Carpokes Porsche Forum

Hello friends,

I got a odd post for all of you. A little while back when changing my water pump, I notice my timing cover was broken is a few places, it also seems a replacement will cost a pretty penny for an early cover for a 83 NA.

So I got a bright idea of 3d printing one out of carbon fiber nylon.

Before I start drawing up some models, has anyone attempted to mold new covers from fiberglass/carbon fiber or model them.

Haven’t see anyone attempting this, but this could be a possibility, the OEM covers are injected polypropylene.

In the process of modeling them, I don't have a complete rear now to model, If anyone who does have a early 8v rear cover is willing to help, you can get a 3d scan using your phone and simply taking a lot of photos.

The app I found is called KIRI engine. If anyone can lend a hand in this project let me know, as of right now I need a 3d scan of the rear 8Valve cover.

Sincerely, Sunny

I do not have a model, sorry. I do recall someone once making clear covers (so you can see the belts with the motor running), but that was at least a decade ago, probably two. I 'think' those were molded from the originals. To actually print those covers, you'd need a large format printer, since most of the typical FDM printers would not be big enough. Or you could have it printed professionally, and in a high-heat-resistant material, but that would probably cost more than new parts from Porsche. I'm all in favor of your project though and will help if I can, and love the fact that you found Carpokes as the right place to talk about 3D printed Porsche parts! I'll look to see if I have a rear cover in my stash. When the new turbo pumps came out, they modified that rear cover -- so it might make for a more universal model to follow the updated part vs the original '83. The update fits all cars, whereas the early covers won't fit later cars without modification....

I plan on using a base Ender 3 with a lot of mods for this,(Im gonna attempt some Carbon fiber-nylon) also the though was to print sections that tap together and with heated thread inserts and bolts would allow a cover to be made in multiple pieces.

Also yea the cutout is something im gonna incorporate, This 3d model would also allow one to print a inverse mold and cast with resin and carbon fiber. Also your timing pump repair video was awesome, I myself to to do the same repair.

Wonder if heat-set threads would be too thick/bulky? Maybe plastic rivet plugs would be an idea for holding pieces together without the hassle of modeling snap fits.

Not sure what video you mean by timing pump repair??

Yea rivnuts are good idea, and the one drilling out a stripped bolt in the block, using a jig to drill it out

ItsSunnyD wrote: Wed Mar 22, 2023 12:25 pm Yea rivnuts are good idea, and the one drilling out a stripped bolt in the block, using a jig to drill it out

Ah cool, did you use my .STL to fix a broken water pump stud?

I plan on soon, just need to make a flywheel lock