radiator fairing

[ROWDYRENAULT]

Hi guys my glass guy just finished this fan shroud. I know its a little hard to see but a photographer I am not. Unlike the other parts of the car that he has done for me this is fiberglass with a carbon fiber skin. I did not feel that the weight reduction or enhanced strength of an all carbon piece that probably only I will see was worth the additional money. That said the carbon like all the stuff he has done is the same weave as the stock rear wing. Hope this jiggles a couple of imaginations. Lee

[UltimaCH]

If not mistaken, fairing was talked about not too long ago and it was recommended to get some flaps on the side of the fans to allow air to flow at speed. Looking at the photo, I don't see any. Is this planned later?

[leem5]

Nice shroud

[leem5]

Double post

Edited by leem5 on Sunday 12th October 06:56

[ROWDYRENAULT]

No vents, the fans holes represent a very high percentage of the total area and I think they will work fine to evacuate the air. If you look at those fairings with vents on them they are usually single fan setups with a lot more covered area. But if I see a problem I can always add vents later. Lee

[Pedders]

That looks really great. Out of curiosity, what is the tube running parallel to the chassis tube with a blue fitting on the end?

[ROWDYRENAULT]

Pedders: Thats a bleed line that bleeds thru the 1/2 turn aviation fitting mounted on the right hand side against the frame member. the tube that goes from the fitting to the radiator was removed while we were working on this fairing. So the line goes from the top of the rad to the motor with the bleeder in a high spot in the middle. Lee

[2001ultima]

ROWDYRENAULT said:

Hi guys my glass guy just finished this fan shroud.

Lee, Approximately how much space is between the radiator and the shroud, 1, 1.5, 2 inches? I would like to make one as well.

[barriejames]

How far will the fan faces be away from the rad surface? I thought this had a big impact on how effective they were at cooling?

[ROWDYRENAULT]

Hi guys: The problem you face in trying to optimize the fairing is, that as delivered, there is an interference problem with where the body work meets the bottom of the radiator. I have elected to reshape the outlet of the radiator duct to come all the way down to the bottom of the radiator and as close as possible to the frame member that crosses just below the bodywork. The bar with the ground on it. These mods will make impossible to swing the front bonnet open so I have committed to a lift off solution. The fairing is about 1 inch behind the radiator. the fairing is complete sealed to the back of the radiator with the fans about 3/4 of an inch clear of the radiator. All of this may seem over kill to the max and though I have not had problems with cooling in the past, I have avoided really risking stop and go traffic on one of our frequent 100 degree days in the summer. To me the Ultima is never a done deal its a very, very good design with room for detail improvement if you have the time money and access to the talent. How confining to have a Ferrari like a 458 and know that maybe an exhaust or the latest tires are about all that can really be done to the car. Although given the budget a 458 would be setting next to the Ultima. Lee

[confusionhunter]

does a radiator fairing make that much difference? I guess most ultima's have issues at stop/start traffic on a hot summers day when side scoops etc do nothing.... that's where this would come in. Yes?

[ROWDYRENAULT]

Yes the shroud is there to enhance flow over the entire radiator core when setting still. On the hottest of days 116 F here in So cal, as long as the car is moving the car runs at thermostat temp without the fans. If you do not have a shroud there is no air flow while standing still through probably 20 % of the radiator. Lee

[k wright]

Huge outlet for air offered by the holes for the fans should be fine. She at idle the shroud should make for a big increase in air flow.