splash guard, worth tracking down??

Post by **cheshire190e** » 27 May 2008 11:26 am

Hi, my volvo 1.7 340 does not have the plastic splash guard behind the front valance. is this item necessary or just to keep stuff from splashing up.

is it worth me trying to track down one of these or is it fine to run without.

cheers =D

Matt

Post by **stuartB** » 27 May 2008 01:01 pm

isnt that called a lightweight conversion?

mines not plastic, its a heavy ol' metal item

Post by **SteveP** » 27 May 2008 01:12 pm

Wouldn't worry about it, most of the cars have under trays that have vanished/broken. Might help out with fuel economy/stop dirt getting into the bay but other than that I can't see a problem

Post by **stuartB** » 27 May 2008 01:26 pm

make doubly sure that your cam cover is on snugly... thats the only problem i can think of.

i woudnt worry about aerodynamics, anyway - Volvos dont need that, they have torque instead

Post by **Jason B** » 27 May 2008 01:30 pm

For normal road driving I wouldn't worry about it, I dont have splash guards either but I really need something there for rallying. (this is obvious after an event when the underside of the bonnet and the engine bay is covered in muddy water) - I think I'll just get some polyurethane sheet and cover right underneath the whole engine bay.

Post by **Chris_C** » 27 May 2008 01:34 pm

Pulling mud out of the radiator isn't fun, I've taken to driving through ford's after an event

Post by **Jason B** » 27 May 2008 01:58 pm

hehe, I've pulled mud out of everywhere on that car now - takes ages!

Post by **trabitom99** » 27 May 2008 02:39 pm

These splash guards can also do a bit of damage if not fitted correctly. My local garage once bodged mine back into place - it fell off on the way home slicing through one of the steering rack bushes.

If you're looking for one - get one that's in good nick

Tom

Post by **stuartB** » 27 May 2008 02:53 pm

Chris_C wrote:Pulling mud out of the radiator isn't fun, I've taken to driving through ford's after an event

lol

what, ford escorts?

good work fella

Post by **kaos** » 27 May 2008 07:02 pm

mines damaged from offroading, But im getting a metal one made up with sump guard aswell..

Post by **Jason B** » 27 May 2008 07:04 pm

I have a sump guard, but that doesnt stop the mud and water

Post by **jtbo** » 27 May 2008 08:35 pm

I don't think that oil pan has cooling fins just for fun, so if you are making one, it is perhaps good idea to make sure air can pass trough fins properly.

My car has no such one either, but that certainly would be useful keeping engine bay clean and also it would help a bit of fuel consumption and noise.

Post by **kaos** » 27 May 2008 08:45 pm

jtbo wrote:I don't think that oil pan has cooling fins just for fun, so if you are making one, it is perhaps good idea to make sure air can pass trough fins properly.

My car has no such one either, but that certainly would be useful keeping engine bay clean and also it would help a bit of fuel consumption and noise.

refering to me getting one made i assume? ( correct me if im wrong before i ramble to far

)

my aim is to protect the car's sump and engine afterall ive put a lot of my time and still am putting it in to my car with the 16v conversion and would liek to keep her good, instead of pramaturely killing her by taking it off road and ripping bits open.

so mine is more practical than cosmetic. plus all mine was originally was plastic with a foot square hole arround the sump. so adding a removable plate there fill make no difference.

Post by **jtbo** » 27 May 2008 08:57 pm

In Safari rally they have holes in metal sheets and I think there was some kind of tubes adding strength to structure, anyway it is good idea to have oil temp gauge, it should help find out if there is any need for cooling. Oil pressure gauge is not too bad choice either, one can see pressure drop before expensive light lits red

Post by **Chris_C** » 27 May 2008 11:55 pm

jtbo wrote:Oil pressure gauge is not too bad choice either, one can see pressure drop before expensive light lits red

Another priceless Jani quote!

Kaos, Jani speaks only the truth here, most rally spec stuff has cooling slots, a lot of the airflow comes from underneath, if you are going to the effort of making/having one made it's not much extra effort, and as the sump guard is only there to deflect, won't make any difference to the job it does!