Well since I finally got the car running right (although I think/know I still have a few small boost leaks) I cleaned under the hood just a little today and snapped a few pics with the self polished intake and compressor housing and my homemade timing belt shield :P

Sorry there's not too many shots showing everything, I got a little happy with the macro mode on the camera.



In comparison, what it looked like the last time I took pictures of the engine...













Ok, not sure how this happened, but this next pic was taken right after the previous one with the car running and yet... it doesn't look like it.



Now for the pics of my shield. :D When I changed the HG the first time, I cut the timing belt cover like a lot of guys do. I worried though about something getting in or the alt/accessory belts breaking and getting caught in the timing belt. I worried about it even more after a bolt destroyed my timing belt. Then, after putting everything back together again and driving a bit I realized the belts were walking a bit, so I was REALLY nervous by now. It was my fault, I realized the crank pulley wasn't on all the way, last time I eyeball it :) Which brings me to today. I figured what the hell maybe I can make a little shield that would protect the timing belt from the other belts. So here it is (yes it looks like crap b/c I used tin snips to cut the metal instead of a saw)







It's bolted to the side motor mount and the strut tower, easily removable and completely blocks the timing belt from the alternator and accessory belts. It's ugly, but it's already saved me once. I was adjusting the nut on my sfmu to change the fuel pressure while the car was running and dropped the wrench. (it falling into the timing belt is what flashed before my eyes) but instead the wrench just glanced off the shield and there was no harm done. pheewwww.

edit: yes I know I have to do something about the turbo/manifold/and downpipe they are UGLY!

ohh nice setup man, it looks so ghetto lol

what kind of BOV is that?

Originally posted by Flipboi89
ohh nice setup man, it looks so ghetto lol what kind of BOV is that?

Turbo XS RFL

Not bad looking, you need some serious work on your manifold and compressor housing though !

Well, at least its running right!

Just keep the hood closed, lol. No one has to know.

Originally posted by eclipse982nrRST

Originally posted by Flipboi89 ohh nice setup man, it looks so ghetto lol what kind of BOV is that?

Turbo XS RFL Not bad looking, you need some serious work on your manifold and compressor housing though !

Come on, they're not THAT bad. They do look better in person, and I just don't have the patience to make them look any shinier. You've got to admit, it's still leaps and bounds over the old picture

Originally posted by djtrickee
Well, at least its running right! Just keep the hood closed, lol. No one has to know.

Man, I thought it was pretty good looking till you guys totally mad me feel like crap :( :P

haha well it mostly looks nice... Just get a cover for your manifold?? :D

LOL wow your bay is GHETTO. sorry I just can't roll like that, you need something to shield your shield from eyesight

Originally posted by ez
LOL wow your bay is GHETTO. sorry I just can't roll like that, you need something to shield your shield from eyesight

haha, but isn't that all part of being a DSM'er? Anyways that is just temporary, I will make one that looks decent when I have time, for right now it's all about protection, I mean do you really care what a condom looks like as long as it gets the job done? I don't.

Originally posted by cs82685

Originally posted by ez LOL wow your bay is GHETTO. sorry I just can't roll like that, you need something to shield your shield from eyesight

haha, but isn't that all part of being a DSM'er? Anyways that is just temporary, I will make one that looks decent when I have time, for right now it's all about protection, I mean do you really care what a condom looks like as long as it gets the job done? I don't.

hahahahahaha

Looks good. Atleast invest in heatwrap; kill two birds with one rock. You cool down the engine bay and cover the ugly DP and mani; heatwrap can be ugly but people recognise it for its utility.

Yeah I'm dumb...

Sorry there's not too many shots showing everything, I got a little happy with the macro mode on the camera.
In comparison, what it looked like the last time I took pictures of the engine...

