air duct to nowhere, do i have the right sheet metal Options

[mightyohm]

I am in the process of reassembling my 1.7 for the WCC (don't laugh).

I have found a mystery air duct to nowhere in the sheet metal and I don't know if it belongs on this 1.7 or not.

I have a core 1.7 that has this duct, it goes through the engine tin up to a tube that I presume would have connected to the preheater on the aircleaner. My 1.7 doesn't have a preheater.

Should I be using this duct with my engine tin or is there a different piece? Can I just block off the duct with something (not sure what)?

[mightyohm]

Here is the air duct. It goes on the driver's side of the engine behind cyl #1.

[mightyohm]

Here is the sheet metal on the top side, note there is no hole for that duct. It just dead ends in the sheet metal. There is no gasket or seal to properly block off the duct.

[mightyohm]

Here is my core 1.7 showing what it's supposed to connect to.

[mightyohm]

pic

[SirAndy]

that's for a vw-bus, if i recall correctly.
i *think* that was what brad said last time i ran across one.

if you don't need it, don't use it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
Andy

[mightyohm]

I need some kind of sheet metal piece so all the air on that side doesn't run away. Maybe I can just tape over the duct with aluminum tape or something similar. Will it take the heat?

I also need to tape over the holes for my CHT and oil pressure senders. The grommets are long gone. Is there a high temp tape I could use?

[mightyohm]

This would probably do it if I could find some.

http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/en001/m...ler/output_html

[dmenche914]

Yes, thats an air preheater port that was not used on early cars. You should seal all these openings, else you will be sucking hot air into the cooling fan, and it can be a significant source of heat on an air cooled car. (I did insturmented tests on a VW engine with and without simular holes in the sheet metal, and found it does effect head temp)

i would NOT recommend any type of tape to seal, as I have not found any tape that lasts forever in the engine bay (heat / oil) If tape comes loose, it can be sucked into the fan. (I have pulled plenty of tape, and other thins out of fan shrouds that got sucked in, and that blocks cooling, not good)

Maybe get some sheet metal at the hardware store, (aluminum roof flashing is nice, thin so it cuts and bends easy) and cut two pieces oversized to the hole, and sandwhich the hole between the two sheetmetal pieces you cut, and then add a screw and nut to hold them together. A little silicone sealant can help seal them off. Paint the metal black for good looks.

for the oil pressure hole, do simular (if you have the shroud removed, else there is no easy access to get a metal piece on the back side). You might be able to find a used rubber gromment, and if it is rotted or torn, thats no problem, just coat it and build it back up to shape with some black silicone rubber, thats what I did on mine. for CHT hole, do the same, or even a rubber stopper would work, just twist it around enought to wear a groove in it.

or you could cut an oversized piece of metal, and drill a sheet metal screw or two into the shroud, and the metal piece. (this would be kind of ugly, but would work)

Check with High Performance House, If no new grommnets are available, i am pretty sure they could dig up some used ones, which you could rebuild with silicone rubber.

You are on the right track wanting to seal all the air leaks, your engine will appreciate it.

good luck.

dave