Lower Engine Panel Removal Opinions?

CCCLXXZ

Thanks Modshack, I was hoping you would comment. Your observations seem very reasonable and have the same consideration that I was leaning toward but wanted to see if it was unanimous.

Nick J.

__________________
Mods - Maxim Works Exhaust Manifold, FI HFC, Mines Y-Pipe, Saclam Silencer

Modshack

No Problem NicK! One trick you can try is to remove the rubber gaskets at the rear of the engine compartment...The ones that seal the hood and don't allow air in. They just snap into place. This is a natural high pressure area, and by removing them, you will ventilate the engine bay from the rear, then out the bottom. I've done some temp datalogging on another car and seen an 18 degree improvement. Plus hot air will naturally spill out of there when stopped and heat soaking. You'll notice a little more noise as the gaskets are mostly for NVH. No water issues to worry about. If you want even more air, pull the plastic cover at the "V" of the strut brace

__________________

Steal my car! (SOLD)...Now Porsche Cayman S
Oil Cooler DIY: Here!

Hi-TecDesigns

As shack mentioned, this would probably be a bad idea. Not only do you mess with the aerodynamics of the car (which in and of itself is no big deal safety-wise at most non-track speeds), you could potentially decrease cooling capability. Air is designed to be shunted from one location (front of the radiator) to another (wherever they decided to let it flow, but you can rest assured physics says it's someplace else) while traveling through the radiator. Remove that panel, and suddenly you've interrupted the normal flow, possibly stagnating the air inside the engine bay and increasing temps. Shack's suggestion of pushing the air from the windshield base down into the engine bay is fine, just make sure it has somewhere to go.

__________________
http://hi-tecdesigns.com/images/pict...on%20Small.gif
2000 S2000 Brickyard Red Metallic w/ Romanesque Crimson Kandy, custom everything else