I have a friend that wants to upgrade his front bumper to the 99 simply because the hole for the oil coolers are so small that he does not think he is getting maximum capacity of air flow when at the track.

If someone sold a cutout to make that hole bigger would people buy it and how many people would be up to cutting their stock bumpers to fit this scoop?

 

no one??

 

I havent been on the forum to long but from what I've seen most owners aren't going to cut up their stock bumper. Personaly it's a tacky and cheap way to do it and most owners are the kind of people that do things right way which is way I love this community. If people want more airflow they just get the 99 bumper or another aftermarket bumper.

If this is something that interests you thats fine its your car. I'm not trying to be a jerk just stating my opinion.

 

There are people who would switch to the 99spec for cooling improvements, if not for style itself.

The stock oil coolers come with a duct.
The dual oil coolers offered with the r1/2 package are quite sufficient for most applications.

 

I don't see this happening.

Mostly because there are other options. As you mentioned the 99 spec bumpers, as well as many aftermarket bumpers flow more air than the USDM one.

So why would I go chopping into my stock bumper? If I had a lot of down time, a spare bumper, I was bored, creative, and poor, then sure. Otherwise, just pic one of the many good bumpers out there that fit your needs.

I will also add, what is your friend using for proof that his air flow is limited? Are his oil or water temps creaping up?

 

I've seen people enlarge the oil cooler openings on the USDM bumper...but I think most people would rather go with a new front end rather than hack up the stock one.

 

This is great input. Believe me I am one of those guys that went up to the 99 bumper.



I though of this idea for a friend because he doesn't have the funds to spend on a 99 spec bumper. He says that he has to get other stuff for the track like new brakes and rotors.

This is just going to be done for my track bumper since it is all beat up. Here is a pic of what I got so far.


since I am making one, I figure i would make a mold in case anyone else would like them, but I see that will be a negative.

Yes his temps were creeping at the track compared to another FD with the same setup.

 

R-magic makes oil cooler ducts for the 99spec front bumper that are supposedly very nice.

Most people facing creeping oil temps at the track opt for larger oil coolers. Given the diversity of setups, a one-size-fits-all ducting setup would be hard to do. And, sheet metal ducting isn't all that hard to do.

 

I made ducting for him. When he got the oil coolers I made the ducting and he has never ran at the track without it.

Here is what I am thinking

 

^ I see what you're thinking but it's not necessary. As long as the duct is installed, air will flow though all of the cooler (even the top part that seems "blocked" by the bumper).

Just because some of the cooler is "blocked" from the "line of sight" though the bumper opening, it doesn't mean the parts of the cooler aren't getting airflow - don't think of it like a straight/linear like a laser beam. Air enters the bumper and then go though whatever openings there are based on the path of least resistance (i.e. the spaces between the fins on the oil cooler).

When air enters the bumper opening it creates a high pressure area in front of the cooler as it tries to flow though the fins. Air will be forced though all the surface area of the oil cooler pretty equally, not just though the straight-line path, because of the pressure created in the "line of sight" surface area.



Having larger openings will allow more volume of air to enter, but it's really not necessary unless you're using larger coolers as well.

Think about how the SMIC works - they have a much larger surface area compared to the opening of the duct.

 

Yeah I know what the air will eventually build more pressure and cover the entire cooler, but don't you think the bigger opening will cause less restriction and make the air move a little easier?

If you have all of this air trying to fit in this little hole to go through a larger cooler the air then becomes more of a restriction right?

 

But, relatively speaking, the holes are not "little"
With proper ducting and big oil coolers the 93-95 bumper is not a restriction.

Plenty of track dedicated cars run the series6/7 front end setup without any oil cooling problems.

Think of it like this.
What do you think is the bigger restriction: the Smaller Openings or the Oil Coolers behind then?
If the oil coolers are a bigger restriction than the openings, then the openings are a non-issue.

 

Sorry I couldn't help myself...

 

If your buddy has a dual oil cooler setup (even the stock coolers) his car should be just fine with the stock bumper openings & proper ducting...

Truthfully I don't see any reason to enlarge the openings unless he can confirm that his oil temps are too high even with proper ducting.

I also think an aftermarket front end (or the OEM '99 spec) would look much better than a hacked-up USDM one, if he does find the USDM openings are too restrictive (doubtful).

 

Hmmm, 99 bumper with 93 front spoiler/lip, interesting combo, I don't remember seeing that before.

 

hahahaha yeah it is only temp. I lost my job and have been doing things on the side like fiberglass, powder coating and welding for to pay the bills. I havent had any money to spend on the car.

Are you guys doubting my abilities to make a bumper scoop look good?? LOL

I get what you guys are saying completely. I have a spare number that I have already cut. I will take it to the track next time we go and test the difference and report back :-) I just though the bigger hole would help just a little

 

^ i know how you feel with the job thing...