Modifying the lower end of a vortex
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Pro
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 612
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From: Gulf coast FL
Modifying the lower end of a vortex
I have read a number of times that the area below the radiator shroud and in front of the radiator is NOT a high pressure zone even at speed. As a result, intakes like the vortex are not true ram air systems. I do not know if this is true or not, nor do I have any idea on how to determine the pressures at speed in the front of the car. If this is true, however, I should be able to fashion a piece of plastic to the scoop of my vortex (below the radiator shroud) to extend to the lower edge of the front fascia (just below the license plate area). The idea being to "snow-shovel" the oncoming air from an obvious high pressure zone and channel it into the vortex. I realize this would have to be temporary because of the stealing effect it would have from airflow through the front of the radiator, not to mention water ingestion during rain storms. I would expect there to be some net power increase. Has anybody tried and tested an idea similar to this? I know the MAF and throttle body have a theoretical limit to the air flow it will accomodate, and this is more than ample flow for stock/lightly modded engines. How can I measure airflow under different test conditions at home? (without a Ph.D. in engineering)
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 93
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From: Dublin Ca.
Re: Modifying the lower end of a vortex (Alesnik-MD)
The effects of ram air are so minimal I am not sure it would be of any benifit to bother, granted we have to open up the air intake from the stock version, but to go on and try to RAM AIR does not help out of the hole, and prob. not until 80 and above MPH so whats the point? If it is only 1/4 HO or if it is 10 HP I suspect it is in the fractions that it helps if at all, so I say why?
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,569
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From: Greenville NC
Re: Modifying the lower end of a vortex (Alesnik-MD)
I have read a number of times that the area below the radiator shroud and in front of the radiator is NOT a high pressure zone even at speed. As a result, intakes like the vortex are not true ram air systems. I do not know if this is true or not, nor do I have any idea on how to determine the pressures at speed in the front of the car. If this is true, however, I should be able to fashion a piece of plastic to the scoop of my vortex (below the radiator shroud) to extend to the lower edge of the front fascia (just below the license plate area). The idea being to "snow-shovel" the oncoming air from an obvious high pressure zone and channel it into the vortex. I realize this would have to be temporary because of the stealing effect it would have from airflow through the front of the radiator, not to mention water ingestion during rain storms. I would expect there to be some net power increase. Has anybody tried and tested an idea similar to this? I know the MAF and throttle body have a theoretical limit to the air flow it will accomodate, and this is more than ample flow for stock/lightly modded engines. How can I measure airflow under different test conditions at home? (without a Ph.D. in engineering)
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 231
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Re: Modifying the lower end of a vortex (ncvetteman)
I changed to the MTI Ram Air and when taking out the original radiator shroud it looked like a birds next at the top of the radiator. It probably wouldn't hurt to check and clean this out from time to time.
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Pro
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 612
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From: Gulf coast FL
Re: Modifying the lower end of a vortex (chuckoc)
The effects of ram air are so minimal I am not sure it would be of any benifit to bother, granted we have to open up the air intake from the stock version, but to go on and try to RAM AIR does not help out of the hole, and prob. not until 80 and above MPH so whats the point? If it is only 1/4 HO or if it is 10 HP I suspect it is in the fractions that it helps if at all, so I say why?
Dallas, that is a nifty idea. Does it make a difference over the stock vortex unit?
[Modified by Alesnik-MD, 7:44 PM 8/13/2001]
