Can you please give me some opinion about this engine cover. It's cosmetic and weighs just over 1kg. Not quite completed as evidenced by the blue tape but far enough along to give a good idea.

It does go on and off quite easily.

Hi Steve

Not to be a killjoy, but I think it will look grubby very quickly, and be a bugger to clean.

Cheers

Fred W B

Hi Steve

I really don't think it's in keeping with the excellent standard of the rest of the car.
Sorry!

Edit because I can't type this morning!

[Edited on 26/5/08 by TimC]

Hi Steve,

Sorry to add to the negativity, but I don't think it looks as good as the rest of your car.

You could finish it and get it powdercoated back and it would look better but not 100% sure...

ATB (and sorry )
Steve

I take it that this goes underneath the engine cover and is only a "dress up" bit? I think if it was powdercoated black or yellow it would look better.

These days the trend seems to be towards larger stamped holes. Not quite sure of the purpose of this as you haven’t included a picture with the back panel in place, so can’t tell how much is visible normally. The others are right in that it will get dirty very quickly plus it will dull and oxidise in no time. Is this to stop grumpy snakes getting in to the engine bay? Why else would you want to hide all that lovely workmanship…

A larger mesh and powder coated / chromed would look sweet...

EDIT: The car is just fab btw...

[Edited on 26/5/2008 by NeilP]

i think it would end up stretched/dented very quickly. i don't like it

Another point - If you have to remove it to check oil, coolant level etc, someone is bound to step on it when it is on the ground.

I'm not keen on parts that don't actually do anything.

Fred W B

I'm definitely not too happy with the cover either. BUt how do you know if you're going to like something unless you give it a whirl? I have decided to remove it and make a few smaller covers around the perimeter of the engine bay. I'll post up some photos later on that for peer review.

Thanks guys. I just needed my head slapped with an oily rag to see the way. LOL

G.

if you were feeling frisky (?) or something... carbon fibre (or at least fibre glass) would look nicer.

or maybe polycarbonate

Not sure I understand why you want a cover at all - is there something you're trying to hide? If so why not just chrome the thing you're hiding

quote:

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Originally posted by Ivan
Not sure I understand why you want a cover at all - is there something you're trying to hide? If so why not just chrome the thing you're hiding

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I changed the layout of the cover slightly.

quote:

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Originally posted by sgraber

quote:

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Originally posted by Ivan
Not sure I understand why you want a cover at all - is there something you're trying to hide? If so why not just chrome the thing you're hiding

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Why yes. Us Americans are strangely puritanical when it comes to covering up the bits. Especially the ones that move in and out and that might jiggle when jounced.

Seriously. It was just an idea to 'modernize' the engine bay. Have you seen a modern engine bay of late? It's hard to tell theres an engine at all under all the covers! And trust me the EUROPEAN cars do those covers better than everyone else!

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I think they claim the plastic covers are for sound deadening.
But mostly to intimidate people into not trying to fix their own car IMO.

quote:

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Originally posted by iank
I think they claim the plastic covers are for sound deadening.
But mostly to intimidate people into not trying to fix their own car IMO.

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Have to say that I really like the american 'hot rod' style clean look to the engine bay with the minimum of ugly wiring, coolant pipes etc etc on show and just a proper engine sat there ticking away cooling down after a decent drive .... so I see where you're going I think - but that's not the answer....

I agree I dont get any pleasure from opening a bonnet (hood) on a modern car and being greeted with a large plastic cover with a badge on it.

give me chromed ram pipes, aeroquip braided hoses and anodised ali fittings anyday.

If you've got it flaunt it

Engine covers have more to do with pedestrian impact protection than cosmetics and NVH.

Euro N-Cap rules are getting stricter on where 'hard' bits are placed and how far they are from the underside of the bonnet in order to minimise pedestrian injury in low-speed impacts. Big bits of flat plastic help in this respect.

makes perfect sense. Thanks for the opinions gentlemen. I've definitely reconsidered the need for a full cover. Just trying something different you realize...

That reminds me of the saying: "Opinions are like assholes. Everyone has one, and most of them stink."