rain tray

[Olli from NJ]

I just installed a new rain tray on my new to me '71 and couldn't help but wonder if it would impair airflow. Does it? I would think that the VW engineers would not design a part that would negatively effect cooling.

Olli

[djkeev]

I hadn't really thought about it but logic says yes it would reduce air flow.

But VW engineers were obviously a pretty bright group of people.

I'm sure that air flow was taken into consideration when they designed it.

I am curious what year it first appeared.

Ah Ha! From chassis # 140 2000 001
August 1969 for the 1970 model year.

Page 8-40 item #2

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/ghia_...ations.pdf

Dave
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Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[djkeev]

Found this post.....

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

[Era Vulgaris]

I highly doubt the late plastic style would impede the airflow requirement for a stock engine.

Although a different car and engine, but also air-cooled...I did an experiment on one of the 914's I used to own. I had a 4 channel digital head temp gauge that monitored all 4 head temps in real time, as well as an analog style oil temp gauge. I spent several week running with and without the rain tray, and there was zero impact on head or oil temps.
The 914 rain tray is a similar, albeit much larger, plastic design as the late Ghia rain trays. I would imagine the results for a similar test on a late Ghia would be the same.

Now the early metal rain tray that was part of the decklid...that one probably does impede airflow somewhat, and it's probably why the design was changed as displacement increased on the later cars.
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[bnam]

What should one do to the deck lid when putting a 1600 in a 65 or older KG?

Byas
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1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe - under restoration
1966 Fiat 1500 Cabrio (with 1600 Twin cam)
1952 Citroen TA 11BL

[sputnick60]

I'd do nothing. 1600 isn't such a powerhouse and most are running fine without changes to the deck lid.
Nicholas
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[John Moxon]

These forums are littered with failures when "clever" people think they have a better idea than the VW engineers. Progressive improvements were just that.
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[Era Vulgaris]

Just to add....I wasn't implying that the early design was inadequate for the engines VW was supplying. Just that VW saw a way to improve the design, so they did. Porsche did a similar thing on the 356, going to a dual vent grill on the late T6 bodies.
A 1600 is only 0.1 liters larger than the 1500 that ran with the early deck lid from 67-69. That would be totally fine with the early lid. Now if you had, say, a 2332 under there then you might want to think about increasing the ventilation.
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Currently own:
66 Karmann Ghia, L390 Gulf Blue, under construction, here: www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760505&highlight=
99 Mazda MX-5 10AE, Sapphire Blue Mica, 6 speed, LSD

Previously owned:
98 Porsche Boxster, silver, 2.5L -- 67 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1500sp -- 98 BMW Z3, Atlanta Blue Metallic, 2.8L I6 -- 75 Porsche 914, Laguna Blue, 2270cc -- 72 Porsche 914, Signal Orange, 1.7 FI -- 74 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1600dp -- 74 Triumph TR6 with O.D., sapphire blue

[Olli from NJ]

I actually am having CB build a 2332 for my '71. Heads will NOT be wild, with reduced fins. They will be Panchitos. Cooling will be dog house, with all the tin, including the sled tins. A venturi ring will be added to the fan inlet. Full flow case, external filter with an external cooler(with fan), 4 qt extra sump.

I just couldn't help myself for asking the question when I installed the rain tray, am I restricting the air flow? Somehow, I don't think so. The VW engineers wouldn't design a part that would be detrimental to cooling IMHO. The more I looked at the tray, the more I could see that there was a great deal of opening through and around the tray. What I might do just for fun is a very unscientific visual smoke test and just watch how the smoke gets drawn in. With vs without the tray. At the present time, the engine is a '71 1600. But that wouldn't change the amount of air that the fan draws.

Olli

[Volswagon]

My thought is when you restrict the flow, you get more vacuum thus cooling the incoming air more. I have often wished for a leaf catcher on my Ghia because it gets old reaching in there to get leaves out of the fan. They can sound pretty strange in there.
I used to stand-off the hood on the Beetle in summer but found the extra drag to be a...drag in winter.
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[swavananda]

I remember hearing about a simple vacuum test to determine this. Idea is to run a length of vinyl tubing from inside engine bay to inside the car and have the end of the tube sit in a container of water. . Take the car out for a run and do a third gear red line . If the motor is sucking in more air than available, water will get drawn in due to the vacuum affect being created.

[jeffrey8164]

Even though I never intend to drive it in the rain, I’m contemplating installing one in my ‘70.
I removed the old one many years ago because of a Weber Progressive. No telling what I did with it so I’ll have to get a repop.
Anyone know if they fit with dual carbs?
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[myghiarocks]

Yes, mine fits fine with dual carbs, is there any in classifieds?

[jeffrey8164]

Good to know, thanks

Only a few broken ones in the classifieds.
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