Looking for ideas on propping my engine lid while driving to help expel heat. Saw it on Todd El Tahers car and he uses an actuator set up. I just want something simple and manual. Not looking to discuss overheating engines etc...I have an oil cooler etc but don't mind the look of it propped while driving a few inches and anything to expel more heat. 97 today with heat index of 102...
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I cobbled together something for my IM. It's basically two pieces of 'S' shaped metal. I can take a photo of the two metal bars, which I have at home, but my car is at the shop getting its engine installed.
It takes me only a couple of minutes to unbolt one end of the brackets and close the hood.
That would be cool!
A lot of overheating problems arise from not enough air intake into the engine compartment; the intake and cooling systems will fight for the available air, with the cooling system losing. Does your car have more air intake than just the vents in the engine lid? A round 6" hole in the front firewall (right in front of the fan shroud intake works), as well as ducting air from a scoop below (and slightly in front of) a rear axle. Holes in the engine compartment sidewalls will also make more air available to the carburetors and fan.
Take a piece of aquarium air tubing (15 ft. should do it) and tape one end to the shroud (beside the coil should do it) and have a helper sit in the passenger seat with the other end of the tubing in a clear glass half filled with water. With the car still and idling, observe the level of water in the tube with the engine lid open and then closed. For kicks try it again with the motor running (open and closed) at 2500 or 3000 rpms; if you've got an appreciable drop in water level in the tube while the car is standing still (and engine lid closed), there's a negative air pressure situation and I'll bet you have overheating problems on the highway. If you have an extra cooler and never experience high oil temps, it's just a matter of time until the heads overheat one too many times and you're stranded; probably in the middle of nowhere and miles from help. Try the same test on a relatively flat section of highway- one way with the lid open and back with it closed. Again, if there is a major difference in the levels in the tube (and probably a drop in oil temp with the lid open if it's hot out), you'll know what's happening and why.
I know you said you didn't want to turn this into a discussion about overheating, but wouldn't it be nice if you had done the work and could just jump in the car and not have to worry about it? Al
Next person that asks gets the lecture on the importance of sled tins and heaterboxes/industrial pieces...
propint the lid open will probably make it worse as it trys to siphen the air out, not pack it in. I just got a nice stainless steel luggage rack for mine and it will doubble as a intake scoop when Im done with it ,so it will have a ram air IV, just like the killer pontiacs of yester year had.hmm now I have some more emblims to find.... I like a totaly sealed engine compartment and air only drawn from the intake grill.pulling hot dusty,dirty air from underneeth isant exzactly my idea of a cooling system, and some cars have the oil cooler in that aera, so your recycling the already heated air, and the engine mounted oil cooler also dumps out there.just not a smart thing in my thinken......but we all know how my thinken is off a bit.
My setup is similar to Terry's, except I have two pieces of flat, thin metal instead of one.
I can't say for sure that my fan/carbs get more air with the hood propped open, but I can say that the fan shroud, alternator, carbs, etc., are much cooler to the touch.
Todd- What does your car have for air intake?
