06-09-2009, 02:24 PM
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#71 (permalink)
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Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
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Woohoo, looks great. Nice clean install. 
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06-10-2009, 08:02 AM
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#72 (permalink)
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Deadly Efficient
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Goshen, Indiana
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Thanks, guys!
I made a fresh lower grille block, using the toothed one as a pattern. I left it solid and painted it flat black to match the upper one. Then I cut two round holes in it, about 3" in diameter and situated towards the lower inner corners of each side. I was worried that this would make Olivia look like a hog-nosed snake, but I put it on and it looks OK, I guess.
The radiator fan indicator LED worked like a charm this morning. With the outside temp at 57F this morning (No, really! 57F, I'm serious!) the coolant plateaued at its normal 181F for a bit, then climbed to 204, and 'bink', the light came on. It cycled a half dozen times during the last half of my commute, so I'll increase the two holes a bit.
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-Terry
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06-10-2009, 11:42 AM
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#73 (permalink)
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is not covered in bees.
Join Date: May 2009
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I think, due to friction with the edges of the holes, one large hole would be better than two small holes. And if you offset it to the side of the radiator where the hot coolant comes in it would be more effective, I think. Not sure though.
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06-10-2009, 11:49 AM
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#74 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
Join Date: Jun 2008
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Nice work Tango! Let's hear a hip, hip, hooray for "Larry Rensberger" too...whether he likes it or not he's now the official sponsor of your Vibe!
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06-10-2009, 01:18 PM
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#75 (permalink)
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Deadly Efficient
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Goshen, Indiana
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Yay for Larry Rensberger! I'd vote for him, if he was in my district. 
One offset hole, instead of two would be better theoretically, wouldn't it? Dang, where were ya when I had the knife in my hands?  The asymmetricness of it might make it look European. (  )
Well, the holes were actually about 2-1/2" diameter. NOW they're 3". We'll see what that does on the drive home.
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-Terry
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The Following User Says Thank You to Tango Charlie For This Useful Post:
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06-15-2009, 02:24 PM
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#76 (permalink)
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EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Jun 2009
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Any news? I have a '05 so I must say I find this thread very interesting..
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06-15-2009, 03:16 PM
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#77 (permalink)
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Deadly Efficient
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Goshen, Indiana
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Welcome, nustar1 ! Thanks for the interest! If you enter your Vibe in the garage, you can enter fuel logs and keep track of your mileage.
On the way home, it still got warm enough for the fan to kick on, so I elongated the holes.
I went out of town last weekend, and on the highway, it still went to 204 and kicked the fan on! Grrr! I removed it, and haven't had time to cut the holes even bigger and reinstall it...yet.
Stay tuned...
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-Terry
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06-15-2009, 03:36 PM
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#78 (permalink)
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Coasting Down the Peak
Join Date: Jun 2008
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On my Versa, I needed an opening about 15" long by 5" high.
If you read my build thread in the sig, you will see I went through the same process of needing to cut larger openings.
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06-16-2009, 09:24 AM
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#79 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
Join Date: May 2008
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Hi,
There seems to be a consensus on the minimum size of a cooling air intake! Mine is 14" x 4" which is tapered in from 5" high.
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06-16-2009, 11:09 AM
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#80 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
Join Date: Feb 2008
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I think NASCAR vehicles use a rule of thumb of 4 square inches per 25 hp being produced by the engine. This is for a fully ducted cooling system assuming no air leakage around the radiator and no AC use.
Looks like you are pretty close and as the weather warms you'll chase higher temps so oversize it a little now. Also consider a seperate winter set-up to maintain your gains.
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