Community Forums

ddgoodtimes · 05-16-2014, 11:17 AM

Has anyone tried to modify there engine cover to lower it down so you can swing your legs out easier. I am looking at my 2000 Coachmen V10 and the cover is tall enough to block the feet pretty good. I looked under it and there seems to be a lot of room under there. I was thinking a 4" chop like you would do on a car or something. Straight down from the dash 4" and then straight back keeping parallel with the floor. Any comments, pictures, ect.

Fiesta48 · 05-16-2014, 01:10 PM

Do it, but make sure you have fireproofing on the underside cover.

macantic · 05-16-2014, 01:32 PM

I fixed ours by trading it for a 8.1L engine with a workhorse chassis.

vsheetz · 05-16-2014, 01:38 PM

On mine this was a problem for me. I fixed my problem by losing 150lbs and going to the gym.

al2ride · 05-16-2014, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macantic

I fixed ours by trading it for a 8.1L engine with a workhorse chassis.

Really? LOL

al2ride · 05-16-2014, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddgoodtimes

Has anyone tried to modify there engine cover to lower it down so you can swing your legs out easier. I am looking at my 2000 Coachmen V10 and the cover is tall enough to block the feet pretty good. I looked under it and there seems to be a lot of room under there. I was thinking a 4" chop like you would do on a car or something. Straight down from the dash 4" and then straight back keeping parallel with the floor. Any comments, pictures, ect.

I understand your concern. I have bad legs myself. What I do is swing the chair 90 degrees to the right and it makes it easier to get in and out.

Not sure why it was built so high, but they probably took into consideration that the closest to the engine the hotter it gets. I'm sure you can chop it to within fractions of anything hitting the engine. IMO, it's just not worth it. It's one of those things you have to get used to.

TeJay · 05-17-2014, 10:05 AM

I think rather than destroy the integrity of the original cover I'd make a new one. There's a lot of different materials that would work and also several types of noise dampening and heat resistant materials available as well. Our 1999 DS with the V-10 was a little higher but this coach is not to bad. In the coming months when my list gets a little shorter I may explore that option.

I think a nice curly or birds eye maple wooden top would look great.

TeJay

Ted Lambert · 05-20-2014, 07:29 AM

The space between the engine and the cover may be there to help with cooling. Allowing air circulation. If you change this, the heat may not dissipate and the components on top of the engine might suffer.
Just my 2 cents.

ddgoodtimes · 05-20-2014, 06:19 PM

I think I will start by drilling a hole for a temp probe and see how hot it gets under there then stuff it with padding to fill the part I would remove and take another temp reading and then go from there. Thanks for the input.

Tony H · 05-20-2014, 06:42 PM

I did this modification for another reason but it might help you.

I didn't have enough leg room for comfortable driving. And the seat couldn't go further back because it was already up against the slide.

What I did was raise it 2-1/2" which really helped straighten my right leg driving.

And it gives additional leg clearance over the engine box.