Adequate cooling? (Coil packs)

[dest]

I have finally got round to looking into getting my coil cover back on, as part of tidying the engine bay.

What are peoples thoughts on having these slots machined?
It would allow for a resonably stock look, and due to the design of the cover, I think that is the easiest way of doing it too, but would it give enough cooling?

I am also thinking about using some spacers on the bolts, so it has a gap round the bottom too. If needed, the lip that seals it could be removed too to increase the gap.

Obviously they would all be even lengths and centred



You can also see where I had a quick go at cleaning it up to see how easy its going to be
Any tips on what is best/easiest to use?

[S2central.net]

Its a sound idea alright, but the only thing to watch for is dirt/dust ingress thru those gaps. That could work its way down into spark plug holes and then fall into engine when plugs are removed. You would have to be diligent with an air gun on those spark plug holes to clear them of any grit before daring to remove a plug.

[dest]

Well look at it this way, at the moment it doesnt have a cover on atall!
So I dont see how having slots in the cover is going to make much difference lol

Plus, plenty of cars over the years have had exposed spark plugs with no covers on them, Ive certainly never read about dirt/dust getting into the engine when changing plugs causing any problems.

EDIT: Another idea could be to do what I said (remove the lip that seals it, and raise it on spacers) then you have no risk of dirt dropping onto the coils from above.
The only down side being that heat rises of course....

[S2central.net]

Tell you what... remove a spark plug, and drop in a couple tiny pieces of sharp gravel and see how your piston / bore like it. Feeling lucky ?

[dest]

Of course I understand its not good to get grit/dirt/etc in the engine, I may be daft but Im not stupid

What Im saying is, at the moment the coils have no cover atall, and havent had one for a good 7 or so months!
I dont see how having slots in the cover will put it at any more risk than having none atall, if anything it will slightly reduce the posibility of dirt building up around them.

Its a no win situation really....

Pros of having cover on:
Keeps dust and dirt out
Looks better

Cons of having cover off:
Heat build up to potentially cook coils
Allows for dirt to build up around coil pack
Looks crap!

[S2_Dave]

plenty of cars over the years have had exposed spark plugs with no covers on them

IIRC 7A leads have little skirt at the top that sits flush with the cam cover, which must be to help prevent dirt getting down the spark plug holes. Not sure ABY would have these as they were intended to be covered. Not having an ABY, I can't check, but you do.

[dest]

There is no issue atall with dirt getting into the engine while the coils are fitted, as they seal with the rubber at the top of the coil (remember also that I am using 1.8T coils)
The ONLY time anything could get in is when you remove the coil to change a plug.

Anyway, this thread is going off topic.... I am mainly interested if people think the slots I have drawn on will offer enough cooling?

[terrybullwon]

Do it, my cover has already been done like yours. Make some rubber bungs up like David mentioned are on th 7A.