Ok, not sure how this happened, but this next pic was taken right after the previous one with the car running and yet... it doesn't look like it.
Now for the pics of my shield. :D When I changed the HG the first time, I cut the timing belt cover like a lot of guys do. I worried though about something getting in or the alt/accessory belts breaking and getting caught in the timing belt. I worried about it even more after a bolt destroyed my timing belt. Then, after putting everything back together again and driving a bit I realized the belts were walking a bit, so I was REALLY nervous by now. It was my fault, I realized the crank pulley wasn't on all the way, last time I eyeball it :) Which brings me to today. I figured what the hell maybe I can make a little shield that would protect the timing belt from the other belts. So here it is (yes it looks like crap b/c I used tin snips to cut the metal instead of a saw, oh and the drill got outta hand and bent it)

Your rust scares me. :(

Ok, I don't post often on here but I tend to lurk, and look at posts for ideas, I've seen the car's themselves but not the engine bays, this is a first for me. I have to say the portions that detract from your bay have been gone over a little but to reiterate, sorry got to beat a dead horse :), I've listed, now aside from those portions your engine bay looks awesome. So here goes with the parts that makes me go meh, and possibly anyone else when you show it off to them.

1. Radiator hose - why don't you get the stock covering or go with steel braided lines. Either way would make it look fine.

2. The shield - dear god its ok if you look at it partially but when taking a look at the overall thing you could do better. it looks like you cut it too short or it doesn't have enough support to keep it straight. Yes you want to protect that area but what happens if something jumps into it or you get into an accident? you've just added worse to it. I'd say either add in some additional support to that or pull it out re-cut a new piece add a lip so its not a sharp edge and then reinstall.

3. HOLY RUST BATMAN!!! - you've got a ton of area's that are rusty there. Take either a wire brush or something to get rid of that. Your battery area is what bothered me the most, I know that on the exhaust manifold your gonna get rust or browning due to heat so that doesn't bother me to much. But it looks like corrosion city there. Clean that up and maybe replace the battery.

4. Radiator Overflow bottle - this is something very easy to clean up, soak it in hot water with soap for about 15 minutes, then scrub the crap out of it. After you do that wash it out throughly for several minutes. I did this with mine and on several previous cars with no issues what so ever.

Aside from those as I said its a pretty nice engine bay, you just have those things that really detract from your bay. Most of them would make good weekend projects to tackle and depending on the extent of the rust, dirt and grime shouldn't require removal of parts....for the most part :)

Originally posted by corivus
1. Radiator hose - why don't you get the stock covering or go with steel braided lines. Either way would make it look fine.

The stock hose is there, the orange sleeve is from the hahn turbo kit to protect it from heat. I had some issues prior to putting the sleeve on which is why I have that. Some steel braided lines throughout the engine bay would definetly help some of those old hoses though I can't argue that.

Originally posted by corivus
2. The shield - dear god its ok if you look at it partially but when taking a look at the overall thing you could do better. it looks like you cut it too short or it doesn't have enough support to keep it straight.

hehe, I definetly could have done better and do plan on redoing it, the addition of a lip is a nice idea. As for not enough support to keep it straight. It's strong, it just got loose on me when drilling the holes and it bent the thing. Pissed me off.

Originally posted by corivus
3. HOLY RUST BATMAN!!! - you've got a ton of area's that are rusty there. Take either a wire brush or something to get rid of that. Your battery area is what bothered me the most, I know that on the exhaust manifold your gonna get rust or browning due to heat so that doesn't bother me to much. But it looks like corrosion city there. Clean that up and maybe replace the battery.

I can't lie, I just didn't feel like pulling the battery and cleaning it up, I know it's awful looking though :) As for the rusty parts (not so much the exhaust manifold, turbo, downpipe), but there are a bunch of small rusted brackets and such that I am planning on pulling off and having powdercoated along with the finalized version of my little shield whenever I get around to it.

