Aero 2.0...and the quest continues....
03-19-2011, 07:40 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Aero 2.0...and the quest continues....
Some of y'all might recall I dove off the aero spring board at the beginning of the year.
During the first venture out back in February, I found the aero worked well, but I was concerned about cooling of the radiator. When we installed the Eckler nose and splitter it minimized the opening for radiator. I noticed that the temps picked up about 15* during that race weekend, and that told me it would only get worse when the temps outside went to 90 to 100*, so I took it back to the aero hospital for some remediation.
The guys doing it fabricated more ducting and made a shaker screen for the front of the radiator opening. They sealed up all the opening that were leaking air around the shroud.
We found a bunch of debris in the radiator from just a few track weekends and that was for sure raising the temps. Although I have clean-out openings in the shroud, stuff still gets into the top of the radiator, so the screen should help.
Additionally, they boxed in the front of the fender-well openings that used to be there, but have disappeared over time.
All of these things together should help in keeping the temps tolerable.
While in the aero hospital I decided to lengthen the splitter and lower it a bit at the front. I got a NASCAR splitter and we cut to it to fit the profile of the Vette and attached it to what we had already done back at the beginning of the year.
We set it out 2" inches from the Ecklers splitter, and drilled additional holes so that I can set it out an additional 1" if I decide I need it to balance the wing.
Here are pictures of the finished product:
These guys do great work!
During the first venture out back in February, I found the aero worked well, but I was concerned about cooling of the radiator. When we installed the Eckler nose and splitter it minimized the opening for radiator. I noticed that the temps picked up about 15* during that race weekend, and that told me it would only get worse when the temps outside went to 90 to 100*, so I took it back to the aero hospital for some remediation.
The guys doing it fabricated more ducting and made a shaker screen for the front of the radiator opening. They sealed up all the opening that were leaking air around the shroud.
We found a bunch of debris in the radiator from just a few track weekends and that was for sure raising the temps. Although I have clean-out openings in the shroud, stuff still gets into the top of the radiator, so the screen should help.
Additionally, they boxed in the front of the fender-well openings that used to be there, but have disappeared over time.
All of these things together should help in keeping the temps tolerable.
While in the aero hospital I decided to lengthen the splitter and lower it a bit at the front. I got a NASCAR splitter and we cut to it to fit the profile of the Vette and attached it to what we had already done back at the beginning of the year.
We set it out 2" inches from the Ecklers splitter, and drilled additional holes so that I can set it out an additional 1" if I decide I need it to balance the wing.
Here are pictures of the finished product:
These guys do great work!
Like an air filter.
03-19-2011, 08:58 PM
#6
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
03-19-2011, 09:00 PM
#7
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
03-19-2011, 09:02 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
03-19-2011, 09:04 PM
#9
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
03-19-2011, 09:07 PM
#10
Burning Brakes
Jody, why did they box in the front of the fender-well openings?
I'll tell you about the illegal item I see in my protest after the race! JK
Coming to VIR?
Ed
At one time the NASCAR splitters were made using a product called Tegris.
I'll tell you about the illegal item I see in my protest after the race! JK
Coming to VIR?
Ed
At one time the NASCAR splitters were made using a product called Tegris.
Last edited by eogel; 03-19-2011 at 09:09 PM. Reason: add material name
03-19-2011, 09:17 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Illegal? Me, Illegal? Perish the thought!
And yes, I'll be at VIR, I just haven't signed up yet.
03-20-2011, 01:35 AM
#13
Team Owner
03-20-2011, 03:39 AM
#14
Racer
Member Since: May 2008
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03-26-2011, 09:20 PM
#16
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Spent yesterday at VIR trying different wing setting and testing the new radiator ducting to fend off hi-temps.
It appears as though cleaning out the radiator, the new mesh screen and ducting helped a lot. The coolant temps never got above 200* and were usually at 196* for most of the day and I was running at high RPM's. The ambient temp got to around 60*, so that compared to CMP last month at about the same temps.
I was surprised at the amount of debris the screen kept out of the radiator. I cleaned it off after each session. I found bunches of little rocks and rubber. Those pieces would have found their way into the radiator fins had they not been caught.
Here's a couple of pictures I got with the car on the trailer when I got home last night showing just some of the stuff.
It appears as though cleaning out the radiator, the new mesh screen and ducting helped a lot. The coolant temps never got above 200* and were usually at 196* for most of the day and I was running at high RPM's. The ambient temp got to around 60*, so that compared to CMP last month at about the same temps.
I was surprised at the amount of debris the screen kept out of the radiator. I cleaned it off after each session. I found bunches of little rocks and rubber. Those pieces would have found their way into the radiator fins had they not been caught.
Here's a couple of pictures I got with the car on the trailer when I got home last night showing just some of the stuff.
03-26-2011, 10:15 PM
#17
Safety Car
Sorry I missed you this weekend Jody.... I hear you got to chat with my dad for a bit. We didn't get there until a little after 6.
Oh... that spoiler works
2:04.6 today.... new TTA track record.
Oh... that spoiler works
2:04.6 today.... new TTA track record.
03-26-2011, 11:49 PM
#18
Racer
03-27-2011, 10:10 AM
#20
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Yea, I talked with your dad for a little bit. I left around 4 4:30. Sorry I didn't get to see the spoiler installed!
Obviously, you ran on 255's, right?