Clip;1429781 said:how about plexiglas
now that would be cool...with a hole to reach the oil filter :evil2:
-t3d
aluminum under body panels?
- Thread starter taka21
- Start date
now that would be cool...with a hole to reach the oil filter :evil2:
-t3d
Clip;1429781 said:how about plexiglas
I would agree but the downside will be in how you need to mount plexi glass. It will result in stress fractures at the holes (drilled or melted). Even if you use washers and then it fails.
Happened every single time in my RC10 RC car and that is a lightweight piece. This is significantly bigger. Though nice part about plexi, it can be molded.
While I understand the novelty of having it be made from some clear material, it's really not useful. How often to you try to look at the underside of your engine from less than 3 inches off the ground? You'd have to park over an open man-hole opening in order to make use of it!
Neodeuccio;1429918 said:
i wasn't going for usefulness, just a material that'd be easy to shape/bend and yet be strong (but figgie brought up points on cracking).
only reason i thought of this is because i have access to 4x8 sheets for a pretty good price
as for showing it off, i doubt i would ever keep it clean 
Then you've obviously never owned an e36 chassis BMW. :nono: Go back and look at the youtube video I posted before. That underpanel is incredible. I've got one on my M3, and I wouldn't go back to stock any day, ever. A quality made aluminum piece would trump the OEM plastic any day, in my opinion.karlmk3;1429595 said:
Clip;1429781 said:how about plexiglas
Figgie beat me to it.figgie;1429895 said:
Lexan tends to shatter, especially if a decent size rock hits it.Clip;1429916 said:
I encourage you all to go back and look at the links I posted earlier. That panel doesn't move. It's securely bolted to the chassis of the car, and is so sturdy you and a buddy can hang off of it while it's mounted to the car.
It does not flex, or warble at speed. I won't post how fast I've had the car up to with this panel, but I certainly put it to the test. That's for damn sure. In my opinion, this would be the best option.
Clip;1429916 said:
Lexan® is the trademarked name for polycarbonate plastic, while Plexiglas® is trademarked by another company which in the end is Acrylic Glass.
Neodeuccio;1429759 said:
about 40$ and a bit of time to make a cardboard template puckboard can be found almost anywhere most hardware stores strong as fuck and cheap like most mk3 owners
mecevans;1430417 said:
So does efficient engine cooling, right? :nono:
A little background for those who don't know, or understand the underpanel. It's used for two main purposes. 1) To force air through the radiator. Air will take the path of least resistance, so without an underpanel, the air will enter the bumper cover, hit the radiator, with not very much passing through, then turn down and exit out the hole in the bottom. 2) To protect the engine bay from road debris.
#1 is the best reason to run an underpanel, #2 is just a benefit.
Those of you running sans an underpanel should seriously consider buying/building one. They make a rather significant difference in cooling capabilities. It always makes me chuckle that everyone upgrades to huge radiators, but neglects something like the underpanel, which allows them to take full advantage of the radiator in the first place! (I won't even get into a proper fan shroud now...)
I as again
or anyone with a good theory on how far should the thing extend to keep cool air entering nicely and hot air leaving the engine compartment fast?
ValgeKotkas;1428604 said:
or anyone with a good theory on how far should the thing extend to keep cool air entering nicely and hot air leaving the engine compartment fast?
I 'll just stick a flammable cardboard box underneath, anyone want one? (please note: this user sometimes uses a thing called "sarcasm")< w/e the hell that means.
shaeff;1430729 said:
i can back this up. On the highway with the ac on full blast in 105F heat the car slowly crept up 10-15 degrees hotter then it did at stop and go traffic. Highway speeds are where the undercover is said to be of benefit and i clearly saw this in the summer. My car came with out one but will be getting one over the winter to prepare for the summer scorchers... this is with a fluidyne rad. and everything else stock (new) on the cooling system.
I don't have the know-how or tools to build one, so buying one is the only option, but I don't remember seeing tins for sale anywhere. Anyone know where you can pick one up? Preferably for cheap?
jt2ma71;1427180 said:I don't like the idea of aluminum engine undercover. I know that heat rises and some may think it won't matter. But I think it's just going to trap/reflect heat. Not to mention noise. Otherwise, I would have made one already. Just my $.02
If heat rises where will it be soaking in the heat from? All engine components are further back and higher up.
Where can you buy puckboard? I'd love to make an underbody panel for my subaru for the winter, and that stuff is very tough given all temperatures. If it's as easy to work with as you say, Id love to get a 4x8 sheet of it!
I think an undercover is a very sound idea to improve cooling.
Directing air flow through the radiator is only one benefit, provided that it left the rear portion of the engine uncovered to provided an exit for the hot air.
Sound, while a flexing/bowing cover may make noise, if its made rigid and braced properly, it should actually quiet down the engine at idle, and road noise at speed.
Additionally, they say that in the summer you can cook an egg on the sidewalk, and now your expected to drive over that? Well i would think an engine under cover would further insulate the engine from the heat radiating off the pavement for further cooling
Which brings me to the reasons why factory undercovers are removed (permanently) in the first place:
-convenience during
-they tear off
-the perceived idea that after shutdown they hold in the heat under the hood
If retaining heat is such an issue, why not wire an additional turbo timer to run the a/c fans beyond the standard timed shut down?
Undercovers were factory for a reason.
There's more benefits to having one than not.
Directing air flow through the radiator is only one benefit, provided that it left the rear portion of the engine uncovered to provided an exit for the hot air.
Sound, while a flexing/bowing cover may make noise, if its made rigid and braced properly, it should actually quiet down the engine at idle, and road noise at speed.
Additionally, they say that in the summer you can cook an egg on the sidewalk, and now your expected to drive over that? Well i would think an engine under cover would further insulate the engine from the heat radiating off the pavement for further cooling
Which brings me to the reasons why factory undercovers are removed (permanently) in the first place:
-convenience during
-they tear off
-the perceived idea that after shutdown they hold in the heat under the hood
If retaining heat is such an issue, why not wire an additional turbo timer to run the a/c fans beyond the standard timed shut down?
Undercovers were factory for a reason.
There's more benefits to having one than not.
the issue is usually most prominent when idling in summer traffic(mixed with a/c on and lack of fan shroud), so an extra fan running after shutoff would do nothing. never heard anyone mention they think it retains heat after shutdown