Silversurfer, it looks to me like that monster cowl and the ram-air effect from the prop and the plane's forward motion will far overcome any air you might get in through those louvers. I would leave them like they are, and they will serve as air exits. After all, it's hard to get too much exit area. That big blast of cool air from the front of the cowl should get back to your ingnition to provide plenty of cooling, and having those exits right above it might even help.

My $.02.

AmpAce