Turbo Pipes->Can't Use Brake Ducts, Covers?

[el bob]

Are there any stock parts that can be used to block off the gap left by removing brake ducts? I can not keep them due to turbo intercooler piping and I would like cover the opening.

I am not sure if I can fit fog lights on the outsides, I will try.

I was thinking of making some sheet metal covers for the brake ducts area and seam welding them to the valence. Have any cars done this before?

Also, how much should I expect to pay to get the valence painted to match the rest of the car at the body shop? I'm just wondering if it's a $50, $150 or $400 type of job.

[Tavern Gnome]

I'm not sure about closing off the ducts but I would imagine having the valance painted would be a about $150ish. I can't see it being much more. Good luck.

Ryan

[JasonC]

I know you want them covered. But wouldn't it be better for them to be uncovered so air can move over them for extra cooling. Since half of your IC will be covered up by the bumper?

[el bob]

Tavern Gnome, thanks for the info.

JasonC, I forgot to post my reason, but it mainly comes down to driving in Cali with very strict anti-modification laws and needing to stay as low key and stock appearing as possible.

If I were to turn the car to a dedicated track car, you are absolutely right and I would definitely have to rethink the valence, bumper and intercooling mounting.

[nando]

if your run the IC piping under the headlights you can keep all of that stuff. you only have to trim a little bit off the bottom of the high beam side.. check out matt325is's or blacktrail69's cars to see what I mean.

[e30this]

You should think about flipping the IC around so you can run the tubes under the lights like the person above posted.

[el bob]

Sorry guys but it's a bit too late to flip the IC, I made that decision a long time ago. I know it looks like just two 90 degree bends I pieced in there but there are actually fully fab'ed charge pipes already made for the car.

Anybody seen brake duct deletes done on E30s?

[el bob]

It seems that for obvious reasons, namely that brake ducts should be kept at all costs in 99% of applications, that there is no factory fit piece for this purpose. I'll probably talk to the body shops and see what they say about custom work.

[nando]

it couldn't be that hard to reroute your IC piping? it looks like you would only have to shorten it a bit if you flipped over the IC, and maybe add another bend to it. I mean you already have the car in peices, why not just do it right the first time?

[devonjordan]

it couldn't be that hard to reroute your IC piping? it looks like you would only have to shorten it a bit if you flipped over the IC, and maybe add another bend to it. I mean you already have the car in peices, why not just do it right the first time?

+1.

keep the ducts.

[PiercedE30]

Get some sheet metal and cover the brake duct portions. Put some fog lights in place and use cardboard as a template for the piece that needs to be made. Easy.

[PaulEZ]

How about using some black mesh? It shouldn't be to hard to fab up something and you still get the advantage of air passage...

[einstein57]

Are there any stock parts that can be used to block off the gap left by removing brake ducts? I can not keep them due to turbo intercooler piping and I would like cover the opening.

I am not sure if I can fit fog lights on the outsides, I will try.

I was thinking of making some sheet metal covers for the brake ducts area and seam welding them to the valence. Have any cars done this before?

Also, how much should I expect to pay to get the valence painted to match the rest of the car at the body shop? I'm just wondering if it's a $50, $150 or $400 type of job.

It looks like the driverside sticks out past the valance. I wonder if you could cut and re weld the outlets at a 45 degree angle and still clear the duct covers. And the the paint job could be $59, $150, $400 job depending on how close to factory you want it to look. But if you prep it ready to spray you could get a pretty descent job for $100.

i painted this in my driveway.




I got this car painted for 1300 with bodywork and shaving done in a week.