QuestionHi Dave,
I know you're a Porsche Expert, but since you've worked on the 356s for years, perhaps you can help me with a question on my replica? I have a CMC Widebody 356 replica with a 1600CC type 1 engine. It has dual Del 0rto DLRA 40s on it. The problem I have is that the original builder of the kit didn't put the shield in the car that seperates the exhaust system from the engine bay. Therefore the hot exhaust is being sucked back into the engine making for a VERRY hot running engine! I wish to fix this but don't know where to get a shield, or how to attach a custom made one. Can you help? What else can I do to help cool the engine off?
AnswerHi Greg,
You are very wise to address this problem...a whole host of 'badness' is created when hot air is sucked into the carbs...and when its hard for the cylinder heads to divest themselves of excess heat. I'm not familiar with the CMC so I don't pretend to know what the engine bay looks like. Thus, I can't say whether the VW engine shrouding (particularly the horizontal shielding), if you acquired it, would fit properly.
My sense is that you'd be well served to find a good fitting shield, if there is one, or to make one right away.
There are three issues to consider, 1) getting ambient air into the carbs, 2) getting the engine fan air blowing over every cylinder equally; and, helping the now heated air (from ambient fan air heated by the hot cylinder fins) have an easy path outside the car, and, 3) keeping the high heat of the exhaust pipes away from the cylinder heads/engine compartment. As you probably know, the "normal" way the engine compartment is sealed is through the metal shrouding edged with flexible rubber gasketing material...and this mates with the engine bay's shape.
If you aren't familiar with the way these pieces attach, you may want to take a look at a stock VW engine, or a 356 engine and their engine bays.
Let me know if you'd like to pursue this and whether you have any questions.
Dave
