Sheet Metal Lower Engine Cover?

[MA70witBoost]

I've been thinking.. In keeping temps down, and preventing the dreaded ::bhg::. Its bitten me twice and im simply tired of it. I got almost everything else done to help keep my temps down. just need the cover for intercooler so more air will be directed to both the ic and the radiator, to get the heater system working again, the full samco hose set, and a cover for the bottom of the bay. That being said i've been thinking bout purchasing a large sheet of aluminum, removing the front wheels and lip, outlining the shape and cutting it to fit then bolting down.

Anyone ever done this? think of any reasons not to use sheet metal or think of a better material thats shape can be easily modified? I've also thought of maybe cutting vents into the bottom to allow air to get in but im not sure as to how id do this. Any Idea's?

 

[TurboStreetCar]

I want to duct my whole front end to the radiator and ic using cardboard soaked/coated in fiberglass resin, i want to use cardboard because its extremely easy to work with and after bieng soaked in resin will be nice and strong.

After soaked/coated it will be sealed and can be painted. could prolly pass for fiberglass afterward.

Only problem i would see with using a sheet of metal is unless you put ribs on it, roll beads in it, or some way to keep it rigid it would prolly make alot of noise in the wind or over bumps. also could be hard to shape without distorting it.

No personal experience with cardboard and resin but i cant think of a reason it wouldnt be suitable for this application.

 

[HommerSimpson]

I want to duct my whole front end to the radiator and ic using cardboard soaked/coated in fiberglass resin, i want to use cardboard because its extremely easy to work with and after bieng soaked in resin will be nice and strong.

After soaked/coated it will be sealed and can be painted. could prolly pass for fiberglass afterward.

Only problem i would see with using a sheet of metal is unless you put ribs on it, roll beads in it, or some way to keep it rigid it would prolly make alot of noise in the wind or over bumps. also could be hard to shape without distorting it.

No personal experience with cardboard and resin but i cant think of a reason it wouldnt be suitable for this application.

I have the same plans... the Brake Air ducts on my lower lip are cardbaord and fiberglass... and will be making lower pan to ducting stuff to were it all needs to go....

 

[s383mmber1]

Chances are is that blowing two headgaskets in a row isnt due to you not have a lower engine cover.

How did you install them? Machined block and head? Stock headgasket?

 

[jetjock]

^ Finally. Took less time than I thought it would...

 

[s383mmber1]

^ Finally. Took less time than I thought it would...

I decided to contribute this morning, and not have to listen to others BS

 

[MA70witBoost]

Chances are is that blowing two headgaskets in a row isnt due to you not have a lower engine cover.

How did you install them? Machined block and head? Stock headgasket?

well this is with two different motors. my current shell was my first car like 6 or 7 years ago. i didnt know crap and long story short blew the motor in a week due to the cluster not marking the engine temp. my dad made me sell it and i eventually bought it back. the fan clutch was weak the second time and that blew the head gasket. i took appart, started rebuilding only to notice that the head had been excessivly resurfaced so i scrapped the head and planned on getting another one while rebuilding the block. then i noticed the block had been decked too much. pistons were sitting flush with the top deck of the block and it needed to be decked again. so here i am now with my third motor... lets try this again.

Its been a bunch of things over time and since its gotten me twice i wanna do it right this time.

 

[suprabad]

I don't know anything about fiberglass resin over cardboard (sounds so funky it might work), but I like the idea of aluminum for a couple of reasons: it's light and it won't rust. However, the point nosechunks made about the wind possibly causing it to make a ton of noise (probably similar to a small thunderstorm) is valid. I think it could easily be overcome with some aluminum "L" struts as interior bracing along any long stretches of unsupported sheet aluminum.

You could cut some louvres in it and certainly make some ducted openings for brakes, inter-cooler etc or just direct some air in to the engine bay to lower temps.

Another question would be how far back would you extend the lower cover? The stock one only goes back a couple of feet, it might be beneficial extend it back another foot or so. Food for thought anyway.

 

[MA70witBoost]

You could cut some louvres in it and certainly make some ducted openings for brakes, inter-cooler etc or just direct some air in to the engine bay to lower temps.

Another question would be how far back would you extend the lower cover? The stock one only goes back a couple of feet, it might be beneficial extend it back another foot or so. Food for thought anyway.

I have a funtional z32 Hood on my supra. Also plan on heat wrapping the exaust manifold, exaust housing on the turbo, and turbo elbow/downpipe. Have a koyo radiator, and twin FAL fans. I can't think of much else to get the temps down and try to get this car reliable.

Also, i was thinking about extending the cover up to the crossmember. not sure yet.

 

[CTsupra]

Those cool JDM folk have done it. Here is some inspiration!

 

[bountykilla0118]

Damn I thought my stock parts were pretty reliable ...... haven’t had an issue in the 90+ degree days here in Atlanta and that’s with all the traffic.

Would it be a good idea to have that aluminum sheet sprayed with the lining stuff used on truck beds or even the rubber stuff that goes underneath cars? I am sure that would help on the noise

 

[jetjock]

^ Exactly. I'm puzzled as to why anyone would feel this has anything to do with decreasing the chances of blowing a properly installed head gasket. It doesn't make sense to correlate the relatively minor differences in engine bay and coolant temps the cover provides with such a failure. Nor does it make sense to blame a lack of overall reliability on them.

After all lots of these cars run sans cover or underhood heat mods for years on end without problems. Hell, I take mine off every spring because summer is when I service the car most often. Drive in desert heat, AC on full, you name it. Never a problem. Been doing it for longer than I can remember.

 

[tsuper92]

i took the undercover off after pulling my 7m.it's been hanging on the wall for many year's.it's just a pain to pull it off everytime,when i dump my oil every 1500 mile's.a thick gauge aluminum would be nice,because you could probably use less bolt's to mount it

 

[jetjock]

Recently set mine on fire with my plasma cutter. Piss me off. It wasn't even on the car...

Btw why on Earth would you change your oil every 1500 miles?

 

[IJ.]

Just roll some beads into the aluminium sheet to stop any drumming.

 

[simpsons7s]

Use lexan, it is easy to work with and bolt down.

 

[tsuper92]

Btw why on Earth would you change your oil every 1500 miles?

i don't get many mile's on my car every year.i like to change it before it's winter hybernation and then shortly after i start driving it again come spring.to be honest it's probably only 3 change's a year.i do tinker around alot with the car also,as it's and never ending project.i'm probably mostly making up excuses because it need's to be modified to fit my greddy bumper.

 

[IJ.]

Use lexan, it is easy to work with and bolt down.

And gets brittle with heat and will shatter on impact
(The stock one is ABS for a reason)

 

[jetjock]

OK, just curious. Good luck with it. Btw I'm also a Masshole...South Shore born and raised.

 

[tsuper92]

OK, just curious. Good luck with it. Btw I'm also a Masshole...South Shore born and raised.

that's awesome,alot more masshole's post on sm then sf