my battery cover

1. lilbenchy9192 Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Swindon Posts: 943 Renault clio dynamique tomtom 1.2

   #1 9th June 2011, 21:53

   alright, been trying to tidy me engine bay up for a while and after the french car show i decided that battery covers are a great place to start. make so much diffrence to the bay. unfortunatly im a student so funds are pretty low. had a scout through the garage and found a small piece of perspex so i decided to use that.
   
   first thing i did was to mark up the size. i only wanna cover the top and front so it only needs to be small.
   
   
   
   then using a propane soldering tourch, i heated the perspex till it was flexible and then bent it over a sharp edge.
   
   
   
   then the usual finishing, good rub down, spray a few coats of primer, ive had to use a filler primer cus the perspex i had
   
   was an old off cut so was covered in scratches and marks.
   
   
   
   sand again before spraying it blue. and then a few coats of clear laqure once its all dry.
   
   wat do ya think?
   
   gonna stick it on the battery with some velcro so i can remove it wen i want
   will get a final pic up once its totaly hardened and its on

   1 user thanked this post: sgeary
2. jacko616 Infrequent Poster Joined: Nov 2010 Midhurst Posts: 119 Mk2 Icelandic Vtr '86 Mini

   #2 9th June 2011, 21:54

   Looks pretty good should tidy the bay up abit
3. sgeary Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2010 loughborough Posts: 372 Pug 306 - gone BlackmK 2 vtr - present

   #3 9th June 2011, 21:58

   That's nice pal gave me summit to think about
4. lilbenchy9192 Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Swindon Posts: 943 Renault clio dynamique tomtom 1.2

   #4 9th June 2011, 22:08

   the battery shouldnt get to hot should it?? not like gonna damage it i wouldnt have thought?
5. sgeary Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2010 loughborough Posts: 372 Pug 306 - gone BlackmK 2 vtr - present

   #5 9th June 2011, 22:14

   Tbf mate a dint know but to play it safe next time your out for a drive when you park up I'd check the battery for heat tbh I never though bout it
6. lilbenchy9192 Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Swindon Posts: 943 Renault clio dynamique tomtom 1.2

   #6 9th June 2011, 22:24

   sounds like a plan
7. A_Whit Infrequent Poster Joined: May 2010 Ilkley Posts: 119 citroen c2 vts

   #7 9th June 2011, 22:31

   C2s have battery covers so I reckon it shoul be cool, looks nice too !
8. Bedford126 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jul 2010 Morley, Leeds Posts: 8469 Civic ep3 type r powered by TDI NORTH

   #8 9th June 2011, 22:33

   It wont get hot will be fine. you cant really paint perspex though as no plastic primer works on it so eventually it will flake off. The best way to do it would be to buy coloured perspex / acrylic then no need to paint it.
   
   But good work mate looks good.
9. lilbenchy9192 Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Swindon Posts: 943 Renault clio dynamique tomtom 1.2

   #9 9th June 2011, 22:41

   this is true but its what i had lying about, good sand down and ive used a plasti coat paint so it should be ok
   
   but like u said u could get diffrent coloured perspex that could be cool cus u could use translucent stuff
   
   wish i had a lazer cutter, i found a sub cover that was etched adn looked wicked i wanna do the same here
10. Bedford126 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jul 2010 Morley, Leeds Posts: 8469 Civic ep3 type r powered by TDI NORTH

    #10 9th June 2011, 22:47

    You can get a etching spray that does the same. If you go to a local sticker shop they will make you a mask then just stick it spray the etching spray and job done.
11. lilbenchy9192 Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Swindon Posts: 943 Renault clio dynamique tomtom 1.2

    #11 9th June 2011, 22:53

    o wow how does that work like a mini rattle can version of a sand blaster??
12. lilbenchy9192 Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Swindon Posts: 943 Renault clio dynamique tomtom 1.2

    #12 10th June 2011, 11:11

    justy a quick pic to show u how it looks fitted,
    
    before (brand new battery but still filthy)
    
    after
    
13. lilbenchy9192 Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Swindon Posts: 943 Renault clio dynamique tomtom 1.2

    #13 10th June 2011, 11:12

    anyone know were to buy them hoses that are like cut down one side u can put onto hoses and cables?
14. robster247 Established Member Joined: Feb 2011 cumbria Posts: 1239 Satin black furio

    #14 10th June 2011, 11:14

    I dnt get how its held on m8 :-/

    1 user thanked this post: user_44502
15. lilbenchy9192 Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Swindon Posts: 943 Renault clio dynamique tomtom 1.2

    #15 10th June 2011, 23:35

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by robster247 I dnt get how its held on m8 :-/

    just foam pads mate like numberplates
16. robster247 Established Member Joined: Feb 2011 cumbria Posts: 1239 Satin black furio

    #16 10th June 2011, 23:41

    MAy copy hope you dont mind :-D
17. user_29725 Regular Poster Joined: Dec 2008 shoreham Posts: 301 Dead: mk1 vtr, mk2 vtr, mk1 vts Sold: 350z, mx5

    #17 10th June 2011, 23:53

    looks good, may have to give this a go
18. lilbenchy9192 Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Swindon Posts: 943 Renault clio dynamique tomtom 1.2

    #18 11th June 2011, 09:58

    nah feel free bud, such a simple yet effective mod, all i gotta do now is find a way to tidy the cables and hoses :/
19. lilbenchy9192 Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Swindon Posts: 943 Renault clio dynamique tomtom 1.2

    #19 11th June 2011, 10:00

    actualy with regards to holding it on velcro sticky pads would be best so that u can remove it wen ur battery dies or somin stupid like myne did the other night
20. UKtom Established Member Joined: Sep 2010 Portsmouth Posts: 1936 Scirocco

    #20 11th June 2011, 10:29

    the idea of this is good, it just looks like something you'd expect to see from blue peter.. it doesnt look right in the engine bay IMO, but each to their own good to be original aswell
21. user_36879 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Aug 2009 Ascot Posts: 4619 Mint 106 rallye, Saxo VTR

    #21 11th June 2011, 11:38

    hmmm not a fan really!
22. user_40189 Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Hampshire Posts: 2152 Furi0

    #22 11th June 2011, 11:45

    Looks good but it looks like a diy jobby, I would make a complete box to go over it entirely.
23. lilbenchy9192 Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Swindon Posts: 943 Renault clio dynamique tomtom 1.2

    #23 11th June 2011, 23:17

    nah i see wat u mean, 4 sided box would look neater but a lot more work and i didnt have a big enough piece of perspex
24. latza Infrequent Poster Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 126

    #24 22nd June 2011, 21:02

    100% improvewment
25. lilbenchy9192 Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Swindon Posts: 943 Renault clio dynamique tomtom 1.2

    #25 22nd June 2011, 22:25

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by latza 100% improvewment

    cheers mate
26. MangoGirl21 L-plater Joined: Jun 2011 Swindon Posts: 55 Mango Westcoast!!

    #26 23rd June 2011, 19:23

    Very nice DIY job it looks really good. Just make sure it doesn't melt on the battery lol x x x
27. lilbenchy9192 Frequent Poster Joined: Jul 2010 Swindon Posts: 943 Renault clio dynamique tomtom 1.2

    #27 23rd June 2011, 20:14

    lol im hoping it wont, cant see y it would though
28. MiniGibbo Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Apr 2007 Bournemouth Posts: 15289 '04 VW Transporter.

    #28 23rd June 2011, 20:56

    As already said the battery will be fine, mines inthe boot and never gets too hot..