Has anyone done this?

[EKSPCL]

Has anyone (apart from this guy) removed the drip rails from the side of the engine bay?


This is the FB wagon up for nomination for SMOTY.

Do you think this would take too much strength away from the walls of the engine bay or not?

[J]

i like the custom vb can

[Thommo]

Gday EKSPCL
It would have to remove some strength, but there should be no side forces in that area.
It will allow the rain & car washing suds to run straight through the engine bay though.

Is it really worth the effort?
Are you aiming for a SMOTY with your car?

Cheers
Jeff

[EKSPCL]

No aim at all for SMOTY here

Just one of millions of different ideas flowing through my head at the moment. I think it looks really neat

[Dee]

Hi EKSPCL,
it does look custom and in this application very neat.
As Thommo says, serves two purposes - strength and function.
I also believe there has been a lot more "work" put into this bay - it may not just be a case of removing some of the unwanted bits.....?

I believe it will show a bigger gap when the bonnet is closed - that is, you will be able to see into the bay through the gap - maybe look a bit empty - sic

Dee

[EKSPCL]

Yes good point Dee.

This is why I ask these questions, to get different points from others.
Sometimes you see these things and don't see past the "how good does that look!"

Now that I've thought about it a bit more it may be not worth it and yes I think you may be right, if the strength is taken away from these areas the gap may open up a bit.

[Dee]

Hi again,
I may have misled you, I feel the guards and skirts will probably keep it all in place - but those channels will add further strength to the area - especially in a collision (heaven forbid).

The "gap" I was referring to - is the one that will become more obvious if what lays beneath can be seen by removing the channels - you will be able to see stuff through the gap instead of the "black" of the channel - it will just look as if the gap is larger.

Dee

[EKSPCL]

Ok thanks Dee, but I still think I'll give it a miss.
I'm painting the engine bay white, so it will be even more obvious than it would if it were black

[Trev]

If you were worried about strength you could weld a plate or rod on the outside (under the guard) so you get the same effect and is still strong, Trev .

[Blacky]

......and if you used Trevs idea you could also run the wiring through it - would clean up the engine bay and stop the wiring getting covered in crap thrown up by the wheels.

[Trev]

......and if you used Trevs idea you could also run the wiring through it - would clean up the engine bay and stop the wiring getting covered in crap thrown up by the wheels.

I'm sure thats what I was thinking too , Trev .

[EKSPCL]

Thanks a lot Trev & Blacky

Now I'm really confused

I'm still thinking about what Dee said about being able too see down the sides of the bonnet though.
I'm gonna have to keep cleaning the engine bay anyway, being white and all.

[Mephious]

This is also done to one of the Grima Boys car ....





I was looking at doing the same in my red sedan .... reasons were for clearances as the water tank lid fouled on the drip rail. Was also playing with the idea of the gas struts and these rails can be a hidderence when the struts compress.

[EKSPCL]

Thanks Mephious. Very nice

Same color engine bay, still can't decide though

[EKSPCL]

I'm doing the engine bay now.

I've taken the battery box out (rust loves this area doesn't it )

Filled all the wiring clip holes etc.

Now it's time to decide whether to take these rails out

I like it and I like the idea of the rail under the guard for the hidden wiring

If I weld a square tube opposite side to the rails,
feed the wiring through this tube in some of that flexible cunduit, and sikaflex the ends up.
I shouldn't have any problems then with the wiring falling onto the wheels,
or crud gathering around and in the wiring should I

If anyone can think of any problem with doing this, your thoughts would be much appreciated

I'm going to do this in the next week or so I think

Thanks fellas.....