Been struggling with high CHT temps at Watkins Glen. Installed 70 mm thick radiator, Reischle 170 Thermostat, sealed every leak up stream of the AC/Condenser/Radiator core. Dropped Anti-Freeze concentration to 30% and added water wetter. Also installed an MP Concepts GT500 style aluminum hood. Yes I am aware there are better performing vents and louvers out there, but just to clarify the current conditions.
Finally purchased a 2 - port Manometer, after watching a YT video by AJ Hartman using same tool to analyze air leaks around the top right and left of the S550 radiator. So took the tool and the Mach 1 out, took readings at 50 to 80 mph, the results were pretty shocking.
Overall pressure difference between front of radiator and behind shroud was 1.6 inches of water at 80 mph..
Bored a 5/16" hole in the shroud and moved the port from behind the radiator to inside the shroud, The pressure differential of 1.60" got cut in half, 0.80.
The data for all speeds showed essentially the same 50% reduction. Ran the test 4 times, average results were very close. It's starting to make sense, the CHT recovered pretty quickly at the Glen in mid July, by short shifting and running a cool down lap, but then would climb right back up to 235-240. Drive down the gas station in town and within a mile of the track, the temps would drop to 180 within minutes. Sounds like plenty of capacity to dissipate heat, if I can get air moving through the heat exchangers.
Decided the shroud needed modification. I drive the car to the track and didn't want to just hog out huge areas and then have the car running hot sitting on I-90 on my way to WGI
So here's what I have come up with so far, It's ready to be installed and should have some test results by maybe Wednesday/Thursday.
I essentially after a lot of thought about fabricating a bunch of one way flaps etc, decided I could partition the shroud. By creating a sealed partition, the 2 fans can pull air through the stack when they need to, but when I am running wide open at the Glen, the new modified area adds approximately 70 square inches of totally open non restricted air flow on the passenger side top. Photos attached for anyone interested.
The partition is fabricated out of 3/4 x 3/4 x 1/16 aluminum angle, the weatherstripping is off of Amazon, it's EPDM withstands pretty high temperatures and fits over 1/16" aluminum/steel stock. I used quite a bit of it to seal up all the leaks Ford left around the radiator/AC condenser up front, Free of Charge - Thanks Ford !
Finally purchased a 2 - port Manometer, after watching a YT video by AJ Hartman using same tool to analyze air leaks around the top right and left of the S550 radiator. So took the tool and the Mach 1 out, took readings at 50 to 80 mph, the results were pretty shocking.
Overall pressure difference between front of radiator and behind shroud was 1.6 inches of water at 80 mph..
Bored a 5/16" hole in the shroud and moved the port from behind the radiator to inside the shroud, The pressure differential of 1.60" got cut in half, 0.80.
The data for all speeds showed essentially the same 50% reduction. Ran the test 4 times, average results were very close. It's starting to make sense, the CHT recovered pretty quickly at the Glen in mid July, by short shifting and running a cool down lap, but then would climb right back up to 235-240. Drive down the gas station in town and within a mile of the track, the temps would drop to 180 within minutes. Sounds like plenty of capacity to dissipate heat, if I can get air moving through the heat exchangers.
Decided the shroud needed modification. I drive the car to the track and didn't want to just hog out huge areas and then have the car running hot sitting on I-90 on my way to WGI
So here's what I have come up with so far, It's ready to be installed and should have some test results by maybe Wednesday/Thursday.
I essentially after a lot of thought about fabricating a bunch of one way flaps etc, decided I could partition the shroud. By creating a sealed partition, the 2 fans can pull air through the stack when they need to, but when I am running wide open at the Glen, the new modified area adds approximately 70 square inches of totally open non restricted air flow on the passenger side top. Photos attached for anyone interested.
The partition is fabricated out of 3/4 x 3/4 x 1/16 aluminum angle, the weatherstripping is off of Amazon, it's EPDM withstands pretty high temperatures and fits over 1/16" aluminum/steel stock. I used quite a bit of it to seal up all the leaks Ford left around the radiator/AC condenser up front, Free of Charge - Thanks Ford !
