More '99 spec front end questions
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From: Modesto, ca
More '99 spec front end questions
As if this subject hasn't been beaten to death enough...
I have been researching for... a couple of days, maybe a week at this point, about doing the full 99 spec front end, only I will be doing the plateless variant. I want to do it right, which includes the ducting/undertray of course.
My only problem is, is that I have yet to figure out what parts I actually need. I read in several threads people stating that the brake ducting and the oil cooler ducting are one in the same, and then in other threads some people showed pictures of the oil cooler/brake ducting almost like... combined? to really get the airflow to the right places.
I have also read a good number of threads stating that none of it even fit properly, that it was all too short to really do any good, be it the ones from R-Magic, or RE, which made the think about just getting larger oil coolers and filling the wholes on the front with just oil cooler lol, and then I think I would just need the 99 spec undertray? I think being able to see the ground is a bit...tacky?
Any definitive insight would be much appreciated right now, thanks guys!
I have been researching for... a couple of days, maybe a week at this point, about doing the full 99 spec front end, only I will be doing the plateless variant. I want to do it right, which includes the ducting/undertray of course.
My only problem is, is that I have yet to figure out what parts I actually need. I read in several threads people stating that the brake ducting and the oil cooler ducting are one in the same, and then in other threads some people showed pictures of the oil cooler/brake ducting almost like... combined? to really get the airflow to the right places.
I have also read a good number of threads stating that none of it even fit properly, that it was all too short to really do any good, be it the ones from R-Magic, or RE, which made the think about just getting larger oil coolers and filling the wholes on the front with just oil cooler lol, and then I think I would just need the 99 spec undertray? I think being able to see the ground is a bit...tacky?
Any definitive insight would be much appreciated right now, thanks guys!
You'll either need a '99 undertray, or to modify the stock one (Needs to be a little longer at the front, only a couple of inches, so easy to make up with a piece that joins the lip to the stock undertray. Also remove the centre separate piece).
'99 is on the right, pre '99 on the left.
'99 bumpers have no oil cooler ducts. I went with the r-magic ones for the '99 bumper, they fit fine, tidy up the front end & are functional.
The oem '99 brake ducts simply duct air into the wheel arch, if you want decent duting you'd be much better making your own solution. Crispy did a nice guide, see here:.
As you're going plateless, if you use a '99 rebar, you'll need to cut the plate section off.
HTH
'99 is on the right, pre '99 on the left.
'99 bumpers have no oil cooler ducts. I went with the r-magic ones for the '99 bumper, they fit fine, tidy up the front end & are functional.
The oem '99 brake ducts simply duct air into the wheel arch, if you want decent duting you'd be much better making your own solution. Crispy did a nice guide, see here:.
As you're going plateless, if you use a '99 rebar, you'll need to cut the plate section off.
HTH
Thread Starter
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Modesto, ca
You'll either need a '99 undertray, or to modify the stock one (Needs to be a little longer at the front, only a couple of inches, so easy to make up, I went this route).
'99 bumpers have no oil cooler ducts. I went with the r-magic ones for the '99 bumper, they fit fine, tidy up the front end & are functional.
The oem '99 brake ducts sumply duct air into the wheel arch, if you want decent duting you'd be much better making your own solution. Crispy did a nice guide, see here:.
As you're going plateless, if you use a '99 rebar, you'll need to cut the plate section off.
HTH
'99 bumpers have no oil cooler ducts. I went with the r-magic ones for the '99 bumper, they fit fine, tidy up the front end & are functional.
The oem '99 brake ducts sumply duct air into the wheel arch, if you want decent duting you'd be much better making your own solution. Crispy did a nice guide, see here:.
As you're going plateless, if you use a '99 rebar, you'll need to cut the plate section off.
HTH
Thanks for the input though, helpful!
Cutting the rebar is fine. Thats what I did. I also have the 93 undertray with the only modification was drilling new holes. ps all polyurethane plateless bumpers come from the same mold no matter the vendor.... Long story on how this happened.
Thread Starter
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
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From: Modesto, ca
I had heard that you can use the 93-95 undertray, but wasn't quite clear on it, so thanks for clearing that up, saves me 150 plus shipping lol.
And, I had also heard that all plateless bumpers are the same, regardless of where it comes from. Would love to hear the story on how that one happened haha!
Though, since we are still on the subject of brake ducting and such, I wonder if I could just get larger oil coolers and have them take up the whole inlet, and not even need the ducting really? My car is a legit R1, so I don't think I'd have too much trouble fitting aftermarket oil coolers.
Thoughts?
Also, thanks for everyone here being so generous and patient with their knowledge.
A few years ago Chuck from rotary extreme took it upon himself to build a polyurethane (flexible) replica 99 bumper without a plate. The fitment had to be massaged but overall was not bad. Since rotary extreme had to foot the protyping bill for the bumpers they went for $450 (IIRC) in the GB.
Some time later and somehow, a total knock off vendor got a hold of chuck's property (the mold) and started making them for cheap $299 (IIRC). Now these folks could sell them for cheap since they never ponied up the 20K that it takes to fab the initial run...
Now somehow you have multiple vendors offering the plateless bumper but they are from the same mold that Chuck first did for us. The off-road use only with the serial number is the what identifies the plateless bumpers back to chuck.
