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

[914forme]

When I heard the saying "Everyone's a critic", I thought it was a euphemism.

Turns out, it's closer to literal. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

True, just trying to help you out with design well mine is more proper function.

Your attach angle is too great, I attempted to make a joke about it in hopes it would catch, but fell flat.

This will give you the basics, Aero 101

Add a disrupter in the front, a 90 degree flap I recommend a vortex generator, this creates a negative pressure zone over the vents. Then the Vents will work if they are not also to steep of an angle. This also works best if it is ducted correctly.

In my book sometimes in aero things get ugly before they get better

M1 tank fan I know works (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

[Rand]

Sorry buddy, no filters.
Every damned time you are on it.
You can feel free to disregard every one of my words. You got this. (I mean, it's what everyone does... just roll)
OH wait.... you'd roll the edges of the vents...

[tygaboy]

When I heard the saying "Everyone's a critic", I thought it was a euphemism.

Turns out, it's closer to literal. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

True, just trying to help you out with design well mine is more proper function.

Your attach angle is too great, I attempted to make a joke about it in hopes it would catch, but fell flat.

This will give you the basics, Aero 101

@914forme Stephen - No worries, I got the joke. My comment was simply commenting on all the comments! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Of all the stuff I've done to this poor car, I was just surprised at how much input/commentary these vents generated.

In terms of the aero stuff, my "testing" to date indicates there's more than enough airflow to prevent overheating, which is the only actual requirement I have for the vents. I figure if I meet that one, I know they are functionally OK, maybe not ideal, proper or optimized (the use case for this car doesn't require that) and I can focus on aesthetics.

Remember, the title of this chapter of the build is "It's Only a Hood"

[tygaboy]

And I can't believe it took me this long to recognize where the saying "I'm just venting" comes from! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

Carry on...

[horizontally-opposed]

And I can't believe it took me this long to recognize where the saying "I'm just venting" comes from! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

Carry on...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

So been thinking about this, and keep experimenting, but:

Porsche started directing air from the center radiator upward with the 996.2 GT3 RS, something it followed with the 997.1 and 997.2 GT3 and GT2, and then every 991-based GT car since—not to mention the 918 Spyder, Cayman GT4, and new 718 Spyder.

And, in thinking about that, I wonder a) if isn't worth thinking about some advantages when it comes to anti-lift up front, and b) how big does the vent area need to be (I wonder if too big may be a downside both for cooling and for canceling lift). Granted, the center radiator they were venting was pretty small and one of three, but the next question is: how much do you need? Might be worth painting up a hood that can accept your various prototypes and running the car to test coolant temps with the various setups. Maybe you're ten steps ahead on that front.

Then hit the visuals.

Which brought me to another idea: If you don't need huge holes, I wonder if you could create ducts that vent just behind each headlight but don't look much bigger than an oversize headlight gap—maybe with a single vane in there to make their intention clear, and to make them finished looking?

[914forme]

Pete @horizontally-opposed please remember that most of these cars where built with a sanctioning body and its rule books in mind.. And how sanctioning bodies tend to limit your engineering fun is to do things like limit size of opening or even ban certain items that could radically change the overall dynamics of a car.

Fun part of this is trying to figure out a way to make the rules work for you and your build. Maybe that is just me.

@Tygaboy You are correct it will work, it will be fine, it is just not optimal.

[horizontally-opposed]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Pretty sure homologation cars enable race cars—and/or how much further the race cars can be evolved from that starting point. So the road cars end up "over built" in many ways, such as uprights in the first GT3 RS that could be machined into what the race team wanted, or a firewall that did away with some brackets for the glovebox in the regular 996.2 GT3. As for those bumper-top vents, I suspect the street car's aero was thoroughly optimized for the street else given the stability issues customers are likely to encounter on the autobahn at 190~ mph. Ditto for cooling, as many 996/997/991/981/982 GT cars end up running at Thermal, Bahrain, etc.

In any event, my point in sharing wasn't to steal any fun, but Chris's project and the peanut gallery (including myself among the nuts) got me to thinking about what Porsche Motorsport—with its resources and know-how—has been up to when it comes to venting a central radiator. Iirc, the 996.2 GT3 RS was Porsche's first road car to leverage central radiator cooling to cancel front-end lift. The bumper-top vents weren't big, but the concept proved very effective and they've been enlarging/refining the top vent with each new GT2/GT3/GT4 variant over the last 15 years. The 914 could use a bit of help in this area, so I am wondering if any of the lessons be applied? Not sure what they would/could look like on a 914, but it's fun to think about. Chris's current setup may be the best short of the solution employed on so many 914 race cars.

