I'm making the move to no timing covers. But which ones should / have to be there? The metal one by the oil pump? Rear pieces?

leave the one behind the idler pulley there, its the one to the right of the oil pump. i break off the part that overlaps the oil pump itself to allow for seal replacement without taking the cover off. this is the only place where the belts would be otherwise exposed from the back

 

the metal piece is turbo specific as it acts as a heat shield, this part fits with the part you would leave non, and the bottom of the oil pump itself

 

both trashwagon6 and the sedan at the columbus meet ran open belts and i believe jason's does too

 

the only reported open belt failure thus far was from a loose rag under the hood wrapping around the crank pulley, on my car

No timing belt covers at all for me. So far so good.

A former wagon of mine seems to be running just fine with no covers (I haven't received a call saying it's broken yet). I'm planning to pull them off my GL when I get around to doing some front engine area work. I was planning to pull the engine & reseal it, but I may just skip that and pay to get the driveway powerwashed in the spring.

 

-=Russ=-