Crazy Air Control Measures

Route666

Active Member
Aug 16, 2003
1,652
6
39
Brisbane, Australia
Hey everyone, time for another of my patented crazy ideas.

This is a radiator shroud with a difference. It is meant for use with an electric pusher fan. It re-directs the airflow from the radiator to the wheel wells. It goes over the radiator, not just behind it, in case you think it looks funny.

It would be used in conjunction with a cowl induction setup, which seals over a rectangular airbox, easy enough to make, and I would also use a airway in the front of the bonnet to allow cool air into the engine bay. Like this one.

Img_0095.jpg


Here is the design for the radiator shroud.

Engine side:

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Radiator Side:

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The benefits I think would come with the whole setup are:

Possible lower pressure in front of radiator, vacuum from engine bay, clean path for cold air to flow.

1. No hot radiator air warming up engine further.

2. No radiator air going under car.

3. Cold cowl air going into engine.

4. Less pressure in front of windscreen because air is used to feed motor.

5. Possible slight speed supercharging, engine getting more than 1atm at highish speeds, the point of cowl induction.

6. Possible better down-force from less air going under car (ground effect, body will have slight rake to it to aid this).


Now, I'm worried the shroud might impede air-flow too much. Anyone think it would cause overheating?

Who agrees that it might bring the benefits I stated? I'm an advocate of not only increasing horsepower to go faster, but also decreasing wind resistance, as it is easier on the car, and makes it more fuel economical.

I see this shroud (along with the cowl induction and bonnet induction) in the realm of racing, not really street products, although the benefits would still be true enough on the street, mostly to a lesser extent, because of less speed.
 
Yep, good thoughts. I'll try and make it as open as possible, and probably bring the curve right up to the radiator to maximise the curve.

Also, the radiator slows flow down a lot anyway doesn't it? Hence why there is a big pressure-zone in front of the car (especially on the classic stang scoop front). I mean if you look at it, it is thousands of tiny holes. If you added all those holes up, the resulting hole wouldn't be all that big, PLUS air flows better through one hole of a certain size than many holes of smaller sizes that add to the large hole size.

Reckon there'd be problems with the heat going to the tyres?

I guess the fun will be in the trials. Build it, fit it, and if the engine stays cool, woohoo!

If you're wondering how it's going to fit in the engine bay and go through the walls to the wheel well, I think I'll make the tubes shorter, and use end cap type things, so you slot the cover on, and push the ends through the holes from the other side, and they seal over the shroud, and bolt to the body. This way, I can trial it without cutting holes, just leave the end caps off, and it will be super-easy to put in.
 
this may sound crazy and dismiss it if you wish but at the ends of those two tunnels to the side, could you possibly fit a squirrel cage fan to aid pulling air through?? But assuming this is meant to be used at high speed.... why fan concern anyways??