And perhaps someone here knows aero, and can theorize what Chris's current vents might do when ducted.

[tygaboy]

Color change makes a huge difference. Note that the headlight cover is just a piece of paper. It's all I had - so sue me... But this is the current thinking on the paint scheme:
black bumpers and that same black on the eyebrows, headlight covers and vents. I think I'll completely fill in the bumper grill openings, too.

I'm going to again state that "these look different in real life." I don't mean that pics don't do them justice. I mean when you can walk around and see them from all the different angles, you get a bit different vibe. At least I do.

@mikey63 Mike stopped by today in his 914 - a BEAUTIFUL slant nose, wonderfully and tastefully modified '73, and he seemed to agree. Mike, feel free to chime in with your perspective?

Next, I'll paint up the existing straight version and see how those look. I really like both styles so do think I'll just go ahead and make two hoods.

[Cracker]

The "color" isn't fixing the angle issue... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[bbrock]

When I heard the saying "Everyone's a critic", I thought it was a euphemism.

Turns out, it's closer to literal. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

Just put servos on those babies and all this peanut gallery chatter goes away. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bootyshake.gif)

[Krieger]

I like the grills and covers black! It blends and softens the look.

[tygaboy]

Straight and black (insert one-liner here (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) ). This is the "old" straight version that you've seen before, not the new design with the fancy @Rand @azbanks changing vane angles.

So @Cracker Tony, here you go, no angles so shut up. @bbrock , you surely know what's coming: "You're a dick". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif) All in love, my brothers, all in love. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)

In all seriousness, straight seems a better fit to the look of the car. What came to mind when I was swapping these designs back and forth on the hood then sitting back to see what I thought was that the straight is much "calmer". It draws my eye to that nice top curve where the angled doesn't seem to.

And if you disagree? Screw you, I say! Well, at least until/unless you see it in person, that is. At that point you'll have at least stepped out of the peanut gallery and onto the main floor! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

I feel compelled to clarify: That last paragraph is me kidding you. Scheesh, such a serious group...

Anyway, the needed material arrived this afternoon so tomorrow I'll cut a RandAzBanks version and see how that looks. Then it's decision time on making a complete first set and attaching them to get an overall look.

[horizontally-opposed]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/whip[1].gif)



(Have always wanted to use that emoji… (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) )

[tygaboy]

I like the grills and covers black! It blends and softens the look.

@Krieger Andy - Totally, right? It made such a difference. You need to find a reason to get to Petaluma. I'd love to hear your opinion once you've seen them live.

[914forme]

That is finally getting there!

All black not helping these old eyes seeing the details. I like where this is heading now. Reduce the angles a bit more and you will have it.

Do I see a small flap in front to generate the low pressure zone over the vents?

Time to move on and let use peanuts critique your next project. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

[bbrock]

Not to be a dick but I do like the straight version. The angled ones just fight for attention with other design elements. The black also tames them. If you end up going with a dark body color like anthracite, I think they would look great painted to match and would provide more of a subtle badass look. Makes me think of the 935.

[mobymutt]

I was feeling left out of the peanut gallery, so I'm chiming in as well!

I think the last set of straight ones you posted look the best. I envy your ability to make things in real life -- I just design stuff virtually, but real craftsmanship is so much harder.

Would it be possible to lessen the bend angle of each vane as you move from front to back?

[Krieger]

Straight looks even better! How about tomorrow am ? I have two other possible mods for ya!

[Rand]

Oooh booyy brother. The angles are almost there LOL!LOL.

So good.

We can agree that not everyone will agree upon what we should all decide upon, even when it's such a crystal clear decision!!!!

Hey 'yall, or is that Y'all? TonY?

Point is, Chris owns this and is an obvious master of his craft having to deal with all of us...

What I respect is that Chris listens. Through the nonsense, a few good ideas surface. And he can take a sniff here and there... And he always knows how to decipher it to come out with the best answer.

[Rand]

Tony, you should hook him up with a tunnnel.