it would still look very nice as the stock 25 I'd be intressted if you start makeingthem as well. Nice job!

[20DET]

do u guys not find that the coils over heat and miss with the cover on not to mention shorten the life of the coil packs?

[USMCgetsome]

if you put some vents in the overall design i call it a WIN!

[Fibre guy]

Actually I have another design coming up with vents using the plastic from the r33's intercooler wheel well vents in single file along the entire cover as a mold.It would cost a little more because I would have to hand finish each cover.

[Fibre guy]

Went out and took a pic real quick. One row of these all the way down the coil cover.

[Cjmartz2k]

nice!

[USMCgetsome]

dude where have you been? we needed this stuff years ago. stand by cause the requests will be coming!

[StricNyne]

i am alllll about this man can u link up images in imageshack.us i am on NIPR and i dont get some pics lol

[240daveTX]

you get a vented CF one for a 20 and ill buy one.

ill even send you my 20 cover for R&D if you need it.

[Fibre guy]

Ok, since I'm getting alot of good replies I'm going to talk to the fabricators market mods and start something up.Going out right now to lay the mold gelcoat. finished product pics soon.Also, it would be great if you guys told me the colors of carbon/kevlar you like so I can order the right amount. Thanks.

you get a vented CF one for a 20 and ill buy one.

ill even send you my 20 cover for R&D if you need it.

I'll take you up on that after I get the 25's vented one done. Maybe we can work like a 50% off thing since you'll donate to r & d.

i am alllll about this man can u link up images in imageshack.us i am on NIPR and i dont get some pics lol

Someone have an image shack account to link these pics for a day or 2?If not I can email them.

[StricNyne]

u dont need an account its the best or email is [email protected]

[Fibre guy]

u dont need an account its the best or email is [email protected]

You got mail, sent you the pics on this page.

[240daveTX]

sounds good. when your ready just send me a email and itll be on the way to you.

[Fibre guy]

Got the plug's mold done. This is the plug mold. The plug is the piece you use to make the mold. With this I make a reusable plug making many molds so I'm not just refrained to doing one at time, but as many as 10. (max with current vacuum setup)From the glare you can see how smooth it really is. Also, it didn't come out perfect due to my tooling gel coat expiring making me use thin neutral gel coat. I can fix it though.The white is clay I use to round off the edges for a mold.The lines you see at all the corners are from the borders to make the flange. Side note: For Darious's suggestion I removed the cover's rear tab. (better cooling too maybe)

Front.

Rear.


Modified by Fibre guy at 8:40 PM 8/8/2009

[MoogLe]

thats looking sweet,

i may be interested in a vented one later this year

[StricNyne]

fibre i appreciate u sending me the pics man !! i am definately down when your ready man just let me know if and when u need a deposit

[RustspecS13]

Ug what a bunch of ricers, putting a bunch of CF covers every where and gaying it up with stickers.

j/p! Actually it looks pretty good, I may or may not get one much later. If I convert to ls2 coils I'll probably grab one then.

Until then its all power parts! (stupid ricers! )

~Alex

[Fibre guy]

Still waiting for Greg to reply and setup a fab market deal.

Ug what a bunch of ricers, putting a bunch of CF covers every where and gaying it up with stickers.

j/p! Actually it looks pretty good, I may or may not get one much later. If I convert to ls2 coils I'll probably grab one then. Until then its all power parts! (stupid ricers! )

What do you do when you run out of power parts? You make it look shiny!

Still waiting for tooling gel coat to finish the final molds but the vented one will be done by the time it gets here.

[300Plus]

I'm def in for a cheap CF vented coil cover

[20DET]

if you fullas had brains ud pull the cover off and say THANKS BRO...cos for 1 its free (not like a cover).2 it wont over heat the coils and 3 the coils life will be much longer. and 4 it looks better than a crappy cover

[Fibre guy]

if you fullas had brains ud pull the cover off and say THANKS BRO...cos for 1 its free (not like a cover).2 it wont over heat the coils and 3 the coils life will be much longer. and 4 it looks better than a crappy cover

I'm open to all opinions, about the carbon fiber piece.Some people like coil covers some don't.

[Fibre guy]

Ok, Greg gave me a green light so I can finish these without a doubt. When they're finished I'll put a thread in the fabricators market. Until then I'll keep pictures posted of the coil cover build so you can all see how I do it.

The 3 that are going to be in production are:RB25DET normal coil cover (no sticker bulge)RB25DET Ventedand soon RB20DET vented

Seriously, I need some color opinions so I can order in bulk with my next order.Colors are: PURE BLACK, BLUE/BLACK, ORANGE/BLACK, YELLOW/BLACK, and RED/BLACK.

Final price hasn't been decided. Somewhere between $90-$120.The more orders I get the cheaper I can get the materials for.
Modified by Fibre guy at 1:39 AM 8/10/2009

[toadx8u]

well you can mark me down for a vented one...in red/black

[eh?]

Any chances of making a CF upper timing belt cover?