See thread where it was discovered:
https://www.rx7club.com/interior-ext...itment-513857/
Though, since we are still on the subject of brake ducting and such, I wonder if I could just get larger oil coolers and have them take up the whole inlet, and not even need the ducting really? My car is a legit R1, so I don't think I'd have too much trouble fitting aftermarket oil coolers.
Thread Starter
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Modesto, ca
Just remember never run a car without an undertray. Radiators don't like to cool very well without them
Ok here is the real deal about the plateless bumpers:
A few years ago Chuck from rotary extreme took it upon himself to build a polyurethane (flexible) replica 99 bumper without a plate. The fitment had to be massaged but overall was not bad. Since rotary extreme had to foot the protyping bill for the bumpers they went for $450 (IIRC) in the GB.
Some time later and somehow, a total knock off vendor got a hold of chuck's property (the mold) and started making them for cheap $299 (IIRC). Now these folks could sell them for cheap since they never ponied up the 20K that it takes to fab the initial run...
Now somehow you have multiple vendors offering the plateless bumper but they are from the same mold that Chuck first did for us. The off-road use only with the serial number is the what identifies the plateless bumpers back to chuck.
See thread where it was discovered:
https://www.rx7club.com/interior-ext...itment-513857/
Ducting is always needed. Contact sake bomb garage I hear their oil coolers are quite nice.
Oh yeah thanks for reminding me: *****@#% NEWBIE!!! SEARCH!!!!111
As far as the oil cooler ducting goes, I have seen some... I forget where, but had heard a lot of complaints about aftermarket ones not being long enough, by a good two inches, give or take.
I did search, I swearzzz!
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Wow, that is pretty jacked up about the bumpers... dang. I feel you on the need for the undertray though. I have seen a lot of rotary owners-particularly fc guys- takr ALL tje cooling stuff off. Undertray, fan, etc, then bkame the rotary wngine for overheating. /facepalm/
As far as the oil cooler ducting goes, I have seen some... I forget where, but had heard a lot of complaints about aftermarket ones not being long enough, by a good two inches, give or take.
I did search, I swearzzz!
As far as the oil cooler ducting goes, I have seen some... I forget where, but had heard a lot of complaints about aftermarket ones not being long enough, by a good two inches, give or take.
I did search, I swearzzz!
I don't have aftermarket oil coolers so I really do not know much about general aftermarket ducting quality. However the current oil cooler duct that I have was made by rotary extreme and it was an optional piece that I decided to buy with my bumper. On that same thought: If you do end up getting a 99 plateless bumper and decide to keep the stock oil coolers you might want to look into OEM 99+ ducts.
Mine isn't perfect either as there is a small top corner piece that its a little off. Its is mainly aesthetics because for cooling purposes it works as its supposed to. Oh well it doesn't bug me at all but I know some people would be driven nuts by it.
Reference pic check top left corner of driers side oil cooler:
Thread Starter
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 213
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From: Modesto, ca
I don't have aftermarket oil coolers so I really do not know much about general aftermarket ducting quality. However the current oil cooler duct that I have was made by rotary extreme and it was an optional piece that I decided to buy with my bumper. On that same thought: If you do end up getting a 99 plateless bumper and decide to keep the stock oil coolers you might want to look into OEM 99+ ducts.
Mine isn't perfect either as there is a small top corner piece that its a little off. Its is mainly aesthetics because for cooling purposes it works as its supposed to. Oh well it doesn't bug me at all but I know some people would be driven nuts by it.
Reference pic check top left corner of driers side oil cooler:
Mine isn't perfect either as there is a small top corner piece that its a little off. Its is mainly aesthetics because for cooling purposes it works as its supposed to. Oh well it doesn't bug me at all but I know some people would be driven nuts by it.
Reference pic check top left corner of driers side oil cooler:
that isn't too bad at all though. I'm really torn on the bumpers.... I need one. The one on my car is just GONE. I like the modern look of the '99, but really like how the 93 makes the car look somehow more... aggressive? Lower to the ground too.
BTW, how do you like your hood? Does it actually cool stuff off well?
Actually it does help in cooling. I have my fans set to kick in at +85C so my car for the most part stays at constant coolant temp of +85C. Except for Extremely hot days.
Ok so the day I had my hood installed I was lucky enough to have it done on such a horrendous hot day. IIRC it was like 105F or something... So anyway I as I drove over to the body shop to get my hood installed, my water temps were somewhere like +101C (with the AC on). The body shop installed it in about 30 minutes and on my way home my temps hovered around +96C. Given that so little time had lapsed between my two trips I can safely say that my car ran 5C cooler with the vented hood. I will say though on average days my car has always ran at 85C no matter what hood I use. That's because the fans are doing what they are supposed to be doing.
Ok so the day I had my hood installed I was lucky enough to have it done on such a horrendous hot day. IIRC it was like 105F or something... So anyway I as I drove over to the body shop to get my hood installed, my water temps were somewhere like +101C (with the AC on). The body shop installed it in about 30 minutes and on my way home my temps hovered around +96C. Given that so little time had lapsed between my two trips I can safely say that my car ran 5C cooler with the vented hood. I will say though on average days my car has always ran at 85C no matter what hood I use. That's because the fans are doing what they are supposed to be doing.
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