engine cover repair

[fishhawk16]

I have a dent, about 2"x1" and about 1/2" deep in my engine cover (ski plyon hit it). <br /><br />Any sugestions on the best way to repair this. I can get the OMC paint to match or at least come close. <br /><br />I have done body work on cars in the past using fibre glass and body filler. Any recommendations?<br /><br />Thanks for the advise.

 

[JB]

Re: engine cover repair

What engine, hawk?

 

[petrolhead]

Re: engine cover repair

I'd bash it out from the inside as much as possible, then use a skim of body filler to finish the job and respray it.<br />The less filler you use, the less likely it will be to fall out later.

 

[quantumleap]

Re: engine cover repair

Grind and reinforce with fiberglass from the inside.

 

[fishhawk16]

Re: engine cover repair

Jb its a 1996 90Hp Evinrude

 

[fishhawk16]

Re: engine cover repair

The dent isn’t all the way through so I was thinking of reinforcing it from the inside with fibreglass and then using some body filler on the outside. Not having done this on a fibreglass surface before I didn’t quite know if I should grind out the area on the outside or just clean out the lose pieces by hand then fill over top with body filler. <br /><br />I’ve done this on metal (cars) using a grinder and filling it with body filler then using glazing putty to fill in the smaller cracks.<br /><br />What do you think?<br /><br />Hopefully the OMC paint will match.

 

[KCLOST]

Re: engine cover repair

You need a good clean surface on the inside to do the fiberglass repair.... At least sand off the gel-coat coating until you get to fibers.. <br />In my opinion, since this is a none structural area, you don't need to do a bunch of heavy fiber glass work...Flatten out the area inside as much as possible and try this.... <br /><br />I used a simple kit from home depot to do a repair on the outside of one of my livewells, and it worked great... It's a two part resin/hardner mix with a good amount of woven fiber included. This will work great for your problem.. <br />After that is cured, go ahead and do the body work on the outside, but that's out of my league.<br /><br />I would imagine its gonna have to be a matter of totally stripping the existing paint around the damage area to ensure the filler holds...<br />Good luck and let us know...

 

[mischief]

Re: engine cover repair

Hey Fishhawk!<br />Did you ever do a water test after you raised your motor. I never saw a response/result posted from the other thread.

 

[fishhawk16]

Re: engine cover repair

Hello Mischief,<br /><br />Yes I will post my findings in original post.<br /><br />Thanks for reminding me.

 

[unixgeek13]

Re: engine cover repair

maybe I'm missing something... if the dent doesn't go all the way through, why is reinforcement from inside needed?<br /><br />I had similar with the cover on an Evinrude 70, and used a product called Tiger Hair fibreglass repair (available at most auto parts stores) for the cosmetics... then, since I had the opportunity, I had some fun with non-stock paint designs and vinyls. Came out fairly funky. I only wish I had kept pics...<br /><br />good luck.<br /><br />...Steve...

 

[fishhawk16]

Re: engine cover repair

Unixgeek13<br /><br />The dent doesn’t go all the way through, however the area has suffered enough damage that it is weak and will likely need reinforcement from behind. <br /><br /> I’m curious were you able to shape the fibreglass to match the form of the original cover? <br /><br />I haven’t started the repairs and will likely wait until the end of August. <br /><br />Thanks

 

[unixgeek13]

Re: engine cover repair

Tiger Hair is like a thick paste with fibre in it. You can shape it and then sand it to the exact shape. I managed to transition a hoodscoop to a hood on a Camaro with this stuff and you'd never know it wasn't one piece all along. <br /><br />Best of luck on the repair...

 

[LubeDude]

Re: engine cover repair

Ok, all the info given so far is ok, (IF), and I mean If, the cover is indeed fiberglass. Many new things are now made of a product called SMC. Sheet Moulded Compound. The newer corvettes are made of this, and it looks like any fiberglass you ever saw. If that is what it is, you cannot fiberglass it with any real quality results. I do not know of a test to tell if it is in fact SMC. However, SMC repair material will work with Fiberglass, so I would use a product made for SMC repair. Check your local autobody supply house.

 

[fishhawk16]

Re: engine cover repair

LubeDude,<br /><br />I think you are correct, the stuff sure looks like fibre glass at first glance, but not to sure it is. <br /><br />The damaged area started to disintegrated into a fine white powder leaving some larger chunks and strands of material that appeared to be fiberglass. The strands of material and the chunks are holding but much weakened. <br /><br />I will try and find the SMC repair material.<br /><br />Thanks for you help, keep it coming!

 

[swist]

Re: engine cover repair

I know one thing you don't want to do... buy a replacement. My 225 Yam cover is 11 years old and could use some worked. Priced a new one $985....

 

[KCLOST]

Re: engine cover repair

swist, I know what you mean...<br /><br />But I just sold a nearly brand new "beautiful" Mercury Optimax 200hp top cowling on ebay for $80... Found it at a garage sale, of all places... Made $30 on the deal...<br /><br />They can be found used, sometimes in great condition and much cheaper...

 

[swist]

Re: engine cover repair

Actually there are some 225 Yam covers on eBay now but they say "Vx" so I think they are for 76 degree engines. Mine is a plain old 90 degree (very wide cowling) and these look decidedly narrower.<br /><br />Why can't they agree on the cylinder bank angle!