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Old 12-23-2014, 07:13 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Lawrence, KS
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 67-ls1 View Post
19" diameter round opening in the fan shroud. This is approx. 60 sq. in. (19x3.14=59.66)
8.5 x 8.5 x 3.14 = 226.865 sq in


Quote:
Originally Posted by 67-ls1 View Post
I plan on blocking the entire grill area and taking air in from the center of an air dam I am going to add.
That was the purpose of my question. A "%" type answer does not really apply since I am going to block 100% of the original grill area and need to know what open area to add in the air dam.
are you planning to add an air dam directly below the radiator? is there an oem air dam? open area, as in size of the air dam? open area, as in gap at the center of the air dam out in front of the radiator re directing air up behind the grill block?

even though im doing this myself, im not convinced its better than a more conventional small grill opening. however i think the difference would be small if both are sized right

my own car has the grill completely blocked, oe airdam directly under the radiator, i have added an air dam at the front edge of the bumper. add on air dam is maybe 2" tall (paver edging). i first added it all the way across, couldn't keep the temps under control. with the center cut out 6" wide, and angling the cut out to 12" wide at the bottom, the car would eventually over heat (testing at 70degF) even at low loads, and any speed. with the gap cut 12" wide top and bottom i had no trouble keeping the temps under control ( eventually found the limit, 92degF, a/c on, 72 mph would maintain, 75mph would push temps up). i think the difference the last cut made was beyond the extra 6 square inches i removed. i think the angled bits might have been pushing the air under the oe air dam, giving me little more than if i had the gap cut 6" top and bottom.

i dont think there's a set formula for the openings needed. if my front end was flatter, maybe i wouldnt need as big of an opening, or maybe the air would shoot down to the ground and completely skip over the oe air dam. my grill is blocked from behind, and the plastic i used curls up and around, helping draw air up towards the top of the radiator, not unlike how vettes were done, with out that, i might need a larger opening. if the oe air dam was taller, i might get by with a smaller gap. whether or not someone has a/c, p/s, lrr tires, side mirrors, old auto trans w/o lockup converter...
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