under hood air
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Instructor
Joined: May 2010
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under hood air
1998 C5 I supercharged last Sept. Everything is great, lots of power and torque. Problem is heat. I doubled the radiator capacity and went from 230-235 cruising to 200-205. However, in traffic will still climb, even at 35-45mph following someone. On highway, cools down fast. My question, how an I get more air in the engine compartment? Can I open up the area around the fog lights? I was told not to remove the cover over the radiator and intercooler. In my mind, it seems that it would allow more flow. Any ideas? Please don't tell me how to get more air into the engine, the car is supercharged.
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I had Dewitts with SPAL fans on mine....I ended up making the license plate filler a screen and opening up the bumper behind that and it helped tremendously...PM me for the link
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You can open up the fog light area by simply drilling holes in the plastic surround. Or do like pewter99 mentioned and open up the license plate area.
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I like these the best to get air to the intercooler and therefore the radiator.
Do not remove upper cover over the radiator, it is there to force the air through the radiator.
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Check with Pat with American Hydrocarbon. He has the lis. plate
opening, or make it yourself.
Good luck.
opening, or make it yourself.
Good luck.
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the reason you don't want to remove the cover on top of the radiator is because air will take the path of least resistance and by having that cover on top it will force air to go through the radiator rather than around it... you could try having some custom sheet metal shrouds made to totally box in your intercooler, condenser, and radiator... another option is a heat extractor hood to let the hot air out, trackspec also makes some vents that you can install in the stock hood if you don't mind the look... spal fans are good but they may not help in your situation because you are still having issues at 34-45 and at those speeds the fans should be off anyway... also make sure the fins in your radiator, condenser, and intercooler are clear of debris... if those get plugged up then air will not flow through them
Last edited by StingrayRebel; May 29, 2017 at 01:42 AM.
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I installed these:
and this, with the cutout behind it. My oil cooler goes right behind it in front of the condensor/radiator:
and a full aluminum 1 inch tubes radiator with 180 degree thermostat. At idle at a standstill for more than 20 minutes temp never got above 220. I am not supercharged, but H/C/I and long tube headers.
and this, with the cutout behind it. My oil cooler goes right behind it in front of the condensor/radiator:
and a full aluminum 1 inch tubes radiator with 180 degree thermostat. At idle at a standstill for more than 20 minutes temp never got above 220. I am not supercharged, but H/C/I and long tube headers.
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I too am supercharged. I have a Dewitts radiator w/spal fans,160 tstat & TracSpec hood vents. In slow driving situations below 30 mph,the temperature is between 205-215 degrees in 85-90 degree weather.
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underhood air
OK everybody. Thanks for all the advice. I'm going to go with drilling out the area at fog lights. I'll drill at top side since it is curved and let the bottom side scoop the air up and in. And since I still have the original plate cover (had it stored all these years and is the right color) I'm going to cut it out (have someone do it that is good with that kind of fabrication) and add screen. If I get stopped I'll just put the plate back on. I don't remember ever being stopped years ago. Anyway, I'll go from there and report what happened. That place that sold them already made was nice, but $185.00 was crazy. I don't care if it said corvette. My car says corvette. I'll let you know.