BUILD-OFF CHALLENGE: Tygaboy's '75 LS3, It seemed a good idea at the time... Options

[AZBanks]

Chris you are an inspiration. The quality of your work and your creativity are top level.

[bbrock]

I'm just in awe of your work as usual. That plumbing solution is incredible. Only thing is... what's the deal with that buggered rivnut? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

[dr.tim]

A few thoughts having gone through a few iterations of this.


Consider moving the bend points further up the vane. You don't need to have much, if any of it sticking up above the hood: air flow from the front will still find most of the face due to rake of the hood.

Use large radii on the twisted points to reduce tendency to tear.

Be aware of the crown of the hood and where that will put the trailing (upper) edge of the vanes. With the curvature in the direction you have it, the trailing edge of each vane will be proud of the hood on either end and low in the middle.


This is what I am running, with the trailing edge of each vane the same height from the hood, uniformly 3/16" higher than the top of the surrounding frame. That required I run the vane curvature in the opposite direction from what you are.

[tygaboy]

I'm just in awe of your work as usual. That plumbing solution is incredible. Only thing is... what's the deal with that buggered rivnut? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

@bbrock - As promised:

Brent,
You, Sir, are a dick!

And I'm giving myself bonus points for nearing your comma-to-word count per sentence ratio! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

[tygaboy]

A few thoughts having gone through a few iterations of this.


Consider moving the bend points further up the vane. You don't need to have much, if any of it sticking up above the hood: air flow from the front will still find most of the face due to rake of the hood.

Use large radii on the twisted points to reduce tendency to tear.

Be aware of the crown of the hood and where that will put the trailing (upper) edge of the vanes. With the curvature in the direction you have it, the trailing edge of each vane will be proud of the hood on either end and low in the middle.


This is what I am running, with the trailing edge of each vane the same height from the hood, uniformly 3/16" higher than the top of the surrounding frame. That required I run the vane curvature in the opposite direction from what you are.

@dr.tim - Triple bonus points to you for saving me at least one iteration! I totally didn't think about my curvature being 180 out! And on the location of the bend points, I wasn't sure exactly where to place them so was planning to cut a test piece of just a couple vanes. Looking at yours, maybe I'll move my bend points up by one attachment point width.
But before I can do any cutting, it's back to the drawing board!
Thanks again, I owe you one...

[dr.tim]

Thanks again, I owe you one...

I may claim that when I make it back to Sears Point. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[MichiganMat]

With my current focus seemingly "all things radiator", I went back to thinking about venting. I really don't want to open up the fenders so I figured I'd better prove out the hood vent, one way or the other.

No offense to the approach of "cut the front and sides then bend down the flap to create the vent". I just wanted something different from that so it was back to CAD to see what I could come up with.

The first pic is a piece I made just to get a REALLY rough idea of what things might look like.

The CAD drawing is what I'm going to cut later today. Note the vents remain attached to the frame via those small-ish connections on each side. The vents will be twisted at those points and set to the proper angle.

The small notches at the front edge of the vents is where a piece will fit in that locks them to the desired angle and adds stability.

The whole contraption will attach to the underside of the hood.

Let's see how this works out.

If I may offer a point of criticism (or at least, an opinion): The square shapes and 90 degree angles of the 914 don't lend well to triangles or curvy accents. I used a more brutalistic square shape for my front hood opening and, as simple as it is, the straight lines lend themselves to the rest of the body features. Scoopes, bezier curves, triangles, anything 'organic' really goes against the taxonomy of the design, in my humble opinion.

[tygaboy]

If I may offer a point of criticism (or at least, an opinion): The square shapes and 90 degree angles of the 914 don't lend well to triangles or curvy accents. I used a more brutalistic square shape for my front hood opening and, as simple as it is, the straight lines lend themselves to the rest of the body features. Scoopes, bezier curves, triangles, anything 'organic' really goes against the taxonomy of the design, in my humble opinion.

