Timing belt covers left off, any problems?

[Texsardo]

OK, know you may be getting tired of my questions but?
I have noticed in several members photos of engine compartment, they do not have the ugly yellow timing belt covers installed.
Is it for show because I noticed one parts site that had colored wheels, cogs,etc. Is there any greater risk with it off? I like the
Look of the naked belt. Looks sportier. I will be replacing my belt and or parts soon. Thinking if no big problems with it off, I may leave the belt naked. Any thoughts?
Texsardo

[juvius]

It's possible that something could fly up under your engine and end up in your timing belt. I'm not going to use any of the covers, but I bought a splash shield/ rock guard to close up the under side of the engine bay some

[Texsardo]

Where did you find the splash shield. I have a 78 Spider.
Texsardo

[4uall]

you shut your mouth

[juvius]

Where did you find the splash shield. I have a 78 Spider.
Texsardo

i got mine from John Erskine... You should put a want add.. someone probably has one laying around...

[juvius]

you shut your mouth

Damn Jay.. lol...

[Texsardo]

Oops, sorry, I meant visual appeal challenged. Lord, why do I put yellow at the bottom of my physically visual undesirable list, just above pink or salmon?
Texsardo

[RRoller123]

Juvius, you might want to consider modifying the splash shield so you can easily get at the oil filter. I suspect that this is why there are so few of them on these cars, they block easy access to the filter. I cut away a small portion and lined the sharp edge with extra gas hose slit lengthwise. A little black RTV holds the hose on the edge.

[mscafide]

You will lose the ignition timing marks too.

[hayesbd]

...speaking of splash shields, does anyone know if installing the splash shield cures the hood shake at highway speeds? That would be my only reason for looking to re-install one.

Thanks,
Brian

[RRoller123]

I am not sure, but I can say that I don't get any hood shake, and I have the shield installed. But I very rarely go above 60-65. Even so, smooth, no hood shake.

[kmead]

The cover is unlikely to have any effect on cowl shake. It is a splash shield not a structural member.

What it can do is: minimize the amount of water that can splash up into the engine bay, ensure air flow at low speed is out behind the crossmember of the frame and the air cannot short cycle out the bottom of the car to be sucked back in the front of the car: it promotes better cooling. The later versions of the shield added a small spoiler which helped with forcing more air into the intake just above it.

Later cars added the large plastic spoiler to assist with this and reduce the amount of air going under the car creating a low pressure area under the car (which can draw more air through the engine compartment).

They were clearly put on there for good reasons that are just as valid today as they were in the 1960s when the car was engineered.

[Redline]

Thanks for that insightful post. I only got as far as "water protection" in thinking about why there is one on the Coupe.

[seabeelt]

Pete, the bottom of your car is just way too clean

[RRoller123]

It doesn't look that nice anymore, Mike. I need to get it up on the lift and get out the black Rustoleum and a small throw away brush again. But I never drive in the rain or snow, only that one time we got caught coming back from Tutto about 2 years ago.