Driving around with cam gears exposed?

[egSi]

ive been driving round with exposed cam gears for over 2yrs and i live in qld thats full of gay ****ing dirt/rock goat tracks i mean roads

ull be fine man

here:

[Lukezen27]

LMAO

I'v seen heaps of pics like Trav's SI and and thought thats how they were meant to be heheh

Live and learn

[Weq]

I read the title and THAT was going to be my exact response rofl .
Ive NEVER heard of anyone close to home ( that is , in AUSTRALIA) engine failing due to a rock or any foreign object gettign sucked into the timing belt etc.
The splash guard underneath helps prevent this. Id say the chances are extremelty remote ! But with all things its better safe than sorry methinks - seriously, you set your cam timing ONCE or TWICE - there is no need to have the cam cover cut ( unless its for showing off during OH meets with ur bonnet up).

ah workmate of mine had a small rock launch, go through the plastic splash gaurd and get doged in his waterpump. no way id run without the cover on. ur timing belt is important. lol. quite simple.

whats the point other then wank factor though. dial them in on the dyno then install the cover back! simplee.

[T-onedc2]

Even simply exposing the timing belt to more dust and whatever else will certainly shorten the belt's life. By how much? Who knows. I don't want to find that out with my car.
It's there for a reason not just safety of fingers.