Engine Duct

[Jon]

I hate removing and refitting the Engine Duct, that heavy sheet of rusty steel that has to be removed everytime you want to: Change the oil filter, adjust the hand brake, fit a new throttle cable etc, etc.

So I was thinking of fabricating and welding one up out of plastic, maybe black polypropylene which is light and very durable it might flex a bit but it wont crack. PVC would be more rigid but its heavier and tends to crack. ABS could be an option its light but I hav'nt a lot of experience with ABS and I think it may also be prone to cracking in an enviroment that may come under attack from stones and body movement.

Can anyone see any problems with this idea? Does the steel duct have any structural properties? Has anyone else tried it? Or does anyone run their car without it?

[DJ]

Chad sells nice molded ducts at the Montehospital for 52.50. I'd suggest you give him a ring. You can find the info on his site under the "Bumpers and External Trim" category.

[Jon]

Yeah I dont mean the actual air duct that channels air to the back. I mean the big steel panel that bolts to the rear cross member and spans the width of the car. The word duct is misleading but its called that in the Lancia Parts list.

[DJ]

I know exactly what you're talking about. The one from the front he calls the Front Air Duct which he shows a picture of. The one you want is the Engine Bay Air Duct, part number MH1002, which he doesn't have a picture of on the site. It's not really obvious and I went through the same thing. Chad assured me that it is the replacement for the metal pan that you must remove to get to the oil filter, etc.

Some people say they run without it but most I've talked to say it's essential for proper air flow through the engine compartment.

I'm going to order one for my blue scorpion someday soon if I can ever get that far with it's resto.

Cheers

[Jon]

Hi dj,

Just checked my print out of Chads Catalogue and yep your right, seems I missed it as the description is next to the photo for the Front Air Duct. Must Learn to read the text not just the pictures.

Saves me a job!

Regards

Jon

[Jon]

Recieved the Air Duct from Chad as you described, very nice saved around 3 Kg I think. The only noticeable difference was the lack of rubber around the edges and between the slots for the hand brake cable. Did you fit some yourself or did you leave it plain?

Jon

[Jon]

Recieved the Air Duct from Chad as you described, very nice saved around 3 Kg I think. The only noticeable difference was the lack of rubber around the edges and between the slots for the hand brake cable. Did you fit some yourself or did you leave it plain?

Jon

[Wallace]

There is a school of thought which says the rubber will hold water against the metal work of the car and promote rust .. .. .

[Will]

Do you guys mean the "Belly Pan". I got a (new) one of these from Felix Furtak in SA , cost me a whopping $28 USD, I think it was $35 with the shipping.
Some kind of coated fiber material, weighs next to nothing. I didn't bother installing it as it turns out the extractors and insides of the sail panels stay much cleaner without one. Cooling doesn't seem to be much of an issue, or at least the engine doesn't run hot and the compartment temps seem somewhat normal.
-Will