Driving without an engine lid

[CalMac]

In decent weather obviously

It's illegal to drive most cars without a bonnet due to pedestrian safety, but surely a mid engine is a bit different.. Plus, it's not exactly noticeable to a passing Police car.

Just thought it might be something to consider in summer when going out for a blast, let all the heat out and keep air moving I'm sure some of you have thought of/done this before, any thoughts? Something to discuss over my tea break

[alanmr2turbo]

great idea, park up go to shops and find some toe rag has nicked your HT leads

[Draven]

The law does state it is illegal.. But wether you get caught or not is another matter..

personally I don't see the point.

[2mad]

Seen plenty of beefed up beetles driving round with no engine cover


Cant say as i would do it though .

[slipping clutch]

it may possibly not work at all in the way you are considering - the whole way the underbody of the car and the engine bay and rear window of the car is designed to bring cold air up from under the car and exit from the top - if you remove the engine bay cover you might loose the area of low pressure behind the rear windscreen the acts a bit like a vacuum as you are travelling along - Obviously there would be an advantage to your idea if you weren't moving - so after a long, enthusiastic fast blat pull over jump out and and whip off the engine bay cover alternatively a decent cool down run after your 'hot lap' will see temps. back to an acceptable level and your precious engine parts safe and secure ( well as much as they can be in this day and age ) under the closed lid. Interesting discussion point though - not sure what the Law would conclude from driving around with the cover off?

[CalMac]

Little b*ggers and that's why we don't have nice sexy Magnecor leads!

You're probably right SlippingClutch. I'd say that the Phoenix Power lid is probably the best bet but on a street driven car you're really not going to see a difference. It would mainly be for gloating points over my Honda mates anyway, who are always banging on about clear perspex bonnets to show off their Vtecz

[slipping clutch]

Theres an engine cover with perspex panels for the mr2 for sale on one of the face book forums at the moment - problem is its in the U.S - its not really my thing this but it looks well made also Check out Vampires build on members profiles he has a glass panel in his engine lid! Which I would hazard to say trumps the perspex things on 'da hondas'

[slipping clutch]

Took me a moment to find it - looks pretty decent to me and I don't normally like this kind of thing. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater

[Draven]

This is the one.. I'm unsure on it wouldn't it add weight?

[madbasshunter]

I know Claire and Dan drove over to mine without an engine cover to collect the tubby lid and it rained

[synXero]

The low pressure zone is created by the wind flowing over the roof and detaching at the sharp 90deg angle between roof and back window.

Removing the lid would surely help to cool the engine! I imagine it would be illegal though, as all sorts of hot and sharp bits would be exposed for public ...fingering.

[CalMac]

A bit of rain wouldn't do too much harm I made the mistake of pressure washing my old NA engine last year though, ran like absolute balls for about a week

Not that keen on the glass/perspex lids but Vampire did a nice job on that!

[slipping clutch]

all sorts of hot and sharp bits would be exposed for public ...fingering.
Sniggering at the back of the room

[Draven]

all sorts of hot and sharp bits would be exposed for public ...fingering.
Sniggering at the back of the room

bwhahaha

[DAN_REV1_TURBO]

What got you thinking about driving around without an engine lid? I found my car ran perfectly efficiently when standard with an engine lid, and now with a few mods it still goes perfectly well spirited driving on country roads or motorway miles. Also no overheating issues, it is all good with a lid. I cannot imagine for normal road use you would need or want to consider it. People might steal your shiny bits, or a bird might poo on it!

[slipping clutch]

What got you thinking about driving around without an engine lid? I found my car ran perfectly efficiently when standard with an engine lid, and now with a few mods it still goes perfectly well spirited driving on country roads or motorway miles. Also no overheating issues, it is all good with a lid. I cannot imagine for normal road use you would need or want to consider it. People might steal your shiny bits, or a bird might poo on it!

[DAN_REV1_TURBO]

Haha! Pesky critter! Always wait until you have just washed them too...

[CalMac]

Honestly, just for the novelty of driving around with my engine out. Kinda like naturism I guess

[Jam]

Surely if it's getting so hot you need to take the bonnet off, then there must be something wrong with your cooling system?

Can't deny it would look pretty mean with the engine exposed

[CalMac]

No it's not overheating or anything, I was just fishing to see if anybody had tried it