Exhaust heat and SIG ABS plastic cowls

Mustang finished and balanced. I'd planned on cutting a muffler off so I'd have an exhaust stack going outside of the plastic cowl. However, I'm hesitant to add any more weight, especially up front, as I would also have to add some at the rear.
Has anyone ran an unmuffled engine inside one of these ABS plastic cowls? I'm afraid of melting the cowling.
Thanks.

MCM,
I built the Akrobat years ago with the ABS cowl that completely enclosed the nose. I didn't have any problems with it wraping, etc., but did have problems keeping the seams glued together. Used mek w/ a reinforcing strip even, but they would work loose. Just "lived" with it.
Used a wood cowl on my Mustang.
Bill <><

>Mustang finished and balanced. I'd planned on cutting a
>muffler off so I'd have an exhaust stack going outside of
>the plastic cowl. However, I'm hesitant to add any more
>weight, especially up front, as I would also have to add
>some at the rear.
>Has anyone ran an unmuffled engine inside one of these ABS
>plastic cowls? I'm afraid of melting the cowling.
>Thanks.

If you cut the slot, most of the exhaust would go out. But you would still have a mess inside. If weight is a consideraton, use a tongue muffler. Half an ounce weight. If that makes it nose heavy, wrap a quarter ounce of solder to the tail strut.

Or try one of the new lighter spinners.