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I want to try and get a cooler engine bay, because after driving some time it's really hot... I mean very very hot!
(It was about 65 degrees outside)
I got a 77 L48 (black colored) vette.
What is 'a normal' engine bay temp for a C3?
Do you guys have any simple tips on how to get more air flow in the engine bay so it cools down more?
Does a 77 Corvette have any factory provisions that ensures extra air flow, because there is no grill installed on the hood like older ones (1973-1976)?
Maybe there are other problems that cause the extreme heat in my engine bay?
Let me start off by saying that I'm totally jealous of the roads you get to drive your Corvette on.
Secondly, under hood heat control is more about getting the hot air out rather than getting cool air in. You would be surprised what a cowl or L-88 hood can do for cooling temps.
I do like your new lower spoiler. I may try to make one for my car.
Let me start off by saying that I'm totally jealous of the roads you get to drive your Corvette on.
Secondly, under hood heat control is more about getting the hot air out rather than getting cool air in. You would be surprised what a cowl or L-88 hood can do for cooling temps.
I do like your new lower spoiler. I may try to make one for my car.
Well... I'm sorry but the clip from the link isn't mine. I posted the link from youtube just for example. I also wan't to make a spoiler extension like his.
But you're right! I'm also jealous of the roads he drives in the movie.
If your are going as a OEM look maybe someone can help. But I did a little restomod I add to my 77 a L88 hood + C7 hood air vent + custom front spoiler + fiberglass bumper I took of the license plate and opened all the front bumper and added C7 Zo6 grill. It helped a lot. Waaaaw what a difference.
If your are going as a OEM look maybe someone can help. But I did a little restomod I add to my 77 a L88 hood + C7 hood air vent + custom front spoiler + fiberglass bumper I took of the license plate and opened all the front bumper and added C7 Zo6 grill. It helped a lot. Waaaaw what a difference.
I looked up the C7 vent and grill. I believe it would be very good mods to get the engine bay cooler or get more cooler air in but:
-No offence, but installing the C7 vent on my hood would be a step to far from the original look for me personally. I would like to do some mods that don't catch the eye so much.
-Removing the license plate holer between the bumperettes would be a problem for me. I live in in Belgium, so the license plates are obligated in front and back of the car.
Anyway thank you for the info!
I got another idea I was thinking about this morning:
Would it be of any effect if I make two square vents at these two places on the firewall (and install a grill on both holes of course)? (see photo)
If your original hood blanket is still intact, rip that crap out of there and put it in the garbage. Your hot engine certainly doesn't need a blanket to keep it warm. It was a noise reduction idea from GM corp.
And no, the removal of that will NOT damage the hood paint, but will allow some heat to escape.
Hey Novusuhu, I agree that our C3s tend to get pretty dang hot under the hood! It seems a lot of air piles up under the hood with no where to go.
I liked your idea to cut the cowl, but that being said, I'm not sure how well it would work. The cowl area at the base of the windshield is a high pressure area (thus how "cowl-induction" intakes work). The reason the C7 style vents work is the area just aft of the nose is a low pressure area. This essentially sucks the air out. I suspect the cowl area, being high pressure, would/could prevent air from escaping.. or perhaps even allow some back flow into the hood area, perhaps making the problem even worse!
Check out this CFD of a NASCAR, which shows the low pressure area roughly where the C7 vent would be, and the high pressure area at the base of the windshield.
Hey Novusuhu, I agree that our C3s tend to get pretty dang hot under the hood! It seems a lot of air piles up under the hood with no where to go.
I liked your idea to cut the cowl, but that being said, I'm not sure how well it would work. The cowl area at the base of the windshield is a high pressure area (thus how "cowl-induction" intakes work). The reason the C7 style vents work is the area just aft of the nose is a low pressure area. This essentially sucks the air out. I suspect the cowl area, being high pressure, would/could prevent air from escaping.. or perhaps even allow some back flow into the hood area, perhaps making the problem even worse!
Check out this CFD of a NASCAR, which shows the low pressure area roughly where the C7 vent would be, and the high pressure area at the base of the windshield.
I also have the same extension on my 79 Vette , it did a great job of reducing the engine temperature
Cowl and L88 hoods let cold air in while moving, you can clearly see this on cars with EFI installed. Since you have a 77 you could replace the factory fender vette like the ones from early cars and it wouldnt be as noticeable something like this
I agree with Kacyc3 although adding 69 louvers to your car sounds a bit extreme without some airflow or temp testing in that area.
I have a 69 but with a high rise hood and made some temp measurements two years ago with some temp monitors I found on eBay. No on/off switch but these things are still in my drawer and working. Back to the point, you may want to remove any sealing at the top of the radiator surround to get some air flowing over the radiator. That is my situation.
If your are going as a OEM look maybe someone can help. But I did a little restomod I add to my 77 a L88 hood + C7 hood air vent + custom front spoiler + fiberglass bumper I took of the license plate and opened all the front bumper and added C7 Zo6 grill. It helped a lot. Waaaaw what a difference.
Do you have a picture of your custom front spioler?
Did you make it yourself?
What material did you use?
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Just curious. Have you checked your spark/timing curve? A lazy/retarded curve will cause increased heat production and transfer into the engine compartment.
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
my car was missing the air dam so I used 20 ga sheet steel and just made an air damn....nothing fancy just a 90* break under the radiator it worked amazingly
you may want to remove any sealing at the top of the radiator surround to get some air flowing over the radiator.
I did this last week and it dropped my temp at filter about 3-5 F. I know this because I have a temp gauge on back firewall and also monitor my air temp with my EFI controller. Both have always been within 2F of each other. Now the filter temp is up to 5F lower than before. I'm also running a open stinger scoop that lets alot of air in.
Last edited by Bloodzone; Jun 30, 2018 at 04:57 AM.
I did this last week and it dropped my temp at filter about 3-5 F. I know this because I have a temp gauge on back firewall and also monitor my air temp with my EFI controller. Both have always been within 2F of each other. Now the filter temp is up to 5F lower than before. I'm also running a open stinger scoop that lets alot of air in.
I agree with Kacyc3 although adding 69 louvers to your car sounds a bit extreme without some airflow or temp testing in that area.
I have a 69 but with a high rise hood and made some temp measurements two years ago with some temp monitors I found on eBay. No on/off switch but these things are still in my drawer and working. Back to the point, you may want to remove any sealing at the top of the radiator surround to get some air flowing over the radiator. That is my situation.
Out of curiosity I may try to monitor the temps down by the louvers some day. Easy enough to do
I cant give you temp readings but I can tell you that recessed area in the factory vents is much hotter after I drive my car, my theory is the bigger vents would allow air out faster and help under hood temps.
How about opening up the lower fender duct to promote some outward flow.....the opening for this is quite narrow, and I think opening it would help.
A member on the board has done some under hood temperature monitoring, and if I remember correctly he made some modifications and took it from a cruising under hood temperature of around 140 to about 90 degrees......(don't hold me to those temps)
How about opening up the lower fender duct to promote some outward flow.....the opening for this is quite narrow, and I think opening it would help.
A member on the board has done some under hood temperature monitoring, and if I remember correctly he made some modifications and took it from a cruising under hood temperature of around 140 to about 90 degrees......(don't hold me to those temps)
Yes. Engine temp is up about 10F on the highway but is the same with electric fans on. But my engine runs cool and needed to be a little higher. So if your engine runs on the hot side this might not be a good idea for you.
Last edited by Bloodzone; Jul 1, 2018 at 08:57 AM.
Engine bay cooling
