corvette/firebird style engine cooling

[moonmonkey]

would an air intake system (engine cooling) like a corvette's bring less drag than leaving a small area open on the lower grill, on a dual grill car like an echo/corolla..corvettes have an area under the front of the car that sticks down into the airflow about 2-3" down and about as wide as the radiator and a curved air diverter, allowing the hood/bumper area to be completly sealed. this "air catcher" is about 12" behind the front bumper, my measurements my be off a little, as i did not want to explain to the corvette owner why i was under his car. my upper grill is already completly blocked, and my lower is partialy blocked,,tring to decide on corvette style vs. an active lower grillblock ,ideas?

[MetroMPG]

Not familiar with the style. Maybe post a photo (even something from Google images)?

[ChillyBear]

think of an air dam that connects to the bottom of the radiator. This forces the air into the fins.

[Sgt_K]

Yup, they are called "bottom feeders" because the air is pushed up from the bottom of the car by the lower air dam. It makes a lot of sense because you get the benefit of the air dam cleaning up the bottom of the car, aerodynamically speaking, and you don't have a gigantic grill opening on the front grill of the car.

[brucey]

You can get an idea of whats going on there.

The opening on the front bumper seems to be for the engine only.

[aerohead]

I think I put the Trans Am data in the mod data sticky here at the aero forum.It should have the number you're looking for.

[Rokeby]

Pictures of this arrangement in this past thread. A little more here.

These pictures show how cooling air is directed to the radiator.

I haven't found pictures of what special arrangements if any are made to lead
the air out of the engine bay and under the car -- something like the BMW
gently radiused ducting perhaps?