No covers on Engine/headers

[TartanJack]

OK . . .
I'm more used to modding older cars w/ FAR less plastic/rubber and electronics in them.
I'm also not much of a fan of exhaust and engine covers. I like to SEE the functional parts.

So . . .
Would there be any negative (mainly water) consequences from leaving OFF the plastic engine cover?

Would there be any issues on hoses or wires if I remove the heat shield on the stock headers?
The original xB2 headers look pretty good shapewise, even if not protected well. I'm planning to take them off, clean them up (sand off rust, esp. on the main engine flange- nice coat of rust) and painting them w/ header paint. BUT, I wouldn't want the now exposed heat to melt or weaken anything up there.

[xbgod]

You should be ok. I polished my valve cover and have spark plug wires exposed. No problems what so ever. I do garage keep it though. Here's a pic.

[Hotrod]

I took my engine cover off, no problems. Header heat shield however is on my car. When I get a aftermarket header I am getting it ceramic coated and wrapping it with header tape.

[TartanJack]

Here is the "as is" under there, just w/ the covers off and NOTHING else . . .
Cleaning and some paint will help

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r46/MacWage/xb/P1010257.jpg
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r46/MacWage/xb/P1010256.jpg
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r46/MacWage/xb/P1010255.jpg
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r46/MacWage/xb/P1010254.jpg

I'll clean up the header. I don't think that brown is really rust, but a byproduct of the bending in Japan. It just comes off w/ cleaner and hard rubbing.
The flange will need sanding and paint, as it is VERY rust-coated.
A little red header paint would look good there . . .

[Bigsmooth433430]

Great question cause I was wondering the same thing. I need to remove my header shield and get some rust off of there that was on it when I bought it (used). Then I want to put some header paint on as well. Glad you asked ;)

[TartanJack]

I changed the picture posting, as the pictures were REALLY small and wouldn't "pop" bigger like they were supposed to- just stayed thumbnails.