914/6 Engine Tin, all my expensive stuff is disappearing Options

[3liter914-6]

Well, yet another item to add to the list of parts that have disappeared themselves since I took the car apart 4 years ago. The first casualty was my set of freshly rebuild 914-6 calipers, I've learned to deal with it, and it's not as big a deal as I was going to do the 911 e-brake conversion anyway, but I'd rather have the $1800 in my pocket than jack squat.

Fan shroud also disappeared, although I think that was stolen by a guy doing some paintwork and $50 got me a nice green one (although I'd have preferred black or red).

Now, I've got the engine back together ready to stick it in and, OOPS, $500 worth of original engine sheet metal nowhere to be found.

So now I've got some options, none of them particularly cheap, and none very promising for getting me to Hershey without some $$$ overnight shipping. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

I did some searching and found 1 post relating to sheet metal where Bradholio said it's not a huge deal to run without it. In the VW world, running without the tin is a big no-no. I'm prepared to accept that no sheetmetal will work ok on a -6, but how much leeway is there? My engine probably runs a little hotter than stock (10.3:1, 3.3L short stroke) and all I've got to run are heat exchangers (unless they've disappeared in the last 10 mins). Granted I've got a big oil cooler, and the HE's aren't going to be hooked up so should stay pretty cool, but I'm a little wary of running tinless without a little more specific BTDT experience.

Anyone have some thoughts, should I go for it and hope my tin shows up someday, or just bite the bullet and get PP to FedEx me something?

Thanks,

Adam

[3liter914-6]

Whoa, that sucks. Looks like someone has found a souce for unobtainium. Someone doing a conversion locally?

The fan would likely recycle a lot of hot air from below without the tin. If you already run warm, it would not be a good idea. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/givemebeer.gif)

It really does suck. I don't think anyone's stolen the stuff. My brother was storing some of his M3 race car and 914/4 stuff in the bay where I was keeping the disassembled /6 parts, and moved to Texas while I was in Japan. I guess he was in a pissy mood and threw a whole bunch of stuff out, I'm guessing my calipers must have gotten included in the big purge. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I try not to think about it, it makes me kind of ill.

The engine tin though I have no idea, it should have been in the way back with the engine and other parts and untouched. I just got off the phone with the guy who helped me rebuild the engine, and he knows what -6 metal is and said he'd have locked it in a vault if he'd seen it (I trust him, and also am pretty sure I just took the bare longblock to him). I also got off the phone with Pelican and I guess the sheet metal is special order so no chance of getting it for Hershey. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I might try Otto's, but I have a feeling even used stuff will be more expensive that the pelican's new price.

I think you're right though, metal-less will work for a racer that'll have an unlimited supply of fresh cool air, but not so for a car that's going to see the occasional stoplight.

ok, back to moping around the house and staying away from sharp objects. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/givemebeer.gif)