After installing my 5/16" iso-thermal spacers, I decided to go without the engine cover. Sure, the plenum isn't going to win me any car shows, but I like actually seeing ENGINE, not just expanses and expanses of black plastic.

But I also did this to help try to keep the engine cooler instead of trapping the heat underneather the plastic cover. Here's what it looks like now:



And here's a pic of the spacer:


Anyway, am I the only one on here who's brave enough to go without the cover? Or are there a few others on this forum that have braved tossing the cover aside to help keep the engine that much cooler and seeing actual engine whenever they pop the hood?

 

I tossed my cover after i put on the spacer. I kinda had to though because my weaponR intake doesnt let it fit. But i would have left it off nonetheless.
-GP-

 

Ya, I could have fit mine back on (since I got the 5/16" size), but decided not to.

So that makes 2 of us... still the black sheep on this forum I'm sure. lol

 

I've thought about using brake caliper paint to paint the plenum, but don't want to go throught the hassle of taking the plenum off.

 

Exact same boat you're in...5/16" MD spacer w/out the engine cover.

 

most people chuck the cover after the spacer - it's a useless piece of plastic that just adds heat soak.

 

Mine is in the closet. It fits with my spacer, but I still left it off.

 

yep left mine off too. id like to polish my plenum someday :P

 

Take it off, really no reason to keep it other than aesthetics. I took it a bit more raw when I decided to choose mods over looks.

 

I think most people ditch the cover (including myself). One of these days I do want to trim the cover so it doesn't cover the plenum but will cover the unsightly crap in front.

I have seen others do this and it looks really good.

 

I've run with an without the cover. I've also done some extended datalogging (30 minutes) with and without the cover on. Guess what? There's no difference in intake and coolant temps with cover on or off, at idle or on the highway. Once the engine heat soaks, it's heat soaked. Engine cover or not.

 

i painted my upper plenum with rustoleum hammered aluminum paint.
looks great, no peeling what-so-ever & when it gets dirty I either clean it off or paint right over it!
I dont have any recent pics but I'll get some this weekend.
I also painted my greddy intake pipe the same way, looks good too.

rustoleum has about 12 different colors in its "hammered" line

 

^^ look forward to the pics.

 

I dumpped my engine cover too. Same two reasons as you guys...

 

Modified mine slightly.......