cooling and front number plate
Discussion
I have a 95 Chim, which can get a tad warm in hot and slow conditions. I have seen that some chims have the number plate lowered down of the front grill to improve airflow to the rad. I was wondering if anyone has done this and if it made any improvement. Also, how and where do you mount the numberplate. have not checked bible yet for this but will have a look to see if any advise is available tonight when I get home.
The plate on my 94 is mounted on the body beneath the grill. The previous owner has done this using self tappers into the bodywork. Looks o.k and I have not been pulled even though the plate is not mounted vertically (face down slightly). Re cooling my doesn't seem to suffer. Holds at 90c in traffic cues even durring heatwave and runs at 70c ish on a run.
I have tried the plate on the grill for a week but could tell no difference in coolant temp. I have returned the plate to the "low" position as I prefer the look of it.
I have tried the plate on the grill for a week but could tell no difference in coolant temp. I have returned the plate to the "low" position as I prefer the look of it.
m142yum, I've just made some improvements to my Griff,(see Griffith Forum,D.I.Y. Cooling Improvements) had similar problem to you, hot when stationary or moving slowly, OK on a run. Moving your number plate would only realy make a difference when you are moving at a reasonable speed. A mate of mine has a Chim and I've suggested to him, that he blocks off all the gaps between the radiator and the body. I spoke with some of the cooling and aerodynamic guys where I work and they gave me a brief lesson on how to improve the cooling. Basically air will try to find the easiest route around or through an obstacle and gaps even as low as 5mm are sufficient to cause a problem. This was recently seen on a new vehicle currently under development. Also I've noticed on a Chim, that there is a large distance from the air intake at the body opening to the radiator front face. Putting baffles vertically at the sides would also help force the air through the rad.This would be more beneficial to cooling when moving at a reasonable speed and less so at slower speeds.Obviously you'd need to make sure the flow of air to the engine air intake wasn't fully obscured though. Hope this helps and wasn't too boring, occasionally my job does have its usefulness.
Alan, behind the mesh there are 2 upright struts, I drilled into these to lower the plate & used 2 spacers behind to the plate to 'level' it. I didn't fancy drilling holes in the show part in case I needed to move it some time? It DOES help the cooling on a run and it DOES look good...
You can get front grilles that have something like 30% more space on the openings.
Might see you at a Kent meet some time? Good Luck
You can get front grilles that have something like 30% more space on the openings.
Might see you at a Kent meet some time? Good Luck
Lowered the number plate on mine just as a precaution in the hot weather. It does make a difference.
Does look good too tho!
Mounted mine on some flexble bits, screwed to the body just behind the grille so it doesn't show and doesn't rip great chunks of body off on speed bumps!
Grounded the plate a few times, no marks at all, just springs back.
Might put it back for the winter, damn thing rarely got over 70 on the motorway last winter and took ages to warm up as it was!
Does look good too tho!
Mounted mine on some flexble bits, screwed to the body just behind the grille so it doesn't show and doesn't rip great chunks of body off on speed bumps!
Grounded the plate a few times, no marks at all, just springs back.
Might put it back for the winter, damn thing rarely got over 70 on the motorway last winter and took ages to warm up as it was!
I just made a smaller plate probably less than half the orginal surface area, an aluminium baking plate and used self tappers to attach to grill and stuck to No. plate to the backing plate
Been on since last summernot been stopped and passed MOT can e-mail photo's if required
By the way got it from carnassour(spelling wrong I know) as a "show" plate
Been on since last summernot been stopped and passed MOT can e-mail photo's if required
By the way got it from carnassour(spelling wrong I know) as a "show" plate
Colin - baking plates go in the oven not in the grill!As has already be stated, moving the plate only really helps cooling at speed. Apart from ensuring you're cooling system is working 100% (correct mixture and level, fans cutting in, no major blockages in radiator etc) the only other beneficial change is to stick an overide switch in there for the fans. If you get stuck in traffic you can stick the fans on just a bit earlier which means that the cooling system is less likely to become overwhelmed. The only other alternatives are an extra radiator core, alluminium radiator (race style) and/or electronic water pump.
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