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Looking to Improve Engine Cooling

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24
47
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
5-10 Years
San Diego
I concur with ArizonaBoss' Boss 302S Grille recommendation. I run that grille along with a CoolTech LLC Oil Cooler. My stock 2012 engine typically registers 220-230 degree Oil Temps and 210-220 degree Water Temps at our SoCal AutoClub Speedway. Those temperatures once spiked to 240-250 when the mid-summer air temperature was 97 degrees…….I now avoid those July track days! However, the Boss has never overheated or gone into limp mode so I am pretty happy with those two mods.
 

JDee

Ancient Racer
1,797
2,001
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
5 miles from Mosport
So after the track day test of the Race Louvers RT hood vent I am very pleased with it. Definitely made a noticeable difference in handling, I am actually getting some oversteer now, quite controllable but it's something I wasn't getting before. I believe temps are down quite a bit as well, was getting 210 from Forscan but I don't have a 1 to 1 comparison for this track. I will know more after I run Mosport next Friday where I already have temp data to compare to. Now I need to adjust my driving to take advantage of that increased front grip, the day was cut short by a monsoon so I didn't really get to do as much as I wanted to.
 

JDee

Ancient Racer
1,797
2,001
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
5 miles from Mosport
So for those of you that have such hood vents or a Tiger hood, how do you keep things dry during such downpours? Once off the track that is.

I didn't do anything. It has to be mounted with the front edge of the opening 2" behind the rad back of the rad so mostly what's under the opening is not going to be bothered by rain water. Yesterdays gulley washer was extreme and the car just sat and idled all through it, I came off the track when the first drops hit and it was fine as I let it idle to cool down. Rained on the way home and no issues.

They race in the rain with these kinds of hood openings and nothing seems to be bothered by it. There has to be some level of water resistance built in to what's under there, they can't prevent water intrusion from below and in this country winter will pack snow in there like mad at times. Some people do drive these cars in winter, though I can't imagine doing it personally!
 

JDee

Ancient Racer
1,797
2,001
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
5 miles from Mosport
JDee, any under the hood photos you can share once you have the time?

Do you mean of the hood vent taken from under the hood? I can do that, just away from home at the moment. If you mean the engine room there's nothing unusual there, it's a bone stock Coyote with the PP2 kit installed with lexan on top of the air intake.
 

ArizonaBOSS

Because racecar.
Moderator
8,730
2,734
Arizona, USA
1,289
1,113
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
5-10 Years
Philly Metro Area
I currently have the FRPP radiator and am happy with it. But just in case I ever need more cooling, does this unit allow use of the stock or GT500 cooling fan. In the picture, I don't see the hooks that support the bottom of the fan.
 
24
47
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
5-10 Years
San Diego
JDee, yes to your question....the photos I would like are from beneath an open hood looking at the hood. I am looking for fit/finish ideas...when convenient, if possible please.

thx
 

ArizonaBOSS

Because racecar.
Moderator
8,730
2,734
Arizona, USA
I currently have the FRPP radiator and am happy with it. But just in case I ever need more cooling, does this unit allow use of the stock or GT500 cooling fan. In the picture, I don't see the hooks that support the bottom of the fan.
Yes it fits the GT500 fan, that's what I run on mine. It has all the tabs, including front side fittings for J-Nuts to attach the AC stuff if needed.
 

JDee

Ancient Racer
1,797
2,001
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
5 miles from Mosport
JDee, yes to your question....the photos I would like are from beneath an open hood looking at the hood. I am looking for fit/finish ideas...when convenient, if possible please.

thx

Here's two pictures. As you can see, I'm not a fit and finish dude! I had a body man lined up to do this but he got busy and I wanted it in for a track day so I just did it myself, from the top it looks great, I think I posted a picture of it somewhere here. Not that hard of a job to do really, the template they give you is full size and the instructions are easy to follow.

The only issue I had was their template shows that you leave the strip of hood between the two sides. I used several different cutting tools, jig saw mostly as it cuts really fast, but the vibration from it fractured the end of the center strip at the back so I ended up cutting that out entirely as well. Doesn't make any difference, the vent itself is very sturdy.

And just to finish this off, I ran Mosport today and I did a new PB lap of 1:35.005, last month I had done a 1:36.6 so this was a big drop. I had numerous laps in the 1:35 range predicted but with catching slower cars and letting faster cars past this was the only lap I completed without a slowdown. There were no other changes to the car between these two track days and the weather was the same, sunny and warm.

The engine temps on the back straight peaked at 218, last month I was seeing around 250 as I recall. So this hood vent has really worked well, very happy with it. I can feel the rear end working now, before it just followed the front around. Doesn't do anything stupid like snap oversteer, it is looser than it was but really predictable and easy to catch if it does break loose.

I am pretty damn happy with the way this thing has worked and would highly recommend it.
IMG_20190815_173444.jpg
IMG_20190815_173504.jpg
 
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Fabman

Dances with Racecars
6,518
8,154
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
Question for those purchasing the Setrab 9 series coolers.
Are you getting clean units or are you getting coolers with the mounting ears damaged?
So far I've received 3 coolers in a row with the ears all bashed in....some worse than others, but none acceptable in my book. They checked warehouse inventory and those were bashed in too. This latest one was supposed to be a clean unit, but didn't make it here unscathed.

This is 3 different coolers....I keep asking them to package them better, but nooo.....

IMG_6580.JPG

IMG_6581.JPG

IMG_6620.JPG
 

ArizonaBOSS

Because racecar.
Moderator
8,730
2,734
Arizona, USA
Haven't seen that with any of my Setrabs. Usually they come in boxes with perforated edges that fold under the mounting flanges to prevent that sort of issue. Maybe they changed their packaging? Does the box say SETRAB on it, etc? I am wondering if these are getting repackaged.
 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
6,518
8,154
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
Haven't seen that with any of my Setrabs. Usually they come in boxes with perforated edges that fold under the mounting flanges to prevent that sort of issue. Maybe they changed their packaging? Does the box say SETRAB on it, etc? I am wondering if these are getting repackaged.
Yup, comes in that box you described inside of a giant box, laying on a single sheet of bubble wrap and a handful of those palm sized plastic air pouches on top. Nothing to either of the 4 sides of the cooler. These things bounce around in there like a BB in a box car. Each time they come packaged exactly the same way. Exactly. I send them back all nice and bubble wrapped all the way around and have asked them to do the same....but no.
These are supposedly sent in setrab packaging although the outer box is not marked.
 
I received my cooler about 3 months ago that was damaged just like the one pictured. I have learned over the years to hope for the best but know that I will usually be disappointed. Seems very few take pride in what they do anymore.
 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
6,518
8,154
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
I received my cooler about 3 months ago that was damaged just like the one pictured. I have learned over the years to hope for the best but know that I will usually be disappointed. Seems very few take pride in what they do anymore.
Did you have a new one sent or did you just straighten the tabs?
 

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