i need your help on making a cf valve cover. i have searched and to no avail. I need to know method for proper and excuseable layup, lay up scheduel, and any special notes in fabbing it up. I have the mold with 4" flanges to do bagging. Is there any reason the other companies are putting inserts into the valve covers? if so what are they using, and why? I have extensive knowledge on fabbing composites and molding but have never tried this type of part. I have made intake plentumes with stainless steel flanges for bolting to the block and to the throttle bodies. In that i used the bladder method. Any help would be appreciated
i have never atempted a valve cover i would probably do one that fit over the original this would keep oil from it(i guesing this is what the inserts are for?) also heat would be another thing that would concern me i am using a poly resin that is supposed to be good to 225 deg. this would probably be good but questionable(how hot is it in valve cover location?) i would contact a sales rep to find the highest heat resistance resin
strength should not be an issue
problems would be able to give you proper lay up of infusion with carbon fiber but where is he? havent herd from him in days
dooggie could proabably help too
hey thanks for the info. Although i am steering away from a slip fit i think i have found the reasoning others do it. the plugs and bolt areas are lined with something assuming stainless steel bungs. they use them for strength around the bolting areas, and to be honest i have not found out why they use them around the plug opening. Do you think bagging would be an option?
bagging would make a nicer piece but what about hot oil on back side of it i am not sure how it will hold up i see now what you are saying around the bolt holes it would help prevent spider webs in the gell
I’m planning to work on something like this, but the school year is ending soon and after that…I hope to get to play! :lol:
ggrop,
i hope to here your out come…what do you teach? I ask b/c i teach also. I teach vehicle customization. That is why i am putting this up. One of my students approached me about it last semester and we got the intake plentum squared away now its time for the valve cover.
A 180 hr Fiberglass and Plastics ROP (free Calif. job training program) for students 16 years and older, including adults too…
If you are in the So. Calif. area, call (714) 663-6546 for signing up information, but this semester ends June 14th and starts back up in Sept., but if things as planned, next Sept. will be 2x classes: 1x 180 hr. class for Thermoformable plastics (acrylic fabbing to full size injection molding) and 1x 180 hr. class for Thermosetting & Elastomers plastics (fiberglass to composites, hand lay up to oven curing prepregs & latex to silicone casting molds)!
ggrop that is awsome. Congrats in advance
hey problems or cf crafting or anyone in the top members group please give me some info…i need to know
I have never made a valve cover but I would imagine they are not complete carbon due to the heat tolerance and strength that the spark plug threads would require.
I would agree with cfcrafting. They use machined pieces in them for that reason
It depends on the application altho…
What I’m thinking of doing is over laying stock steel valve covers with Carbon Fiber for the look but still have all the needed baffling, bungs and filler holes.
PS: I have seen an air cool VW valve cover which is all carbon fiber / alum textron (?) and it took 2 alum molds to make & looked thick and heavy.
i think your on right track ggrop or if i was going to run several of them i would do a mold for slip on i belive it would eliminate a lot of problems that might occure
thanks for the help guys but there still has to be a way of just the cf valve cover with the bungs people are doing them…
I just don’t understand how and i am sure once i find out i will feel like the size of a dime but hey i just don’t know how…