I read somewhere, that I now cannot find, that the cowl closeout panels like made by cobalt help pull air through the radiator and engine bay somehow, thus increasing cooling efficiency.

I can't see how that would work, even if you pulled the gasket that seals the back of the hood.

Does it?

Car is a turbo nb street car with ac.

 

Would call BS. The area around the base of the windshield/cowl is a high pressure area, therefore it is a bad idea to try and using it as an outlet. If you want an effective outlet, buy a quality set of hood vents, placed in a low-pressure zone.

 

I can definitely see why you’re leaning toward an enclosed trailer, especially with a gutted Miata that can’t be locked and the theft risk in your area. That said, plenty of folks run open trailers and just add some safeguards—like custom window plugs, a fitted car cover with straps, and even motion-sensor alarms or wheel locks when parked outside. Ultimately it comes down to balancing budget, storage space, and your comfort level with risk. In a similar way, drivers balance convenience and cost on the road—Finding Loads Faster – Dispatchers constantly monitor load boards, brokers, and shippers, so you spend less time searching and more time driving, which is why many rely on https://avnlogisticstm.com/truck-dispatch-services/ freight dispatch services to keep their workflow smooth. If you do stick with open, I’d recommend investing in deterrents for theft and weather protection; if you go enclosed, you’ll pay more upfront but probably sleep better between events.

 

I think the theory is that blocking off the high pressure cowl area might lower under hood pressures and let the cooling stack flow better. But not sure that's sound either since the cowl is sealed off from the under hood area, afaik.

 

It should be, if the seal is in place. Isolate the cowl volume, nothing is going through the heater, and (top up) ventilation will require open windows. Regardless, if cooling is an issue and you have done all-of-the-sealing, you will need to open up the low pressure areas.