my first ever body mod
09-14-06, 10:10 PM
#1
emissions r teh sux
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my first ever body mod
just started my first ever body mod on my 82 today. I will be taking pics and documenting the process so i will be posting pics of the mod in before-during-after formats.
What i am doing is adding a vent in the valance to allow cool air to more effectively cool the radiator. I have seen several on other members cars and i figured why the hell not =P
What i am doing is adding a vent in the valance to allow cool air to more effectively cool the radiator. I have seen several on other members cars and i figured why the hell not =P
09-14-06, 10:20 PM
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emissions r teh sux
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the valance i am referring to is the body piece between the top of the bumper and the hood that seems to sit directly in front of my radiator. my theory is that by opening a vent in this area more cold air will rush to the radiator while driving and in effect help to keep it cooler than just using the fan.
here is a before shot of my front end before the mod
here is a before shot of my front end before the mod
09-14-06, 10:46 PM
#7
FB+FC=F-ME
Originally Posted by FirebirdSlayer666
Yeah you're talking about the header panel. The fan is really only need for stop and go traffic. Driving around there's enough air flow coming through the grille area to keep temps in check. But hey, to each their own
Correct.
If you run an E-fan or if the stock fluid clutch fan kicks in at lower vehicle speeds,then it will draw all the air thats needed to keep things cool,regardless of vents,slats or forward motion ram-air.
Extra vents,slats and exhausts make a marked difference when at speeds and under heavy power,when the cooling system is being pushed hard and theres isnt a huge amount of flow......think AutoX,or any type of 35-50MPH racing.Faster than that, and there will be mountains of ram-air availble,but its easy to wring out some gears and run a tight, technical road course in just 1st 2nd and 3rd,running lower MPH.
I agree that a header vent isnt likely to be needed unless you have an intercooler blocking the radiator.A lower airdamn would be a more effective method of forcing air into the radiator core.If you do make one,it would be wise to do a little tin-work to be sure all the air running into the vent,its forced into the radiator,instead of around it,into gaps and cracks around the radiator support.
Heres my setup,which feeds the primary oil cooler located above the radiator.Oil cooler exhaust air is drawn out of the hood extraction vent along with a portion of the radiator air.....
Heres a "grabber" scoop I made to pickup air and force it through the radiator only,since the IC is eating up all my airdam opening.....
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09-15-06, 12:30 AM
#8
haha u like to show your bling dont you 
to be honest i considerd the samething tho that header panel really is to high
buying a front bumber with a big vent up front like steves is a better gain
oh i like the paint strips
look like my car
to be honest i considerd the samething tho that header panel really is to high
buying a front bumber with a big vent up front like steves is a better gain
oh i like the paint strips
look like my car
Last edited by blwfly; 09-15-06 at 12:44 AM.
09-15-06, 02:22 AM
#9
emissions r teh sux
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During shots will come tomorrow at some odd hour
I would love to do an airdam like the one that steve has but i don't really have the cash flow for it at the moment. I figured that since funding is a problem and i was kind of interested in body mods anyways that i would experiment with a semi-functional and small mod first. I will be making a tin air flow guide like steve suggested/demontrated as i had not thought of that but it sounds like a really good idea.
as for the stripes on the hood...that was a mistake during the priming phase that i had to sand down again but i kind of liked it after i really looked at it so i may keep it for the final paint job but i have not decided yet.
I would love to do an airdam like the one that steve has but i don't really have the cash flow for it at the moment. I figured that since funding is a problem and i was kind of interested in body mods anyways that i would experiment with a semi-functional and small mod first. I will be making a tin air flow guide like steve suggested/demontrated as i had not thought of that but it sounds like a really good idea.
as for the stripes on the hood...that was a mistake during the priming phase that i had to sand down again but i kind of liked it after i really looked at it so i may keep it for the final paint job but i have not decided yet.
09-15-06, 03:44 AM
#11
I don't think your vent will be effective. If the vent is behind the radiator then there will be some impact. A vent works by forcing air up over the huge gap underneath that leads to the radiator or whatever. The pressure drop creates a suction that pulls the hot air out of the top of the engine bay. That on top of there just being an opening at the top, because hot air rises.
Why I say your idea may not work (depends on placement) is because if the vent is in front of the radiator then it will only allow an easy opening for air to rush through instead of being rammed or drawn through the radiator.
Good luck, and let us know where you place it and what it looks like. I am a fan of this kind of home engineering.
Why I say your idea may not work (depends on placement) is because if the vent is in front of the radiator then it will only allow an easy opening for air to rush through instead of being rammed or drawn through the radiator.
Good luck, and let us know where you place it and what it looks like. I am a fan of this kind of home engineering.
09-15-06, 11:38 AM
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I saw a 1st gen made for road racing online somewhere, I think I got the link on the forums here, anyway they put two vents in the middle of the hood.
I'm not talking about shaker style holes or anything, ,they were slatted vents allowing air out of the engine bay.
They said the effect was two-fold: First, the vents allowed less air pressure inside the engine bay, causeing more of a vacuum effect and sucking more air through the radiator. Second, the way the air was shooting out the top and the sape of the vents helped keep the front end down better at high speeds, which made the car more stable.
