All.
Anyone done anything to completely seal engine compartment on their vs. wheel well area leading into engine and around the back of the car in the compartment where the lights are connected... There is a gap there.
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Cut a template and transfer to sheet metal. Clean the glass and put a bead of silicone above and below (sandwiched) to the inner body.
I used sheet fiberglass to make the gap even all the way around the engine tin, then used VW Bus engine sealing strip (it has a "H" profile) which has sealed the compartment nicely. Less dirt in the engine compartment from the road, and better /controlled air flow.
I have been happy with this solution so far.
Matt
I've got the engine tin piece sealed with the H foam. But the back of thee car is open a little on both side behind rear wheels into engine compt and then far back is not sealed.
Hey, Todd, if you use painted aluminum siding tin, you can make your car look just like another brand.
^
... Oh "Brand X", how I miss those little reminders of how much extra you care...
Aluminum siding tin?
Something's being referred to...but it's gone right over my head.
Todd:
A while back, I made a set of engine compartment sealing tins for a CMC that effectively sealed up the area(s) you're mentioning- both sides outward from the tail lights as well as between the body and the back of the body subframe (just inside of the license plate light). Before the tins, there was a large gap back there of 1/2" to a couple of inches. After the tins that gap was reduced to about 1/4" and was further sealed with household weather strip. I honestly don't know if I have the templates around anymore (I've moved three times since I made them) but I'll look to see - they may be applicable to a VS. In the meantime, I just mocked up what I wanted with stiff wrapping paper and then transferred that to a sheet of HVAC sheet metal, cut it out, folded it where necessary and screwed it to the body subframe with 10-32 screws, then added a bit of weather strip and it was sealed. Maybe you could try that, too.
I sealed up the rearmost area (that's the most important part to seal up as that's where the hot air expelled by the engine could be recirculated) with cylindrical foam and silicone. I left the rest; it might be a good idea to have a couple of areas where fresh cool air can come into the engine compartment.
I believe he's referring to the area in between the body itself and the outer perimeter of the engine compartment.