I'm prepping a 3.0L engine for a /6 conversion. Got the tin on with the PMS motor mount. Seems there is a small gap between the tin and the mount/pulleys. Is this acceptable or is there a solution to this?

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Shouldn't cause any problems.

I disagree, that area needs to be well covered, just as if it were stock.

The Cap'n

I used a different front motor mount and had to machine the front pulley off to make it fit!

The reason for the tin is so that the cooling fan sucks cooler air from above the motor.

No worries with that.

I use a single pulley or machine off the smaller pulley. Otherwise changing belts becomes a real job.

So a couple votes saying it's 'OK' and some saying 'NO'. What to do!?

Less hot air = more better


Your choice, pick one, run with it ...

Get some sheet metal, cut a rectangle. Drill and tap 4 small holes on the verticle portions of the PMS mount? I doubt you'd spent hour doing this and it would block between 94-96% of the unwanted air. You may want to trim or replace that pulley as someone mentioned before. It looks like getting a belt on when the motor is in the car will be an issue.

FYI:

I have no engine compartment tin. ( none )

No issues.

Idling for extended periods of time on a 100+ degree day, who knows.
I don't do that.

After 30 minute track sessions during 110° temps the motor stay below 190°.


KT

I would agree that it's much better to have the engine drawing cooler air into the fan(ie the air from above the engine tin), I would imagine that a small amount of warmer, under-tin air would not pose much of a problem. If the engine is out, fabricating a small patch panel would not be a ad idea, but would have to be removed to change a fan belt, etc.

Run it. Watch your temp. If it runs hot, making a cover can be a starting point.

You are missing the point. The point is that hotter intake air has less oxygen per volume and thus reduces the HP output of your engine.

Cooler intake air means more HP.