Guys, on another thread Terry mentioned that I might like to consider leaning my radiator backwards instead of forwards to give more nose room. My question is I have never seen done that way...has anyone else?, and if not, why? airflow perhaps?

Any thoughts?

I'll probably end up not moving it, but it would be interesting to discuss...

I think the reason is airflow. It improves the aerodynamics to have the air flow exit the top of the bonnet, and go over the car. However, since you arn't venting ala gt40, I have no idea if it matters at all.

Your only problem will be to seal the top of the rad as it will push air OVER instead of through your radiator. If the top is forward, it catches air and pushes it through, but if it is backwards, I don't know if it will just streamline the air over the radiator.

I've seen it on a couple of race cars. Indeed I've seen radiators angled just about every direction: forward, backwards and sideways. I think the important thing is to have a fairing that ducts the air to the radiator and is sealed around the edges. Otherwise, the air will take the path of least resistance. Pretty much as matt said.

Alan
I have a Tiger Cat (seven inspired kit) which has the rad tilted back although not too much and to get the airflow right it does realy need some ducting to force the air through the rad but it should not be too difficult. Another option could be to find a shorter & wider rad ?

Good to see the project coming on well

Keith

Thanks guys, good feedback.

So basically you can do what like as long as you manage the airflow, and of course the coolant flow too I guess.

Look's like I'll keep it tilting forward for now as I have got around the blobby nose look.

The secret is in the ducting, and the orientation of the radiator doesn't matter as long as there's a decent pressure gradient across it.

I agree with kb58 - as long as the ducting is right it shouldn't matter too much what the orientation is. For that matter you could (subject to resolving the air bleed issues) mount the radiator horizontally or very close to it, with air ducted up from under and exiting out the top.

From memory (it's somewhere in Korff's book) the rule of thumb for radiator venting is that, once moving, an inlet with 1/6 the surface area of the radiator is sufficient, assuming all inlet air goes through the core ie 100% ducting. I'll find the detailed reference if anyone wants it.

Radiators are in my mind at present as I finalise a revised nose for my car. Driven by suggestions from my last show-and-tell I'm building a new styling model (1:10 scale) incorporating lots of detail changes. Should be ready for initial viewing by the end of the weekend.

BTW Alan, congrats on the progress made recently, It's looking very close to finished in the bodywork department. After that there's just the interior and the elctrics and the instruments and lighting and exhaust and..... Should be done in no time

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Originally posted by TheGecko
......BTW Alan, congrats on the progress made recently, It's looking very close to finished in the bodywork department. After that there's just the interior and the elctrics and the instruments and lighting and exhaust and..... Should be done in no time

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