Any down side to leaving rocker panal covers off?

[Argeo]

Hi, I was looking at my car yesterday thinking boy this really looks nice like this, even with the unfixed rot holes, and spots of paint I haven't yet stripped off. I then realized it was the absence of the rocker panal covers that I liked. It make the car appear bulkier. I do not think I need them but is there anything special I need to do if I decide to keep them off which right now looks like a sure thing?

Thanks,

David

[Argeo]

Oh, 77 911. Thanks.

[Jdub]

The rocker panels provide no structural integrity or otherwise. As far as I can tell they are for looks alone, though they do protect the outerside hard oil line.

You *might* get a bit more oil cooling via exposure of the outer line, but I noticed no difference after many weeks in both states.

I'd think you're fine leaving them off. If I were you I'd clean them up, wax them, and store them and the rubber strip/screws/plastic spacers in a safe place.

John

EDIT: I am in the process of louvering (sp?) the rightside rocker panel to catch air for circulation around the hard oil lines. Why? Because I can! There are good sides and bad sides to this as these scoops will pick up rain and dirt. However, I am meticulous in cleaning and will flush them regularly during car washes.

[Rot 911]

They are just there for cosmetic purposes only.

[juanbenae]

john further explaination of this louvering idea? will you do it the entire length, every few inches, or along the entire thing every few inches?

[widebody911]

I took mine off a couple years ago and never looked back.

[Jdub]

K9:

I'm doing this on the cheap: 45degree angle cut using a holesaw gives you a half circle cut in the rocker panel at whatever interval you want along the length. Carefully bend up each half circle and you have small scoops along the bottom section of your rocker panel.

It cannot possibly look as nice as a real nice hot rod shop could provide, bodywork-wise.

You have the choice of doing this either along the very bottommost flat section of the rocker panel or up a bit of a ways, along the side.

John

[Zeke]

Originally posted by Jdub
K9:

I'm doing this on the cheap: 45degree angle cut using a holesaw gives you a half circle cut in the rocker panel at whatever interval you want along the length. Carefully bend up each half circle and you have small scoops along the bottom section of your rocker panel.

It cannot possibly look as nice as a real nice hot rod shop could provide, bodywork-wise.

You have the choice of doing this either along the very bottommost flat section of the rocker panel or up a bit of a ways, along the side.

John

John, that is very clever! I like grass roots stuff like this. I somewhat subscribe to the new wave of hotrodding which is the antithesis of expensive, probuilt, billet laden $100,000 customs. In fact, I'm driving up to a car show in the bay area Sept 25 that won't accept an entry unless it is home done and in primer. They favor steel wheels. These kids have it goin' on!

Post some pics of your "hole saw louvres."

[juanbenae]

maybe a lenght of say, 1/8" to 1/4" screen behind it would lessen the intrusion of debris. if you paint the screen it might look cool, and lessen the visual impact of the oil lines?

[Jdub]

K9:

That is a cool thought. I had originally thought to cut rectangular sections with rounded corners and put screen behind them. I would think that three along the length of the rocker would look pretty cool. This scenario would not have any scoops however.

I have to admit I love the homebrew solutions, but can certainly see Chuck or others just rolling their eyes when they read this stuff. The solution to my cooling problems really is to bite the bullet and purchase a fan-assisted oil cooler and finned lines. But I blew that money on polished 7/9" Fuchs some time back.

I'm all hat and no cattle!!

John

[N11Porsche]

It's a matter of personal taste. I agree with the Porsche designers, that most Porshes' look better with the rocker panals in place. I never had any desire to look at oil lines or holes along the bottom of my Porshe. YMMV..........

[89911]

Any down side to leaving rocker panal covers off?

They look ugly with all the unfinshed holes and brackets when off.

[vash]

zeke, what is this about a car show in the bay area?

[Zeke]

Originally posted by vash
zeke, what is this about a car show in the bay area?

"World's least important (and imported) car show"

[Randy Webb]

ypu are gonna report back, right?

[JNadal]

Originally posted by widebody911
I took mine off a couple years ago and never looked back.

yeah, but you have the best looking 911 ever created: a 964 widebody

[Gunter]

Porshe? Yeah. Why not have a trailer hitch, roof rack and mudflaps? And a nice chrome AM radio from a '55 Buick? And green plush dice hanging from the mirror?

[Paulporsche]

Kohn,

Along w/ the pics, let us know if it helps oil temps.