The Official 356Talk Forum

Hello all! What about removing the front coverplate (*) to improve cooling the engine? Does anyone have done it before and can report us the benefits or not (as the dust coming in everywhere... for sure). Worth trying it for a regular use - not for racing or in dusty roads?
We are talking about a 616/2 engine (original 75HP_8.5:1) that “maybe” (sorry, I'm not quite sure) have now new pistons and 1800cc displacement.
We all saw the factory increasing over time the air intake (two windows in the rear hood and a greater number of blades on the last engine's fans...) and so my doubts and concerns…Thank you.
Joao Filipe

You'll get the hot, dirty air off the road; don't do it.

+1 on what Vic said. Verify whether all the rubber seals all around the engine tin are doing their job (i.e. sealing against the body) first. Those keep the heat from the exhaust system out of the engine bay.

No Bueno

Thank you Vic, Jules and Martin. It seems to be a pacific matter: yes, the cover plate must be there to prevent the dirty from the road and the hot air from the exhaust and heating systems - nearby - get in the engine bay. There is any doubt/complain?
By the way, and the bottom flange cover (13)? The same question: yes or no? Thanks again.

#13 should be there, but most are missing. Not critical, but not a bad idea.

Anyone have a front cover plate available?
I've just finished an engine which was missing the front plate and it was the dirtiest, cruddy mess I've seen in 50 some years.
It seemed to suck most of the trans, axle boot crud into the compartment.
It then sat for 20 years and congealed like the La Brea tar pits.

YES you must have it in place

Thanks Vic, #13 should be there too!
Thanks Norm for sharing your experience - an amazing one! I didn´t know that in "La Brea Tar Pits" the natural asphalt trapped and preserved pre-historic animals.
Now we can imagine how your engine looked like …