@MichiganMat - Thanks for the input. I took a look at your hood vent and I think I can come up with a happy medium that integrates with the theme of my build. If not, well, I'll have to see what I think at that point.
Plus, I have a paint scheme in mind that goes a ways toward de-emphasizing the vent.
Keep the cards and letters coming!

[tygaboy]

Latest design, incorporating @dr.tim 's pointers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

I agree with @MichiganMat and have the same concerns about if it'll look "right".

My thinking on the overall shape?
- the vent's leading edge radius matches the hood's front and rear edge radii
- the vent's trailing edge curve matches the side-to-side curve across the hood
- the narrow-at-the-front to wide rear matches the under hood support structure, giving me the largest air exit I can fit in that area of the hood.

I'll cut this one and see what I think.

[sixnotfour]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) more fuel

[tygaboy]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) more fuel

@sixnotfour Yeah, like that. But I mean, I can't just BUY one! You guys would never let me get away with that... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

And so, I went ahead with a first effort. This is 20 ga, which may be too thin and the dimension of the frame around the front and sides may need to be wider. It's .5" in this version. I think once I get things dialed in, I may try doing one in al-u-mini-um.

I will say, I'm pleased at what a tight dimension the plasma can cut. Look at how thin the center sections of those drops are!

[tygaboy]

Hmmm. I think I like it better than the earlier one with the rear edge that curved in parallel with the front.

[tygaboy]

It really takes on a totally different look once the vanes are tipped.

Now to cut the opening in the hood. And before you give me a hard time about sacrificing a hood, the one I'm using for this was in an accident that bent its support structure, it's got a bunch of filler on it and it has rot in a number of places.

[tygaboy]

Chris you are an inspiration. The quality of your work and your creativity are top level.

@AZBanks - Thanks so much for your kind words. I really appreciate it.

[Krieger]

It really takes on a totally different look once the vanes are tipped.

Now to cut the opening in the hood. And before you give me a hard time about sacrificing a hood, the one I'm using for this was in an accident that bent its support structure, it's got a bunch of filler on it and it has rot in a number of places.

Why don't you just put your hood on the plasma table and have at it!?

[Andyrew]

Looks good!!!

Will you be welding it in place or bolting it to the hood?

[sixnotfour]

It really takes on a totally different look once the vanes are tipped.

Now to cut the opening in the hood. And before you give me a hard time about sacrificing a hood, the one I'm using for this was in an accident that bent its support structure, it's got a bunch of filler on it and it has rot in a number of places.

Why don't you just put your hood on the plasma table and have at it!?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

[djway]

al-u-mini-um

Make it so.

Jean Luc

[tygaboy]

It really takes on a totally different look once the vanes are tipped.

Now to cut the opening in the hood. And before you give me a hard time about sacrificing a hood, the one I'm using for this was in an accident that bent its support structure, it's got a bunch of filler on it and it has rot in a number of places.

Why don't you just put your hood on the plasma table and have at it!?

@Krieger @sixnotfour - I wouldn't say I'm an expert at anything but I'm getting pretty good with my plasma table. Early on, I'd thought about doing this very thing but a few things had me abandon it pretty quickly:
- plasma puts a ton of heat into the material and there is a 100% chance the distortion to the hood would be significant - I'm not sure I'm skilled enough to correct it
- support of some kind would still be needed so I'd be adding material anyway.
- I'd have to get it right on the first try. Me? One try? We all know that's not my strong suit! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I've already made changes to the design that I think I like more. Give me a bit more time and I think I can come up with something that'll look right on this build.

And remember, this vent is eventually going into a carbon hood so I need a stand alone component anyway. Bonus points if I can use it as a mold to make it in carbon and bond it to the carbon hood!

[Krieger]

Chris, if you just borrowed a cryo chamber and put the plasma table and hood in it for 6 hours before the cutting began you'd be good! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)