Wheel well vents
 

I was doing some research around the inter webs about venting the air out of the wheel wells. I found a chart that showed the amounts of pressure in the well while driving, of course, the top and the top rear were the highest. But I was wondering if anybody has done this? Cut out vents to let up on some drag, and stop the effect of the vehicle rising a bit with that built up pressure.

I though about experimenting with it, maybe looking around in the wells and fenders.. but until I get more research done, I don't want to start cutting into my fenders.

Where are you proposing to cut? If its in the fender you better make sure there's nothing behind there (like wiring, a car alarm, etc.), and I think your car will get dirty pretty fast.

I dont know exactly if im going to cut into the fender or not. I do know where my fenders are empty, there is not to much in/behind them. and If I do make the cuts I would run a tubing to help with flow and so all the dirt dosent get up in the fenders. I was just thinking this might be a good idea, even a one that could be done. I do have functional rear brake scoops.. so why not have something that lets air out too?

Interesting idea -- I've given some thought to doing something kind of similar. Ducting from the front of the car to what I assume would be a low pressure area just behind the opening of the front fender, to kind of help keep the airflow going out and around the tire some. It may also help alleviate that high-pressure area at the top rear of the arch.

Yeah, I was looking at some race cars, I mean they are hitting 100+ more than we are. but I have even seen it on Formula D cars, and the local drift cars as well. So I was thinking it can help out on "low speed cars" I would think the pressure builds up good under highway/interstate speeds, and possibly even slower. I think it would benefit in two ways aerodynamically. It could help buy not lifting the car a meter or two and the drag with the air rolling around in the wheel wells.

also I though maybe some way you could duct the air into the engine bay for some cooler air? I already have hood vents.. dunno just thinking to much haha.

Metric is not my first language, but it sounds like you might want to get on that. :)

Here're a few examples:
http://i.imgur.com/Lbyrf.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/QGMg4.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/LLNtA.jpg

Tons more at:
https://www.google.com/search?q=fender+vents

ha yeah right a meter, I didn't even catch that :o I was meaning centimeters or inches, ill have to add in my signature, im not the best with writing. I have bad dyslexia and it hurts my grammar and words.

Yes in those picture you posted is what im talking about. I have a 95 mustang. Ill get some pictures up soon of where I was think about adding vents, but I was either going to go for the top of the fender or the back of the wheel well and run a short hose and vent them out the side of the fender. I would think the top has more pressure but wouldn't it roll towards the back?

The first example that comes to mind was the 1970 Dodge Charger Daytona/ Plymouth Roadrunner Superbird. The street cars had fake ducts, but the real race cars (and apparently some early street versions) had real, rear facing vents on top of the fender which vented high pressure air out from the top of the tire. Supposedly from what I understand is that they decreased lift and helped with high speed (200 mph) stability.

Also, there must be something to having a smooth, clean exit from the wheel wells in terms of fuel economy, look at the first gen Honda Insights. MetroMPG just recently posted some video of a tuft test he did in that area which shows clean flow out of the wheelwell, which drastically reduced turbulence along the edge of the car.

I suppose you could also use an air vent to aid as an exit for ducted air through the radiator. That way you don't have the issue of creating turbulence by venting that air into an area of attached flow, since the area within the wheelwells is already so turbulent.

I could possibly fab up some vents, or see what I could find at a hardware store. most of the ones made for cars are cheap crappy stick ons. I do know what the ones look like that dodge made. If its not to complicated ( I don't want to pull the whole fender off) I have enough room on the top of the front fender to stick a small scoop like dodge did on the fender.

I would just have to do more research because it might be better to vent from the back of the well, out to the side of the fender. I wont be driving fast enough to worry about it picking the car up I guess.

Let me do a little searching, I may have a cool vent idea for you. A guy from one of my other forums (Chevelle-El Camino forum) built some cool, functional fender vents on his car. They looked clean, sporty and his vented underhood heat, but it could be easily relocated/ ducted to vent high pressure air. They could look pretty sweet, but require some cutting and bodywork.

Here is the vent I was talking about. I am going to be trying something similar on my spare hood for my 70 El Camino as a radiator hot air duct, I want to find a spare set of fenders, I just can't bring myself to cut into mine. :(


Front fender vents - Chevelle Tech

They are a simple enough design, and can be made to look great depending on your design and how much you like bodywork. These could look downright cool on a Mustang!

