Chrome Engine Tin Options

[mharrison]

I was looking in Hot VW magazine the other day and saw that you could replace all the engine tin in a beetle for about $50 with Chrome engine tin.

Does anyone know of a supplier for 914 Engine Tin? One side of mine has some acid pitts in it (guess which side!!) and the other was creatively cut a little by the PO so having mine chromed is not an option.

Any pics of chrome engine tin out there? I think it'd look good, but might just be gaudy as hell in person.

Matt

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

Chrome tin is only good for show queens. Really, it hold the heat in and the engine will run way hotter.
Have it powder coated Gloss Black or whatever color and it will look nice for awhile until all the oily grime gets on it.

Gloss won't help, either. Flat black would be the best color in terms of heat absorption/radiation.

This was a huge discussion w/the VW list I'm on, specifically, the Type III air-cooled VW lineup (pancake or suitcase engine, like the Type IV). We have to worry about over-heating much more than a Type I (upright) engine. Though it was generally agreed that a glossy/chrome finish would reduce thermal absorption, with the fan blowing a constant stream of cool air all the tin does is direct the air flow and its color doesn't contribute much to the actual cooling of the engine. Air and oil are the major coolants for the engine. What contact the tin does physically make with the engine is small and insignificant.

We felt that painting the engine case would be a worse cooling offense than chroming the cooling tin.

If anyone has proof to the contrary I'm open to it.

Keeping the cooling tin, and ALL OF THE PIECES, intact and tight is very important. This includes any grommets, plugs and seals...like spark plug seals! An air leak means you have that less amount of air to use for cooling. A properly functioning cooling flap system is also very important for quick engine warm ups and even operating temps.