[Hellbender]

Frank, this is very interesting, and your results correlate almost exactly with my crude attempt to duplicate what you are doing.

When I built all my skids, about 2 years ago, I looked a little at the heat problem, I used an infrared gun, and directly above my gas pedal, I once got a reading (from inside the cab) of 255 degrees!!!

Are you using the Pontiac louvers? If so, do they have a rubber one way rain shield inside?

I also looked a little for a louver that would mount on the side/fender panels (flat area under side "Wrangler" stickers).

I think all the airflow (big radiator and fan) work in the front of the engine is useless without giving it a place to go out in the rear of the engine compartment, ie., it bottles up from the exhaust manifold and sits on the firewall.

Our cool skid plates make things even worse.

Good work and keep going!

HB