That looks sweet. I look forward to following this thread.

Yeah, those look awesome! I was kind of thinking about that on the side of the fender, just sticking out instead of going in. I would like to have it like that, I do like body work and have some experience. I dont want to mess up the paint on the mustang though, ill feel you on the cutting into the fender part.

Im going to do some brainstorming tomorrow. Maybe ill reverse that idea and see what I can fab up with some free election signs haha. Or maybe I could cut a small rectangle hole build a small scoop and bolt it to the inside...

And btw you got some pics of the El Camino?

I remember seeing in Hot Rod magazine a while back about a guy who built a mid 50's plymouth road race car, he made vents that stuck out, if I recall correctly he cut up a metal cookie tray and attached it to his fender, so it stuck out the thickness of the cookie tray. :D Don't be afraid to get creative.

Sure I have plenty of pictures of my El Camino, it is my first car, bought it before I even had my license, geeze, going on 7 years now! I don't want to hijack your thread so I'll just put up a few.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/k...ecornfiled.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/k...de/p_00684.jpg
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/k...e/DSC04888.jpg

This was it mid-project:eek: This was while I was replacing the floors and chasing down all the rust, then it was onto paint and body work leading to how it looks now.
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/k...npics014-1.jpg

I found the Hot Rod Magazine link with the hot rod with the cookie sheet fender vents: http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicl.../viewall.html:

Depending on how much room you have behind the rear wheel well you could cut a slot in the wheel well lining about .5in x 3in. Then run a pipe down the out side of the inner part of the wheel well along the belly of the car and terminate the pipe by the exhaust.

Other than covering them up, or radiusing the rear arc Insight-style, I'd say altering the airflow in a wheel well is a dark art unless you have a windtunnel.

And I fully expect the aero-dales at car manufacturers to come up with bold ideas that just might work, then try them out in the 'tunnel to see if it actually works ;)

wow nice El Camino! Whats in it a 350? Cant really tell from the one picture.

Thats actually a very good idea running some tubing on the out side of the inner fender well. I'm actually going to go out and look around now, but i'm sure I have enough room, I might actually be able to start setting it all up today.

I didnt really know its the 'dark realm' of aero, but if it has a bad affect, I can always remove it and fill the holes. I dont think it should take an engineering degree, im just trying to relive some air pressure.

OH yeah and thanks for the link!

It's a 350-ish motor :) It's now a 355", Sportsman 2 heads, Lunati Voodoo hydraulic FT cam, Holley 750 vac secondary carb, performer intake and TRW hypereutectic pistons. Plus some other goodies, it has a 200r4 4 speed overdrive automatic and 3.73 rear gears.

nice, must run strong on the quarter, what does it do mid 11's?. When you said 4-speed... being it a chevy, My brain just screamed Muncie 4-speed! and then I read automatic, but no shame in that, an auto will shift faster and harder than any manual!!!

Well I ran some tubing around the inside of the inner wheel well... there's not enough room for it, and it was already a smaller sized hose. If I do it, its going to have to be vents, but I know the best location now that I had it all apart.

I wish, lol. So far I've gotten it to 12.72 @ 107 mph. The cam is pretty mild, and the heads are too big for the relatively small cubic inches, but it is just a fun street car so it certainly does the job! I wish it was a standard, but I'm a student and budget is tight (hence the mistmatched cam/heads etc, all of the parts I got used.)

Trial and error is one of the best ways to learn, and as you said now you know where to vent, so as long as you keep moving forward instead of back you're :thumbup:

Nice, a 12 is still good, and for today with all these 15 16.. ive even seen a 20 second ricer. I feel you with the tight budget! but yeah now I just got to get the nerve up to drill or cut a small hole in the fender.. but yeah at least im moving forward. ill post pics If I decide to do it. I got a long interstate drive coming up soon... so it might be done...

Have a look in a marine supply place.
Most have a good range in quality materials and are used to selling in single or pairs to boat users.

Keep in mind as well these days most car panels are structural so if you want to cut holes and vents in them makes sure you are not weakening the body.

Good luck with it all.

Peter.