I think that is the more logical approach to venting, put a couple vents in the hood about mid-way.
I'm not talking about shaker style holes or anything, ,they were slatted vents allowing air out of the engine bay.
They said the effect was two-fold: First, the vents allowed less air pressure inside the engine bay, causeing more of a vacuum effect and sucking more air through the radiator. Second, the way the air was shooting out the top and the sape of the vents helped keep the front end down better at high speeds, which made the car more stable.
I think that is the more logical approach to venting, put a couple vents in the hood about mid-way.
09-15-06, 04:00 PM
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here is the first set of during pics. im going to make a tin section to fit behind said vent that will funnel the air directly to the radiator within the next few days. also have some wire mesh that i will be using to fill in the vent a little bit and make it look a little more acceptable for the time being. i plan on making a scoop type frame to surround the vent and draw air in as well.
hood vents are next on the list after this mod is complete.
so without further ado here are the during pics starting with the "tools of the trade"
hood vents are next on the list after this mod is complete.
so without further ado here are the during pics starting with the "tools of the trade"
09-15-06, 09:11 PM
#20
Aerodynamics and Black Magic
Rotornoob - I agree with the suggestion that a vent in the hood aft of the radiator might help draw through more air. However, It seems likely the top of the header panel will be a low pressure area (think about the top surface of an airplane wing), so that slot may be drawing air the wrong way.
A possibly helpful suggestion is to tape on some little wool tufts or short pieces of ribbon, even crepe paper ahead of the slot, so they trail back over the opening. Someone driving next to you may be able to see what is happening at moderate speeds. Aerodynamics is largely black magic, and the guys doing the aero work on those multimillion dollar F1 cars do a lot of trial and error work. Good luck with it.
A possibly helpful suggestion is to tape on some little wool tufts or short pieces of ribbon, even crepe paper ahead of the slot, so they trail back over the opening. Someone driving next to you may be able to see what is happening at moderate speeds. Aerodynamics is largely black magic, and the guys doing the aero work on those multimillion dollar F1 cars do a lot of trial and error work. Good luck with it.
jk
09-15-06, 11:25 PM
#22
FB+FC=F-ME
I got my hood extraction vent concept from these guys.....
http://www.daliracing.com/v666-5/cat....cfm?focus=597
Although, these types of exhaust vents have been around forever.They work awesome because of the negative pressure generated above the vent and the natural positive pressure rushing out the back of the radiator core.I still want to make a little leading edge foil at the front of the hole,to "pop" the air up right before the vent,so that the negative pressure above the radiator core is maximized.The toughest part is sealing the vent to the radiator when the hood is closed. Air flows like water,and you have to make a tight seal or itll spill out where ever it chooses....
http://www.daliracing.com/v666-5/cat....cfm?focus=597
Although, these types of exhaust vents have been around forever.They work awesome because of the negative pressure generated above the vent and the natural positive pressure rushing out the back of the radiator core.I still want to make a little leading edge foil at the front of the hole,to "pop" the air up right before the vent,so that the negative pressure above the radiator core is maximized.The toughest part is sealing the vent to the radiator when the hood is closed. Air flows like water,and you have to make a tight seal or itll spill out where ever it chooses....
09-16-06, 12:25 AM
#23
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Originally Posted by steve84GS TII
I got my hood extraction vent concept from these guys.....
http://www.daliracing.com/v666-5/cat....cfm?focus=597
Although, these types of exhaust vents have been around forever.They work awesome because of the negative pressure generated above the vent and the natural positive pressure rushing out the back of the radiator core.I still want to make a little leading edge foil at the front of the hole,to "pop" the air up right before the vent,so that the negative pressure above the radiator core is maximized.The toughest part is sealing the vent to the radiator when the hood is closed. Air flows like water,and you have to make a tight seal or itll spill out where ever it chooses....
http://www.daliracing.com/v666-5/cat....cfm?focus=597
Although, these types of exhaust vents have been around forever.They work awesome because of the negative pressure generated above the vent and the natural positive pressure rushing out the back of the radiator core.I still want to make a little leading edge foil at the front of the hole,to "pop" the air up right before the vent,so that the negative pressure above the radiator core is maximized.The toughest part is sealing the vent to the radiator when the hood is closed. Air flows like water,and you have to make a tight seal or itll spill out where ever it chooses....
thats an interesting design concept. i will definately be looking towards something like that in the very near future to maximize the cooling and airflow of the front vent. thanks for the input and advice steve.
the ribbon idea is a good one and i will have a friend help me do that tomorrow so that i can see where the air is going exactly. thanks for the tip. i will let you know how things progress tomorrow.
09-16-06, 04:41 PM
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here is ythe vent with the mesh added to it. this is only temporary until i can finish fabrication of the scoop and channeling duct. i used a steel mesh gutter guard from home depot and some sheet metal screws with washers. i made it removeable so that A) i can remove it for airflow testing B) i can remove it when the scoop and channeling duct go in (the channeling duct and the scoop will have the mesh built in to them)