thanks for all the comments & ideas guys!
I'm thinking about doing a trap door with reusable body panel clips for an access window to do the oil changes...but i need to get some more coroplast first
the engine heat should funnel right out of the center, maybe i should leave it open...?
i used self tapping screws to install it, but i predrilled the holes in the metal body first...made it go faster, up front, its just screwed into the factory tray that goes from the air dam to the radiator, the rest was in the frame like rails, or channels in chassis, so no screws popping into the carpet, or other important stuff
mileage is down, but not of this, cuz my parents used the car to run around in for like the first 1/2 tank of gas, then i just beat it the rest of the week, this new tank, i should really see numbers as i plan to return back to hypermiling/driving