How many.....

How many of you run your GTA without the engine cover ? Is there any benefit in doing so, and is the glass hatch OK with the more direct heat ?

How many of you run your GTA without the engine cover ? Is there any benefit in doing so, and is the glass hatch OK with the more direct heat ?

I Have fitted a louvered rear screen to let the heat out, I dont have a choice though as it is not possible to fit the cover, but, that is with an Atmo. You have not stated whether Turbo or Atmo; the Turbo is a different story as the the cover is an integeral part of the air circulation cooling to the rear engine compartment. People have done it but have had modified latches which can leave a small gap at the bottom of the rear of the glass to let the heat out.

si21

I've run without a cover for years ....But then I did make up some latches to open the bottom of the glass .
I can't be certain as to how much the heat effects the glass but I did have a rear glass shatter when I was doing my first engine swap .Whether this was down to the added heat or just being 20 years old I couldn't say .I think it was down to the stresses put on it with me jacking the car up etc ...I should have removed the glass before I started

I do think the slated screens are excellent for getting rid of the heat ...the cover is making the best of a bad job even with all it's fans and ducting .

Mine's a Turbo.

Was thinking of running without a cover during the summer, but I dont want to risk the glass hatch shattering.

A louvre cover in place of the glass hatch would be my chosen route but I really wanted a clear lourve.
Anyone sourced a clear version or are they all painted fibre glass with cur outs ?

I've still got the polycarb rear screen I made after the shatter .....I suppose you could get some naca vents and fit them to that
It didn't look to shabby and for a few beans I could sort you out

Paul, I have run without the glass for at least 2 + years.
First I used Lees catches, now I run with it shut, because this makes the IC function better.
The glass does not get hot when driving because of the outside cool air flow over the car.
when stopped, the hot turbo heat does rise and make the glass hot. It is not much hotter than when the car is left outside in scorching summer sun.
I have drilled out the bulkhead in the passenger side louvre, from inside the engine bay by the reat side window. You can see the rollbar, but air does come in, and when stopped lotts of hot air rises out.

Thanks Lee, I’ve sent you a PM

Simon, I presume you meant "run the car without cover" rather than without glass ?
The worry is that I know how hot the turbo gets, especially in the summer (if we have one!), hence a bit nervous of running without a cover.

Drilling through the passenger side of the bulkhead into the area fed by the side lourve sounds like a sensible idea. Always thought it was a bit strange having a false intake on the passenger side.

Personally I wouldn't run with back glass and no engine cover. It can't do the glass any good to get so hot repeatedly - especially with the turbo, and the expense and rarity of the rear screens it too much of a risk for my likeing. Get a louvred back screen first would be my advice

I've still got the polycarb rear screen I made after the shatter .....I suppose you could get some naca vents and fit them to that
It didn't look to shabby and for a few beans I could sort you out

................it would need to be the right kind of plastic/Acrylic and then it would need to be vacuum formed and that would be quite a big vacuum that would be required to do a rear hatch.

si21

OK , I must have dreamt I did it then .
You don't need to vac form it as the curve is very slight .Polycarb is stronger,lighter and UV stable .


It is a bit flexible at speed though ...

Mine's a Turbo.

A louvre cover in place of the glass hatch would be my chosen route but I really wanted a clear lourve.
Anyone sourced a clear version or are they all painted fibre glass with cur outs ?

he was asking about a louvered clear hatch which is why I thought that it would need to be vacuum formed to introduce louveres into it

GRUMPY bullocks

si21

When you edit it back it still says BOLL OX

Mine's a Turbo.

A louvre cover in place of the glass hatch would be my chosen route but I really wanted a clear lourve.
Anyone sourced a clear version or are they all painted fibre glass with cur outs ?

he was asking about a louvered clear hatch which is why I thought that it would need to be vacuum formed to introduce louveres into it

sorry just relaised I must have quoted your post and not the quote I actually wanted this may have caused a little confusion.

GRUMPY bullocks

si21

When you edit it back it still says BOLL OX

I'm not grumpy ...I just don't suffer fools easily

You would not vac form it even with louvers .As you say the tool would be massive and the base sheet too thick to form .Better to router out some slots in the flat sheet then fix separate covers ....

All I have done is put my point of view on an issue, and I wasn't wrong about creating louvers either as I stated it would need a hell of a machine to produce it.

How would you produce the louveres and make it look presentable could it be done and make it look engineered/quality?

si21

I don't Si , just trying to liven up this old forum

Where are all the bun fights ???

The biggest thrill on here at the minute is the MASSIVE tech fuel sender thread

You can get clear vents but they're not cheap and fixing them would be difficult .Not to do but to look pretty ..I think you'd have to accept the race look
Function over looks .....