Useless stuff for your 911?

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

You see it, plainly, every single time you open the engine hatch, which is why my current engine shroud and my carb watershields are also nicely painted the car's body color (Ruf yellow). But there are lots of things people buy that are relatively expensive and very nice that nobody ever sees. What amuses me about this thread is the undercurrent of Righteous Anger, among some posters, that anybody would dare to do something so silly as buy a part that has absolutely no function other than to look attractive. The manufacturer of the c/f cover points out, right up front, if you go to the website, that this piece is of absolutely no practical value.

Weight-saving? It actually >added< weight to my car, since I had no fusebox cover at all before I installed this one.

Here's what would be really cool: Pay $169 for it, then brush-paint it with Rustoleum primer so that only you know it's c/f....

Stephan

[rzepko6194]

Originally posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson
You see it, plainly, every single time you open the engine hatch, which is why my current engine shroud and my carb watershields are also nicely painted the car's body color (Ruf yellow).

I guess I don't spend enough time in my engine compartment to appreciate it!

[Victor]

Most of the Porsche owners I have met in the last decade are complete wankers.

Good demographic to market this sort of scheisse to if you ask me.

Your personal experience may vary.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

See what I mean?

Stephan

[Craig 930 RS]

More righteous anger.
Lets give it a name:

RA

[Craig 930 RS]

The bottom line here is:

There is no right answer. A no objective proof kind of thing.
If you want it, buy it - & have fun with it

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by 911pcars
"My car was missing the original, and I bought another stock one for $10 from a used pcar place here in LA."

Early 911s don't use (or need) a cover.

Sherwood

Must depend on the year? My car came with one...

[911pcars]

I think they started putting them on in '73 or thereabouts. My '69 didn't have one.

Sherwood

[Ove]

I like the fuse cover, but not enough to pay $169,- for it. The price may be justified if the right technique is used. Personally I would rather make one from fiber glass to keep things period correct and to match the fan shroud I'm making.

Originally posted by Randy Webb
Ove - do you have any thoughts on whether it is a good idea to use CF bumpers on a street car? I've heard the fit might be better but that they don't holld up well from rocks, etc.

Randy,
I don't have any experience in fitting and/or using CF myself. I would think the fit varies a lot from manufacturer to manufacturer like fiberglass. Some people say it's more brittle than fiber glass, but I'm not so sure about that. When it shatters it's probably more difficult to repair though.

For a really durable bumper, I would use Kevlar. Kevlar is used to protect the sills and underbody of modern rally cars to protect them from flying rocks. Also used in bullet proof vests.

Since we're talking about how to make things like this, here's a preview of my (unfinished) fan shroud project:

Stock shroud. Painted, waxed and buffed 3 times, then 2 coats of wax (non-silicone)


Several coats of grey spray paint on top of the wax, then fiber glass and polyester


After several coats of fiber glass and polyester has dried, the mold (green) is released from the original part (red). The wax is the release agent


Here's the mold. As you can see it needs some work to fix a few cracks. I will do that, apply some body filler and sand it down for a smooth finish. Then paint it and use the method described above to make a nice new fan shroud.

[erobinson]

now that is some cool DIYing!

[Ove]

Thanks

Here's the look I want for the fan shroud I'm making:



I am using clear paint to let the natural (yellow) color of the epoxy show through. Like on the factory race cars from the 60s and 70s.

Making a fuse cover would be a good start for someone who has never worked with fiber glass before.

[erobinson]

that looks pretty sweet, I am currently sanding my green S shroud and plan on painting it car color. I like the way the setup looks though, and I wish I wasnt running CIS to let the natural shroud beauty stand out

I also like the thought of building a second, new shroud to remedy 30 years of bangs and nicks and broken ears on the shroud.

[Dantilla]

Mr. Wilkinson, thanks for your input. Just so you know, my car has no white guage faces (I think they're less functional than black), and no expensive floor mats. Or any mats at all. Actually, my feet sit on sheet metal when I drive the 911, as it has no carpet at all. Someday I'll put the carpet back in (and put the door panels back on, too), but the decisions for my car are simply to make it a better autocrosser. While I'm pleased when my car gets oogled, that's not what it's for. It's just my opinion that the carbon fiber "look" has outlived it's "coolness". I'm not going to criticize someone else's opinion, but hey- this is a poll!

[jorian]

!@#$ing $169 superfluous part........ I think I need some Righteous Anger Management. Think I'll go to Starbucks, have $7 cup of coffee and try and calm down.

[erobinson]

$7 bucks??? here they are only 6.95 I think you are getting ripped off

[jorian]

Sign me up for the CF fan shroud though....

[erobinson]

maybe it comes with a free bag of coffee?

[Craig 930 RS]

FWIW, here is the CF fuse box cover. Oh & I paid a hell of a lot less than $169

Bling or no bling, he did a damn good job:







Plus I plan to "back it up" with CF fenders, hood and bumpers.

[Hetmann]

Here's what would be really cool: Pay $169 for it, then brush-paint it with Rustoleum primer so that only you know it's c/f....

That would be really cool?

[randywebb]

OK, Craig -- how much DID you pay?