differences in alien cowls

**Krazymaan** · 10-21-2016, 10:37 PM

So I have an alien cowl on my engine. but it has a textured finish, Its super thin and super light. I see others that have a smooth finish. Whats the reasoning behind this?
Is the answer so easy that its because they make a smooth finish and a texture finish or does it have anything to do with drag coefficiency or maybe pre 2000 aliens were textured and post cowls were smooth.
I don't know, thats why I am asking.
Thanks.

**Markus** · 10-22-2016, 12:30 AM

Are you sure yours is OEM?

**tux974** · 10-22-2016, 05:15 AM

Never seen an OEM texture finish cowl.

**Krazymaan** · 10-22-2016, 09:46 AM

Wait, I never said I had an OEM textured cowl. My drivetrain is from the mid 80's. 2.4 stuff so I would assume they didn't have these cowls back then. But then again I wouldn't know.
I thought all alien cowls were aftermarket until I started seeing people selling OEM alien cowls.
So i was wondering why mine is textured and almost all other ones I see are smooth.
I also have a skirt on a shelf in a garage somewhere, but that is definitely smooth.

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**NICE PAIR** · 10-22-2016, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Krazymaan

Wait, I never said I had an OEM textured cowl. My drivetrain is from the mid 80's. 2.4 stuff so I would assume they didn't have these cowls back then. But then again I wouldn't know.
I thought all alien cowls were aftermarket until I started seeing people selling OEM alien cowls.
So i was wondering why mine is textured and almost all other ones I see are smooth.
I also have a skirt on a shelf in a garage somewhere, but that is definitely smooth.

Appears to be aftermarket, no air inlets, no holes for stock latch hardware. How does the motor get air?

**Krazymaan** · 10-22-2016, 10:32 AM

Right in the front through that baffle

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**rock** · 10-22-2016, 10:49 AM

I think there may have been many that splashed an alien. I know mine is not OEM and came to me with no cutouts for air or anything else for that matter. Just got two ultra light pieces of fiberglass. My guess is yours was an experiment in an attempt to either just be different or possibly an air thing as you mentioned. I know I bought a Stream years ago that had a pebble finish on it and the previous owner claimed it made it faster but I planned on painting so it was eventually smooth all over again. My Allison has it also. You may have the only one.

Rock

**StratosVT** · 10-22-2016, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by Krazymaan

So I have an alien cowl on my engine. but it has a textured finish, Its super thin and super light. I see others that have a smooth finish. Whats the reasoning behind this?

Because someone painted yours that way! OEM aliens aren't painted .....they're black plastic.

**Krazymaan** · 10-22-2016, 02:48 PM

Heres a closer look at the finish. On one hand, I don't really know how you would spray such a thin texture like this. Not saying you can't and on the other hand, I can't imagine making a mold with this texture built into it. I guess I would tend to lean towards the sprayed on version because that would be quite an achievement to texture the inside of a mold like that.

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**Krazymaan** · 10-22-2016, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by StratosVT

Because someone painted yours that way! OEM aliens aren't painted .....they're black plastic.

So if you have a fiberglass or carbon fiber cowl that means it cannot be an OEM piece?
OEM's are always plastic?
Just taking in this info, this is good to know. As long as its correct.
Mine's definitely not plastic