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Side pod design

Benzine - 4/1/16 at 06:53 PM

Has anyone mounted a radiator at the side of their kit car in a pod? I'm considering doing this as nose cone space is about as available as a reasonably priced house to someone under 35.

Here's an expert rendering that gives an idea of the position:

(The surfer dude is me, heading back to my kit car after a hard afternoon on the beach)

Mounting it there, routing the pipes etc etc is all a doddle. The shape of the pod though, how critical is it? Shape/size of the inlet & outlet etc? (The one in the pic i just made looks similar to Kryten's head, it's mainly there to show position)

loggyboy - 4/1/16 at 06:55 PM

I know its generally not form over function on these cars but damn thats an ugly addition!

[Edited on 4-1-16 by loggyboy]

Benzine - 4/1/16 at 07:00 PM

Just to re-emphasise, the final pod would look nothing like that At least nothing bad was said about my six pack

[Edited on 4-1-2016 by Benzine]

blakep82 - 4/1/16 at 07:01 PM

Could you maybe have a hole in the side panel, rad fitted in the hole, air ducted from the nose, out through the rad, and vented through a much more slim pod? Maybe one on each side?

Benzine - 4/1/16 at 07:03 PM

quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
Could you maybe have a hole in the side panel, rad fitted in the hole, air ducted from the nose, out through the rad, and vented through a much more slim pod? Maybe one on each side?

There would be room to do something like that, for sure. My exhaust goes over the chassis rail and could clear easily.

jeffw - 4/1/16 at 07:54 PM

You need to look at Single Seater designs for the proper solution to this. I suspect that the back of your 'scoop' needs to be open to let the air escape.

CNHSS1 - 4/1/16 at 08:16 PM

Also worth making the entry approx 30% smaller area than the rad core. This slows the flow as it expands to fill the greater volume and drops the velocity through the rad core which will increase the cooling effect. As Jeff says, the exit is as important as the entry so needs to have a clear path or itll stall the flow and you will overheat

daniel mason - 4/1/16 at 08:30 PM

My Jedi has one in each sidepod, but one will certainly be coming out!

belgian2b - 4/1/16 at 08:33 PM

Hello,

Donkervoort did it with the oil cooler :

Gerardo

[Edited on 4/1/16 by belgian2b]

Doctor Derek Doctors - 4/1/16 at 08:44 PM

I put my oil cooler in a little pod on the side.

Thoresby TLT 1

Not pretty but the cooling effect was massive.

I exited it into the floor as per rules about rearward facing vents in RGB (if it bursts you don't get a face full of scolding liquid)

What about a small rad either side with two little pods likea single seater?

Bluemoon - 5/1/16 at 07:50 AM

Better think about stones being thrown from front wheel, may not be an issue but worth avoiding this problem.

I think it will be difficult to make it look good, still you will not see it while driving..

Dan

nick205 - 5/1/16 at 10:10 AM

I believe F1 cars (and probably others) have radiators in the side pods, but then they look different to start with.

Can't see it being an issue performance wise, but it will take some styling to make it look right!

Sam_68 - 5/1/16 at 10:43 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Doctor Derek Doctors
I exited it into the floor as per rules about rearward facing vents in RGB (if it bursts you don't get a face full of scolding liquid)

FWIIW, it's actually permissible to have the (water) radiator duct to vent upwards/rearwards on all 750MC classes, so long as the radiator pipes and hoses are shielded.

Ducts in the sides below a line joining the top of the front and rear wheel rims (not tyres!) are not restricted in any event, is my understanding?

Doctor Derek Doctors - 5/1/16 at 11:13 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Sam_68

quote:
Originally posted by Doctor Derek Doctors
I exited it into the floor as per rules about rearward facing vents in RGB (if it bursts you don't get a face full of scolding liquid)

FWIIW, it's actually permissible to have the (water) radiator duct to vent upwards/rearwards on all 750MC classes, so long as the radiator pipes and hoses are shielded.

Ducts in the sides below a line joining the top of the front and rear wheel rims (not tyres!) are not restricted in any event, is my understanding?

Whether that's the rule or not (I built the car 5 years ago so memory is hazey) I have been scolded before by someone's 7 with a stupidly placed coolant system and wouldn't want it happening again, particularlg on my own car.

Sam_68 - 5/1/16 at 11:24 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Doctor Derek Doctors
Whether that's the rule or not (I built the car 5 years ago so memory is hazey) I have been scolded before by someone's 7 with a stupidly placed coolant system and wouldn't want it happening again, particularlg on my own car.

Fair comment, but the reason that the rules are framed the way they are is that a leak or damage to a radiator core is not generally going to release a large enough volume of coolant to scald you - its the risk of a hose coming off or a pipe fracturing that's the bigger problem. Hence if you shield the hoses and connections, as per the rules, you'll almost certainly be fine.

Neville Jones - 7/1/16 at 10:41 AM

The bigger question is, why is there not enough room up front?

People put rads in the front that cool V8's satisfactorily.

Oil coolers are easy enough to put behind the front of the chassis, and if necessary a fan(or two) from computer to keep them cool enough.

Cheers,
Nev.

garyt - 13/1/16 at 08:51 PM

what about something like this ?????

[img]
Description [/img]

Sam_68 - 13/1/16 at 09:03 PM

quote:
Originally posted by garyt
what about something like this ?????

[img]
Description [/img]

That's got potential.

With some careful thought and a bit of extra triangulation it could double up as side impact protection and torsion box structures to stiffen up the cockpit section of the chassis, too.