Hi Gents!

While I have the FD apart, I was considering welding the front wheel well areas closed. I've seen this on a number of builds, typically track cars. I have access to an excellent welder for a couple more weeks and while everything is apart, I figured why not.

So...any real reason NOT to?

Thanks!

PS: Should be noted if I don't do this, I will have to buy new wheel well "guards" as mine are trashed.

 

Extra weight is a reason not to. The FD is insanely stiff. Anything in front of the shock tower mostly does not matter for stiffness, this is why Mazda did not put metal there. Mazda approached the FD with weight in mind, i.e. eliminating unneeded metal.

 

i've considered doing the same thing. I'd imagine after all was said and done it'd only add a couple lbs on each side. I don't have plastic guards either and I run my car pretty low...thus eliminating them entirely. Im gonna look into making a cover...or I may just end up welding it closed entirely. But I have heard of people talking about how air escapes or it creating some kind of vac that pulls air out, which helps with bay temps.