Louvered engine bay floor
Discussion
crafty said:
I remember seeing pics of a GTR with a louvered alloy floor on the engine bay.
I'd like to do the same on mine - anyone got CAD drawings and/or a supplier?
No CAD drawings I'm afraid but hopefully the attached images will help. Before that, however, a few comments about panelling the engine bay.I'd like to do the same on mine - anyone got CAD drawings and/or a supplier?
When I decided to build my first Ultima, a "Sports", back in the mid 90's, there were a few modifications I wanted to incorporate into the design. Panelling the engine bay was one of them, mainly to keep the dirt out rather than improve the aerodynamics. The factory advised me not to do it as it could cause overheating problems. In the 9 years that the car has been on the road, it has never overheated although I did make some significant modifications to the cooling system during the build. Normally, the water temperature never budges off 80C but it did once get up to 87C in a traffic jam on the way to Le Mans.
I used 16 gauge aluminum sheet to make the panels and the louvres came from B&Q (a local DIY store). I still have to spray the louvres black to match the rest of the underside of the car (which hopefully, nobody will ever see). The panels are fixed using M5 rivnuts, the thinking being that if the car did overheat, I could always take them off. I also decided to louvre the panel under the battery area as this can get quite warm.
The following photo's relate to the GTR I am building which is panelled in the same way up as the "Sports". If you need more info, dimensions, etc., I will do my best to get them for you.
That is a fine setup. An excellent idea I will keep in mind for my future build. Will be nice to hear if the heat remains under control in all circumstances, not forgetting that the engine and box area will remain protected from road muck. Now just a neat rear diffuser and you'll have a clean under body which will channel air below nicely!
That's great! Im not worried about the heat - mine's an LS and does not overheat.
In my mind the panelling should increase negative pressure in the rear opening of the car and help in drawing more air through the side vents. With louvers in the bottom, any vapors/fluids that may be down there will get sucked out.
I want the panels with the louvers pressed in.
Would anyone else be interested in a set of panels?
3 rear ones + the front battery area one.
Im thinking if we make the centre one a full panel - leave the sump cutout to be done by the builder.
Does anyone know a fabricator in UK that can do louvered panels?
In my mind the panelling should increase negative pressure in the rear opening of the car and help in drawing more air through the side vents. With louvers in the bottom, any vapors/fluids that may be down there will get sucked out.
I want the panels with the louvers pressed in.
Would anyone else be interested in a set of panels?
3 rear ones + the front battery area one.
Im thinking if we make the centre one a full panel - leave the sump cutout to be done by the builder.
Does anyone know a fabricator in UK that can do louvered panels?
crafty said:
....Does anyone know a fabricator in UK that can do louvred panels?
Any decent sheet metal fabricator will have the press tools to do louvres.Transport would be the main problem.
Far better to establish the design as a CAD model with associated detail drawings so that anyone can have some made up locally.
Steve
http://www.coollouvres.com/
These guys did my rad panel, more associated with tarted up Saxos, but price was ok, work was good, turnaround was pretty quick.
These guys did my rad panel, more associated with tarted up Saxos, but price was ok, work was good, turnaround was pretty quick.
Gassing Station | Ultima | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff