Fresh air vents for carbs

Has anyone installed air vents through the fire wall to get fresh air to the carbs? If so, what vents did you use. If anyone thinks that this is a bad idea, please let me know.

Didn't do anything for the carbs specifically,but on my CMC (and a number of others on here have done the same thing) I removed the area right in front of the fan inlet to allow air in from the void between the firewall and the rear seat back. Don't forget to put a protective screen (I used 1/4" mesh) over the opening to keep leaves and squirrels out!

That opening should be big enough to feed both the fan and the carbs.

Gordon

Does this look like what you're talking about?

Yes. Your picture is what I am thinking of. I was thinking of finishing off the holes differently. Something like a A/C or heater vent inside a car. I wouldn't need the vent to pivot and direct the air, but having a finished vent on the inside would look great.

ricardo, judging by your pic i had the same painter.

Well Bruce, that car is not mine. It's a picture of a car I was interested in buying and somebody beat me to it.....ended up buying a new VS instead, which I think is even better!

i know, just kiddin you. but it looks just like mine.

Good thing though, Bruce, is that with our fiberglass cars, a little paint goes a long way in making them look awesome again!

Hey John,

Take a look at these pictures. The vents are in the rear wheel well.

Karl

Hey that's neat! It even has a little filter attached.

Wide body is in the shop for some winter maintenance (so no pics) but I vented for my carbs via 4" holes in the firewall in front of the carbs, installed dryer vent alum. tubes behind firewall, dryer vent flap vents (flaps removed) in front of rear wheels near rear edge of door under the car, connected the vent to the vent tube with alum. flex dryer hose and installed window screen at the openings. Seems to work well.

John, one way to vent more fresh "cool", "clean" air to the carbs is to open up the air intake in the engine cover. I was able to increase the opening size by over double the original air intake size. This way you don't suck in pre-warmed air from under the car that has dust and road debris in it. That is how Porsche did it on the high performance cars that needed more air. You can see pictures in my files. I would be glad to post how I did it if you are interested.
Eddie

Eddie, it looks just like a real Carrera. Post how you did it!

Ricardo, It wasn't hard. I just removed the engine cover, taped the areas that I wanted to enlarge with masking tape laid side by side to totally cover the area. Then I drew with a Sharpie marker the new holes I wanted in the shape I wanted, taking care to leave enough strength for the latch unit area. I also left in the main pan area under the grill that covers the top of the engine and distributor so in case I got stuck in a rain shower I had a little protection.

I tried to focus more on the area at the rear and the sides that were closed off on the fiber glass hoods, but were opened up in the pictures I had of the original Carrera hoods. I also noted that on some Carreras they have the oval hole cut in the center of the pan under the grill. I figured I can always go back in and cut this area out if I need more ventilation, sacrificing the weather protection.

I then used a milling bit in my Dremel tool that was about a 3/8" dia., and set the hood on a blanket on my lawn and cut alone the lines I had drawn. When I finished, I removed the tape and cleaned up any areas that were rough with sand paper wrapped around my finger, being very carfull not to let the sand paper touch anything but sides, and not the top or bottom.

Lastly I touched up the freshly cut areas with a small paint brush and some touchup paint I got from KirK at VS.

Hope that helps.
Eddie

That's great Eddie! As you say, the only drawbacks in the real Carrera lids is that it lacks weather protection. You definitely need that unless you get one of those rubber jacket kits for the distributor and ignition parts as used by the off-road guys. Maybe that could work.

Eddie:

What kind of breather box and carbs do you have on that great looking engine? I want to put some new carb covers on my IM, but my oil blow back is plumb into the top of one of my carbs. Your setup looks pretty cool.

Thanks,

Oz

Hi Oz, the brand name of the breather box escapes me. Acctually, what happened was that I wanted the paint detail look so I painted the stock carb covers, but the breather cover didn't match, so I was at my local VW shop and I saw this breather that matched the carb covers so I traded tops. I think it was an EMPI unit, but I can't be sure. Sorry I couldn't be more specific.

Eddie

Gordon, I'll get you a source as soon as I can look it up. Eddie

I've got those air cleaner covers, too. Don't know if they're EMPI either - I got them as part of the carb/linkage kit from CB Performance when I bought my Dellorto's back in 1997....

Gordon