Sound deadining or heat shield??

[Trise30rally]

I have been stripping my e30 to make a rally car and i am obviously trying to lose as much weight as possible..

I have got the engine and box out and on the inside of the transmission tunnel is a rubber lining..

What does it do? if its sound deadining i can loose it but if its heat sheilding do you think i should keep it? i don't want to end up with the transmission tunnel burning me!!

[JimmyC]

Only section I have kept is the exhaust heat shield

[Trise30rally]

Is that the bit that seperates the prop shaft from the exhaust??

[handpaper]

I know the bit you're talking about; it's soundproofing, rip it out. The transmission tunnel will get hot to the touch; it did before - but with the carpet and centre console on you couldn't touch it!
The exhaust heatshield is the alloy plate between the exhaust and propshaft. Keep it as it also protects the propshaft centre bearing.

[Trise30rally]

Cool, i was wondering about that bit!

Any other little bits under there that are good to get rid of??

[JimmyC]

All the shields can go, wheel arch liners, all the plastic shite under the engine, and underseal if you fancy a challenge ;)

[Trise30rally]

I was looking at the wheel arche liners wondering what they actually do?? is it just a big gap up there or is it protecting the metal from stone chips etc??

What shields are you talking about? i might not have any because the car is only a 316 atm......

[handpaper]

If it's a rally car as opposed to a circuit racer, I'd leave quite a bit in, if only to make it easier to clean!
The large plastic piece under the radiator is worth keeping as it will keep crap off the front of the engine; it also has aerodynamic function if you go fast enough.