Engine Hood clearance & saftey

[Tail_Gunner]

I am or am trying to decide wether rebuild my engine hood cover. The way the mfg constructed my rear cover and seating seems to be a very poor waste of space. Can anyone tell me how close i can safely build a wall next to a 3.0 mecr, i would of course install the firewall or cloth and provide ventillation. I would be using laminated 1/2 ply and be building seats on the outside of the hood.<br /><br />Would 2" be enough to provide ventilation and distance, @ 175 degree operating temp (internal) i would think that would be enough, but then again i dont really know or i wouldnt be asking...........

 

[Bsturkie]

Re: Engine Hood clearance & saftey

Tail, <br /><br />I'm in about the same situation. I reconstructed the supports that hold the motor cover. My hood sits about 3" above my coolant cap. All of the heat foam has rotted and most is gone from the underside. So I propose this question. What material should be used to dissapate heat and dampen sound?? I think this may help you as well! <br /><br /> http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectTut,p,219,00.html

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Engine Hood clearance & saftey

I havnt got my brain arond this yet, i know its a circulation question. Marine motor's run so damm cool (no headers to speak of) i really dont have time to think it thourgh properly.<br /><br />There are some very tight thinkers here, im sure someone will sound off, or i sure hope so.<br /><br />Your rebuild looks good, this i know for sure there does exist a air induction problem with my existing design, but then again its a old 2.5 chevy luv motor. What a sled

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: Engine Hood clearance & saftey

I would use the same specs as the old covers. It is not air you need at the top, it is a cover to keep water out when people crawl over the stern and get in the boat from swimming, etc. and they are all wet.<br /><br />The critical area for air circulation is below the motor since this is where gas fumes will settle. Keep your blower tubes down in the bilge and channel them to the side vents in your hull---one vent brings air in, the other pushes it out.<br /><br />The thin rolls of foil-clad bubble wrap sold at Lowes or other builder supply stores work great for sound deadening and insulation.

 

[Big-E]

Re: Engine Hood clearance & saftey

I have a 3.0 L in my bowrider that i had to rebuild the motor cover last year. I used 1/2 inch ext grade plywood with a layer of glass on top and resin inside. I made it as small as possible and prolly have a couple inches of clearance if that. I have no heat sheilding at all and live in Florida where it likes to stay hot. That said i have had no issues with anything get too hot. Infact its allways cool to the touch under there. <br /><br />later, <br /><br />Big-E