Originally posted by corivus
4. Radiator Overflow bottle - this is something very easy to clean up, soak it in hot water with soap for about 15 minutes, then scrub the crap out of it. After you do that wash it out throughly for several minutes. I did this with mine and on several previous cars with no issues what so ever. Aside from those as I said its a pretty nice engine bay, you just have those things that really detract from your bay. Most of them would make good weekend projects to tackle and depending on the extent of the rust, dirt and grime shouldn't require removal of parts....for the most part :)

Thanks for the tip on the overflow bottle, I've been trying to decide what to do with that.

It doesn't look THAT bad besides the manifold/turbo and battery area.

Originally posted by totaleclipse_05
It doesn't look THAT bad besides the manifold/turbo and battery area.

Looking back at the pic, I see a few more things that need cleaning in addition. The windshield washer reservoir and the brake fluid reservoir need a nice cleaning too. I would also like to hide some of the wires/vac lines if I can. Also debating removing PS/AC just to clean up the engine bay more. Just don't know if I want to live w/o PS. No AC is fine since it's not a DD.

Maybe saturday after I change the fluids in the Evo if I have time I'll clean it up a bit. At least clean the battery, sand some of the rust off and clean the white plastic up. Have to try and solve my lean a/f conditions under boost though first. It's got me pretty confused although I have a few good ideas of culprits.

Originally posted by cs82685
Well since I finally got the car running right (although I think/know I still have a few small boost leaks) I cleaned under the hood just a little today and snapped a few pics with the self polished intake and compressor housing and my homemade timing belt shield :P Sorry there's not too many shots showing everything, I got a little happy with the macro mode on the camera. In comparison, what it looked like the last time I took pictures of the engine... Ok, not sure how this happened, but this next pic was taken right after the previous one with the car running and yet... it doesn't look like it. Now for the pics of my shield. :D When I changed the HG the first time, I cut the timing belt cover like a lot of guys do. I worried though about something getting in or the alt/accessory belts breaking and getting caught in the timing belt. I worried about it even more after a bolt destroyed my timing belt. Then, after putting everything back together again and driving a bit I realized the belts were walking a bit, so I was REALLY nervous by now. It was my fault, I realized the crank pulley wasn't on all the way, last time I eyeball it :) Which brings me to today. I figured what the hell maybe I can make a little shield that would protect the timing belt from the other belts. So here it is (yes it looks like crap b/c I used tin snips to cut the metal instead of a saw) It's bolted to the side motor mount and the strut tower, easily removable and completely blocks the timing belt from the alternator and accessory belts. It's ugly, but it's already saved me once. I was adjusting the nut on my sfmu to change the fuel pressure while the car was running and dropped the wrench. (it falling into the timing belt is what flashed before my eyes) but instead the wrench just glanced off the shield and there was no harm done. pheewwww. edit: yes I know I have to do something about the turbo/manifold/and downpipe they are UGLY!

How did you remove your A/c I've heard having a car without an A/c saves Mileage. Is there a write up somewhere I've looked but found nadda.. I'm planning removing my a/c also pvery soon since I never use it. I only use my defrost only.

I see your hood placement more Thanks for location idea for my ViS hood.

Nice detailing job. Can you clean up engine

Originally posted by dalesmitsu
How did you remove your A/c I've heard having a car without an A/c saves Mileage. Is there a write up somewhere I've looked but found nadda.. I'm planning removing my a/c also pvery soon since I never use it. I only use my defrost only.

I didn't remove it. I just mentioned maybe removing it.

it still looks pretty over all man :) I am not one to talk though, after the guy who put my engine in was done, there are greasy hand prints all over the place, I'm gonna have to get under the hood and clean that bay out good :|

Originally posted by corivus
it still looks pretty over all man :) I am not one to talk though, after the guy who put my engine in was done, there are greasy hand prints all over the place, I'm gonna have to get under the hood and clean that bay out good :|

I actually took another look at it and decided to go with a different design for the shield, one that's not as noticeable. Still not sure what to do with the one part though :( I almost finished it today and will probably have pics tomorrow. Hopefully I will get to clean up a few other engine parts while I'm at it (probably just the battery)

Cool I'd like to see what you come up with