plan B - the most recent radiator/cooling dilemma

richbaker78 · Teacher of Padawans Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 1298

Ive been procrastinating a while now on the cooling as its getting very close to actually having to do something!! SO i have another idea........
PLan B= (with thanks to Ricola for his input) - please tell me your reservations.

The idea behind this is that I have so much stuff under my van the air flow will be properly messed up bythe time it ywould reach my rad - plus its pretty low so big scoops would be limitewd in size.

The aim is to create 'clean' air so im going to cut out a hole in the front panel the size of a number plate - silver over black ones - but all the black will be cut out and the intake hole blacked out. THis will straight in a wide duct (width of the walk thru) accross the cab floor, over top of beam into a sealed inlet side of the rad which is going to be mounted like a scoop sloping forward with fans on the back.

In addition another air scoop 9approx 2-4 inches x 12 inches will be let into the lower side of the front bumper - routed through as big a pipe as I can find thru the front beam (apposite side to servo) and also into the air box. Hopefully all this rammed air will cool the Rad (VW t4 rad) - theres also possibilities to add more airways later if required.......

so am I about to commit to a huge mistake or not? opinions please......

jp · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:20 pm Post subject:

Won't Gearstick, handbrake !, heater tube get in the way ?

Tiz a little hard to picture what you're procrastinating

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1971 Devon Bay with 1800 Ford Turbo Diesel Engine (wip)
1983 VW Golf GTI Campaign
1979 Mini 1275 GT
2013 Scirocco TDI GT

richbaker78 · Teacher of Padawans Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 1298

yes there will be a small step thru the centre but the handbrake isnt in the middle anymore :-) and the gearsick wil just be a bit shorter and heater tube will be only a small restriction. The front looks like the pic im about to send you. but a longer more number plate shaped hole......

jp · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:10 pm Post subject:

_________________
1971 Devon Bay with 1800 Ford Turbo Diesel Engine (wip)
1983 VW Golf GTI Campaign
1979 Mini 1275 GT
2013 Scirocco TDI GT

Covin · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:30 pm Post subject:

Hey J.P Is that Thomas the tank engine, or berty bus ? ? ? ? Grin

Sounds like a lot of work there Rich.
Lot easier to use side vents that are already in place with twin rads and simply move intercoolers to lower bumper area where they should work ok and have less hoses to pass through, but we've discussed this already.... lol.
Hope it all works out ok and look forward to seeing some pictures of what you have planned.
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jp · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:26 pm Post subject:

richbaker78 · Teacher of Padawans Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 1298

the pic is slightly misleading in that there is agaping hole!! and the bus has lowered bumpers to accentuate this!! its not too much work I dont think - well no more than my previous plan anyway!!

The reason I have discounted side vents is that there have always been unresolved questions about their efficiency (some say they dont work over 70mph?!)- esp as ive got early bay and therefore they are smaller. and the problem with that idea is there is no way out forthe air once its in unless I vent the deck lid etc - and I dont want to do this. My engine has only an inch all round of clearance and thats not enuf.

im toying with the idea of piggy backing a charge cooler rad to this set up as I really think it will be that much more efficient......

apart from the aesthetics (which wont be as bad as the picture) is there nay other reasons people dont think this will work? have I missed anything obvious?

steamo · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:28 am Post subject:

Only thing I can think of is the legality of the number plate - it is a blinding idea though!!!

Also there are far less regulations on the black and white plates so you may be OK and TBH I doubt you'd ever get more than a ticking off for it anyway

richbaker78 · Teacher of Padawans Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 1298

theyll have to catch me first

but seriously I am also gona have plate hinged for times of need (hot days and fast days) manually controlled from inside. I suppose I could always add an extra bit of black plastic behind it that could drop down too.

trial cutting up another van tonight to check im not losing the plot......and if successful then the big hole will be made in my lovely smooth FP........progress pics will follow 2moro

richbaker78 · Teacher of Padawans Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 1298

PLan B has been decided upon......the first cuts were made last night - the cab floor and walkthrough section were trimmed back a bit after trial cutting up another van. Its all looking quite promising but I need to rework a few other bits first - still - I see mega airflow :-) and a nice hig mounted Rad. pics to follow.

richbaker78 · Teacher of Padawans Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 1298

step 1 -cut big hole in floor

sintor · Wannabe Joined: 08 Feb 2006 Posts: 5 Location: devizes

blimey rich, thats a big jump.

once my HB is sorted i am coming over for a look see at this.

1st post too

si
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still air-cooled ;-)