Well after installing the t04z the cars temp gauge moved above the mid for the first time ever, so I decided it was time to replace the stock cooling system. So I installed a new water pump and new radiator (I had a thread in the lounge about that if anyone read it) and well thought I would go a little further and make up an undertray for it and happened to aquire some kevlar that was expired and couldn't be used on aircraft anymore, perfect.

Well it came out pretty average, main problem was the painters work nightshift, and turned the compressor off when they left and my bag wasn't sealed all that well and well thats why its covered in wrinkles. But it's an underbody tray so I wasn't going to bother re making it just for that.

I had previously made that carbon panel you can see in the last pic, and this week I'm going to try start on the carbon fan shroud for it. Will put some pics up if i get it done.

Oh and for the record, if i was going to make an undertray again, I would just use aluminium.

 

looks good. so your motor survived from the radiator mishap?

 

Well it's only been up and running for 2 days, starts fine runs fine so I'm assuming it didnt get as hot as i first thought thank god.

 

i like where your going with this. I suppose the vacum molding would be stronger then hand laid fiberglass? I got a nice fat piece of metal but i think its too heavy to throw underneath my car.

 

Yeah well vac bagging normally provides a better finish and makes it a bit stronger. This was actually my first time laying up kevlar, we normally just repair the kevlar panels with normal glass. But yeah with the painters turning off the air, it kind of ruined it a little. I put those titanium bits of angle in it to stiffen it up but the edges seem a little flimsy so i might rivet some angels on during the week. But as i said if i was going to do it again i'd make it out of aluminium i think the weight difference would be minimal, and if the kevlar gets hit with rocks its gonna fur up and absorb some moisture. But hey its something different. Fan shroud is next as soon as i get time.

 

it will be lighter and stronger:

http://www.fibreglast.com/contentpag...rglass-41.html

http://www.fibreglast.com/contentpag...tions-230.html

very cool slow rotor.

 

I kinda like the wrinkles. Gives it character. =D Looks good.

 

Wow thats pretty sick, good job.

 

Hmmn just took this thing on its maiden voyage, sat at around 90 deg around town as expected, the mech set the fan to come on at 90. Im gonna tell him i want it coming on at 84 when the car next goes in there, however it went up to around 98 - 100 on the highway, i was hoping for it to run a bit cooler, so i guess the next step is removing that condensor or whatever that ac part is in front of the radiator.

 

I was going to ask about temps, then I see your results.

How thick is your radiator and where is your IC? I cant see any pipes up front?

I did some experimenting with my undertray, lip, and bumper, back to back tests actually, and was suprised with what I found, it really is hard to beat the stock set up.

 

yeah a friends car is stock t2 with a haltech, and you can do 2-3-4th gear runs all day and the coolant temp goes from 192F to like 193F.

 

^wtf? Where is the sensor located? Your water temps WILL increase no matter what when you give it high loads and engine speeds because the engine block will be hotter due to the increased combustion chamber pressures. So if the sensor is in the thermostat housing the measured temp on the water leaving the engine will be hotter until it stabilizes. So either your friend has a bad gauge or you are bullshitting, please explain.

 

can we get some more engine bay shots? i'm intrigued, and would like to admire your cleanliness.

 

man that's pretty wicked! Could you post a pic of your engine bay? Looks clean as ****. Great job and thanks for sharing!

 

Actually the engine bay looks pretty rubish at the moment, im in the process of freshening it up got alot of lines to adjust where they run, I gotta take the car into work so i can mount the fuel pressure reg (need a 90deg drill) and it needs a pretty good clean, gonna try do it in the next couple of weeks. Even the intercooler piping isn't permenant I need to run a thicker pip coming off the turbo, but i just modified the pipe i had running the std turbo to suit the new one.

But anyway here it is, don't laugh at it too much

 

That turbo looks delicious!

 

Well I was going to make the shroud out of carbon, but i made what was going to be my mould up out of aluminum at work today, and i think I'm gonna leave it. So this should be the end of my search to make the car run better.

But i would like to not be careful if you make one of these, I had the cover off my positive terminal to have the light on and the shroud happened to touch the pos terminal and earthed out on the radiator, it tried to weld there for a split second before i got it off. I dont think any major damage was done.





Well i got indoor soccer soon, i'll see how my temps go. It was barely moving from 90 while standing still which is when the fan comes on. And i havent seen it go over 98 while giving it a hiding. Will get some proper results this weekend.