My cut-less conversion, My new rotary build attempt but with NO body cutting. Options

[Rotary'14]

I've been slowly gathering steam on this. After talking to the folks at the G&R flesh roast,, I'd thought I'd share some pics and thoughts.

I don't want to do any major cutting on my conversion. My goal is to have 2 usable trunks, and a car that can be easily converted back to a stocker. There have been a few threads where the possibility/impossibility of an engine bay radiator. Here's my take on it. I believe that at 25+ mph there is a low pressure spot behind the back window. I think this will be enough to suck air up through the engine compartment.
I would love to hear some constructive criticism.

-Robert

[Rotary'14]

This is how I am mounting my oil cooler. The PO of my car got rid of the brake proportioning valve, and replaced it with a T. I am going to use both of those original mounting points to help hold up my oil cooler.

[sixnotfour]

Nice !!

You tell Us , Does it work ??

[Rotary'14]

I relocated my fuel pump to the front trunk and I made up this assembly. I had to drill two small holes for the fuel lines from the tank to the pump and back.

[Rotary'14]

Nice !!

You tell Us , Does it work ??

I sure hope it works,, I am engineering this by the seat of my pants. I think I should be idle testing by next month.

-Robert

[Rotary'14]

I almost forgot,,,, my radiator can swing open for access.

[Mike Bellis]

Nice! If you have the radiator fans blowing up it may just work. A better spot for the oil cooler is directly under your radiator. Use those fans to pull air through.

I'm subscribed...

[sean_v8_914]

Good to see you today
where is the air burp/bleeder valve?
or do you bleed it in teh swing open position?

[mark21742]

I want to know more about this swap.....a lot more (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Rotary'14]

Good to see you today
where is the air burp/bleeder valve?
or do you bleed it in teh swing open position?

I plan on bleeding my system in the swing open position thru the brass fittings I screwed into franken-radiator.

-Robert

[Dave_Darling]

You may find that the engine lid actually has a high-pressure zone above it. So you may need to set up the fans to push the air down through the radiator instead of pulling it up through.

--DD

[Rotary'14]

You may find that the engine lid actually has a high-pressure zone above it. So you may need to set up the fans to push the air down through the radiator instead of pulling it up through.

--DD

I can reverse the direction of the fans if needed,, where did you get the info about the high pressure?

-Robert

[bandjoey]

What about the extra heat softening up the buytl holding the rear window in plane?

There's an engineering study online for 914 windflow. Google is our friend unless someone has this book marked.

[nathansnathan]

Hey, Rob, I was thinking more about this last night. It's awesome to see pics. Would love to have checked it out in person!

The aerodynamic info mentioned was from that engineering teacher that autocrossed and had his students analyze the 914. They determined there was a low pressure area above the engine just behind the roll bar, but I believe it was because of the intake air being pulled from that area- could be different with the open engine compartment.

I've got an extra engine cover that I'd be willing to sacrifice to your cause. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
I'm still thinking to modify the stock one would be the best/ cleanest way. I'm picturing mounting the radiator lower and then to clear the lid of the rear lid on the pivot, it would 'parallelogram' up with the lid, if that makes sense. Looks like there is some room to work with down there. That engine is little!

[matthepcat]

I seem to remember a thread of someone doing an engine compartment radiator, and never being able to keep it running cool enough.

I believe his was a Subaru engine. In the end he put it in the front trunk.

The bottom line was that there was not enough airflow.

[Andyrew]

Overflow tank?

This is a great idea, but I have concerns about it actually working..

[Rotary'14]

I seem to remember a thread of someone doing an engine compartment radiator, and never being able to keep it running cool enough.

I believe his was a Subaru engine. In the end he put it in the front trunk.

The bottom line was that there was not enough airflow.

I believe you mean TonyakaVW,, he's a real rocket scientist. Yes he gave up on mounting the radiator in front of the engine. But,, there was also a guy named Scott Thatcher (who I don't think is an engineer) who did install an engine bay radiator and drove the car from the east coast all the way to the west coast for WCR05 and back. How cool his car ran? I don't know,, I wasn't there,, but I did hear he did fine on the track day.

So I would say it's a toss up. If my car overheats,, I will acknowledge you were the first to warn me. If I get it to run reliably I have just proven another less invasive method of cooling H2O in our fine little cars. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

-Robert

[Rotary'14]

Overflow tank?

This is a great idea, but I have concerns about it actually working..

In the pic with the radiator tilted up,, you can see a coolant fill. There is also a overflow relief valve there, and the overflow tank will hook up there.

I have concerns about it working too,, but you never know until it's been tried. The radiator I am using is about 50% bigger than the one I used when it was mounted in the front trunk. We will see.

By the end of this week I should have my other oil cooler line hooked up and I should be able to try and start it once I sort out some minor other stuff.

-Robert

[dakotaewing]

I seem to remember a thread of someone doing an engine compartment radiator, and never being able to keep it running cool enough.

I believe his was a Subaru engine. In the end he put it in the front trunk.

The bottom line was that there was not enough airflow.

I believe you mean TonyakaVW,, he's a real rocket scientist. Yes he gave up on mounting the radiator in front of the engine. But,, there was also a guy named Scott Thatcher (who I don't think is an engineer) who did install an engine bay radiator and drove the car from the east coast all the way to the west coast for WCR05 and back. How cool his car ran? I don't know,, I wasn't there,, but I did hear he did fine on the track day.

So I would say it's a toss up. If my car overheats,, I will acknowledge you were the first to warn me. If I get it to run reliably I have just proven another less invasive method of cooling H2O in our fine little cars. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

-Robert

Robert -
Thatchers car was a subby motor, and the radiator was mounted vertically inside the engine compartment, not horizontally above the engine. And while Thatcher did survive the track day, I wouldn't call his car a "contender". EVERYONE at that event was concerned as to the cars ability to get the owners back home, as that motor/combo was untried at that time, and Mr. Thatchers trip was not without a few "events" (breakdowns) along the way.
FYI, our very own Mr. Darling who posted above, is also a former NASA rocket scientist...

Best -

Thom

[913B]

Thats pretty cool thinking out of the box Robert.

Here is a pretty cheap way to figure out which way the the air flows in the engine.

How about tying 2 ribbons on the grill, one on the inside and one on the outside of the grill and drive it to see which way the ribbon flows.

But that wouldnt confirm if th VOLUME of air was adequate though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I would gladlly test it for you, but unfortunatley my car is not driveable at the moment, sorry

Anyone with a conversion wanna give a test run and see (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)