Underhood lining: replace it?

[slipnfall]

I have a '92 240sx, and the under-hood lining is in pretty bad shape. The original engine blew and I think it's pretty much soaked with oil. That or it's melting:every time I open the hood after running it, there's *always* oily residues on my strut towers and intake piping. Also the paint on my hood is completely peeled(odd, except right down the center).

Should I just suck it up and buy a new one, or pull it off and leave it off? Does this really protect the hood paint? I was once told this also is supposed to melt over the engine bay in the event of a fire(to help smother it).

What do you think? Any alternatives? Do carbon fiber hoods hold up to the heat better, because I never see them on the underside of those.

Is this a dealer-only item, or are there substitutes I can use?

Thanks!-Jamie

[elwesso]

You could always try getting one used...

[slipnfall]

I'd consider it if the junkyards around here were of any worth. And I would hate to have something like that shipped!

[elwesso]

Ill let someone else chime in, but I really dont think it will make that much difference if you have it/dont have it... Ive seen plenty of cars that dont have them in place (for one reason or another) and I dont think it will make much difference.....

[slipnfall]

Yeah I suppose it can't hurt the hood anymore: 75% of the clearcoat is already peeled off; this is the only place on the car the clearcoat has came off. Odd. I just attributed it to the heat.

I guess that'll just have to be replaced when I get it painted.

Thx for the response, I'm still open to suggestions.-Slip

[elwesso]

if your paint is already crappy, i really wouldnt worry about it... Its mainly there for excess noise, so that the engine doesnt sound so rattley at idle when its just sitting there with the hood down.....

[574-240sx]

I took mine off, I got tired of it. Check junkyard, a used one couldn't cost too much. I would imagine shipping one of them you would have to fold it up which would destroy it.

[slipnfall]

:cool I'm glad I'm not the only one who is annoyed by it.

Time to make some use of the dumpster at work!

[babowc]

:removed it by just plucking the little things off, save those, it'll be useful if you're missing interior circle things... i was misisng like 10 and the ones from the hood went into the interior:
Modified by babowc at 1:42 PM 9/3/2005