Ok first let me preface this by saying my FB is turbo'd and I'm not looking for significantly more horsepower or really anything all that great. power is the easy part

That said, I've always thought that vented headlight covers look da' business! Everytime I see one I geek a little bit in me pants. However, I have this thing in that I will not allow myself to make an aesthetic modification unless it is accompanied by a performance gain.

Do these actually allow in an appreciable amount of air? My airfilter is currently right off the turbo, if I build a box behind the cover could I get any kind of help from it whatsoever?

Or perhaps the way I need to look at it is: can you think of anything else that needs air?

Basically I need help justifying my love of vented headlight covers to not be ricer, lest I soldier on with normal headlights

 

i would go for the mariah headlight cover, it helps draw air into the engine and they also have the Mariah Cold Air Box. i would consider it a performance gain over stock.

and you better be at the dyno day on the 22nd

 

I think you'd get more benefit from an air source under the bumper, being that's a high pressure area if I remember correctly. Everything above the bumper up to about the cowl area is low pressure, so you wouldn't get as much air through a vent there as you may think.... Then again I could be wrong, our cars are oddly shaped.

 

I'd cut a hole in the side of the radiator shroud and move the filter foward of the radiator and below the bumper at the grill opening. Box it in to shield from radiator heat. You may need to avoid driving in the rain though.

 

you don't get it. I'm not worried about my filter location, I want a friggen vented cover but want it to do something

what needs air?

as for the dyno day, I'll be in KC the 21st, but sadly i'm leaving early the 22nd to do some navy training.

 

I dunno. There's something about the lines of the 1st gen front end that's not meant to be messed with. You might rile the Rotary Gods.





I'm going with form on this one.

 

which is why I'll never put a body kit on my car. But NACA duct=sex, and it's very subtle

 

True NACA ducts are designed to work in low pressure areas. The problem with them is that the edges of the duct need to be sharp 90* edges to peal the air off the surface in through the duct. They were designed for airplanes so you know hey work when done right. I had one made out of Carbonfiber on my old Miata and you could see the spot on the air celaner where it was getting pblasted with air cause that spot was noticeably dirtier. Do they work yes, if done right.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NACA_duct
http://www.recumbents.com/wisil/nacaduct/naca-duct.htm

 

I thought that the very front was high pressure, quickly going to low pressure around the wheels wells?

**also, by the articles you posted, they are designed for high pressure, at least that's where the racer used his.

 

My headlights don't get nearly that hot...

 

I have one and I have been debating running it for this exact same reason.

 

Just say the damn thing cools off your engine bay... I mean honestly, do you really need to justify that vent? Just run it because you like the way it looks and screw who else hates it.

Its not "ricey" now if you had the vented hood, fenders, and ridiculous front bump then it would be rice rocket status.

 

I've always wanted one for a scoop for my carb. I have the same question, do they really pull that much air thru them?

 

I just can't think of anything I've done without practical benefit, and I think the vent is a great opportunity to do something useful.

Though you have a point; with all the real performance stuff I've got, I could put on ghost lights, a countach body-kit, type R badges, and an erector set and still not be rice.

 

Just put a vented hood on it i don't know if anyone makes any or if it might be in your price range but it will lower your engine bay temps and create some small HP gains

 

Yes, a full size NACA duct draws in a lot of air. Especially in a high pressure area like the headlight. My air filter got noticeably dirtier, faster. But the engine sure did the colder air. I stuffed a paper towl in each side then TOWED the rx7 behind my suv going 65mph. The paper towels disappeared quickly.

The one on the driver side cools my external oil filter. Yes, it is a little cooler.

The little one pictured at the top won't draw in much air, but some cold air is always better than none. Drawing air from in front of the radiator or the fender well is another ideaer.

 

^ that's baller as hell, do your lights still work?

 

I too have wondered if they work that well..... I guess I'm just subscribing.