As Demon said, look out from below. The hottest air is blown up from the radiator by the fan toward the filter - if the bottom is open hot air may be trapped inside. If you put a hole in your shield facing forward, cooler air moving over the battery can be used, along with your fenderwell duct.


1999 Amazon Green SVT Contour (#554/2760)
Stock SVT Duratec V6 with:
Intake- K&N filter/75mm MAF meter
Exhaust- MSDS Y-pipe/Bassani catback
Durability-Ford "dual mode" damper, Mobil 1/K&N oil filter
179.2 FWHP at 6900 RPM