RazMan
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| posted on 9/1/06 at 11:39 PM |
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Fresh air ducts on a middy?
I have my heater unit high in the passenger footwell. As the rad is up front it becomes a bit difficult to get fresh air to the heater. Options would
appear to be running a duct to:
1. A wheel arch - but I don't like the idea of all the road muck going into the heater.
2. Through the floor
3. Right up front with the rad - but it is a long way and the front section hinge makes it awkward.
What do most people do?
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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SixedUp
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| posted on 10/1/06 at 12:34 AM |
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Possibly silly thought, but do you really need fresh air input directly to the heater unit, or could you get away with "recirculation" of
the existing air in the cabin, and then add some other form of fresh-air ventilation to the cabin (that doesnt involve awkward ducting) to prevent
condensation build-up?
Cheers
Richard
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caber
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| posted on 10/1/06 at 05:32 AM |
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How about a NACA duct high up on the bonnet central or off to one side depending where the heater intake is? Thesed are supposed to be low drag but
efficient air collecters and they lok pretty cool. someone on ebay does mouldings so you only have to cut out and glass in!
Caber
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RazMan
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| posted on 10/1/06 at 08:49 AM |
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Helicopter vents will probably give enough air while on the move but I think that fresh air to the heater is vital in a middy - ask any Ultima driver
how hot the car gets in traffic. Also, condensation is more of a problem when the car isn't moving so it will help combat this problem too.
A NACA duct would indeed be the best form of intake but as the rad vent is on top, the available airflow will be hot and therefore unusable. Also, the
front section hinges upwards, so any ducting would have to move with it, making it impractical.
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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Peteff
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| posted on 10/1/06 at 10:50 AM |
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Have the pipe fixed in place so the duct drops onto it when the bonnet closes instead of stretching the pipe to follow it. Intercoolers and pollen
filters use this method so it must be adaptable to an intake for a heater.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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garyo
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| posted on 10/1/06 at 01:02 PM |
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GTM Libra's use this method too - the hole in the bonnet meets with the intake duct as the bonnet closes. The duct seals against the underside
of the bonnet using car door rubber. It worked reasonably well on mine, but the contours of the duct need to be well matched the underside of the
bonnet, so it depends on how curve you're design is...
Gary
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RazMan
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| posted on 10/1/06 at 02:11 PM |
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Thanks guys, I hadn't thought of that. I'll do some experimenting and see what happens 
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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kb58
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| posted on 10/1/06 at 03:01 PM |
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You didn't say what type of windscreen you have, but how about putting the inlet right at the base of the windscreen? There is high pressure
there where the airflow stagnates.
Mid-engine Locost - http://www.midlana.com
And the book - http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/midlana/paperback/product-21330662.html
Kimini - a tube-frame, carbon shell, Honda Prelude VTEC mid-engine Mini: http://www.kimini.com
And its book -
http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/kimini-how-to-design-and-build-a-mid-engine-sports-car-from-scratch/paperback/product-4858803.html
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RazMan
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| posted on 10/1/06 at 06:02 PM |
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There is very little space between the full windscreen and the top of the front section so a vent up there is not going to be easy - it would spoil
the bodyline anyway.
I might be able to run an 80mm duct up to the rad intake. As the opening is slightly wider than the rad I think it will just squeeze in, picking up
clean cold air. Most of the duct can be rigid plastic, with the last few inches in the 'concertina' stuff to allow it to hinge when
opening the front section.
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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