Good post. I was thinking about maby running nascar brake fans to help move more air. Your right we will never know if they are really working well or at all. What about the string test thing? That is wind tunnelish right? After we put them on that could give us a clue as to what they are actualy doing.

Interesting.

very nice pic, and good parts.... hmmmmm :icon18::driving:

The car is getting epic. I love the cage, and I love all the choices so far. Thanks so much for keeping us all current.

But you're putting on scoops to solve a problem you don't have with no way of telling whether or not they even help? That makes no sense to me. I'm all for functional scoops, but it seems like you're putting the scoops first and the function second. To each his own, but since you asked, I vote no.

Likewise with routing to the diff cooler - the question I would ask is: does it need additional cooling? If not, then all you're doing is screwing up the aerodynamics of the car and pumping air under the body from above, which is a total no-no. The air volume is probably too small to matter, but it just seems kind of silly in such an otherwise well-prepped car.

Strings and other high speed things...
 

The strings would only work if you could isolate airflow through the 1 x 6 opening. Any other air flow (such as if the vehicle is moving) will give false readings; any body movement (without air flow) may give false readings. But!...there is almost definitely air movement at the rear brake during a race without the scoops, therefore, the combined effect must be measured. I'm thinking the only way you can measure the effectiveness/need of the rear brake cooling devices is to attach to the caliper an electric pyrometer used for diesel EGT that saves the peak reading. The readings would need to be taken after a full race as the heat buildup is cumulative (one lap is not enough). Lemme see if I can find any EGT setup that would work in this application...

In F1 they use a water based paint type of fluid to see how air flows over different parts of the car. Might be worth a try.

Note to self...
 

As I keyed the above :icon18: I was thinking, "EGT is not going to work here." Then I found this:



High Temperature Infrared Temperature Sensor

These temperature sensors cover ranges up to 1200 Deg.C. The housing is manufactured from aluminium and is supplied in anodised red. This sensor is especially suitable for brake temperature measurement.

£295.00 + Carriage and VAT

Ring +44(0)1451 822458 or 07774 149266 for further details or e-mail Ben Morris

Download .PDF file for full specification
Principle Specification
Maximum calibrated object temperature

Minimum calibrated object temperature

Measurement Distance

Object temperature accuracy

Maximum ambient temperature

Supply Voltage

Field of view

Spot Size

Output
1200 Deg C

Ambient Temperature (Max. 120 Deg.C)

30 - 70 mm

+/- 1%

120 Deg C

5 - 16 Volts DC

14 Deg.

20 mm diameter at 50 mm distance

Non Linear

Here's the url:
Brake Disc Temperature Sensor

Greg

that sensor could be used to log directly on my traqmate I believe... will put some thought into it

good discussion all... these ducts have their trade-offs, but overall i think they will add to the reliability of the car which matters plenty to me... not too mention they will look good!... maybe not the most practical selection I've made, but we're moving forward with them

I like the idea of getting some measurement on the aero impacts... back in the day, had a wind tunnel at my engineering U... now, we're going to have to improvise... the fluid idea is a good one... I also know a few aerodynamicsts that I may check in with

Honestly at the level of racing that we are at I dont think they will have a noticable effect at all. You guys are talking F1 stuff and we are more of a DE type of level. I am not going to post any more pics of the car and cage but here is one scoop almost finished. I think they look bitchen! Super car style.

wtf ! ? we're not getting picked up for koni challenge ?:icon18:

Objects in Mirror May be Hotter than they Appear!
 

If you go there, I'll have to put on my GM Proving Grounds shirt with "Greg" name tag stitched on. It is in mothballs now, and it is still smoking. Last worn during fuel tank testing...no, I did not wear Nomex! Sometimes, I can't believe I'm still here! [insert flame smilie here]

Function follows Form! ;-)
 

Raison d'etre: "...they look bitchen!" My point exactly. Even if they don't work, Travisjb, Fathead's scoops will be the only ones at the track!
Can you spell "Psychological Advantage!"

Just pass one newbie on the outside in a 45* drift, pedal-to-the-metal, both rears throwing smoke and rubber chunks, front-end crossed up like a motorcrosser...and as you gain traction they will see the SCOOPS!...they will think you are a Z God! :bowdown:

we can dream ! one of us would need to hit the lottery first !

if we want a real psychological advantage, will need one of these !!! :tup:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/...1/43247941.jpg

Scoops and a Radial MG! PSYCH!
 

LOL!! :bowrofl: Is that Radial Machine Gun mounted on a Bugatti Veyron? NICE!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...jaguar_xkr.jpg

Jaguar XKR from "Die Another Day"

You would have to buy Koni suspension first.

Travis I just subscribed and am wondering if you are going to put a big $&@ gt wing on your car

Holy crap.
I think I just shat my pants

hey, thx for your note.

yes, I will be pursuing more rear downforce. combo of rear wing and rear diffuser. if you look back a page or two, you'll see a kognition rear wing I am considering. as for rear diffuser, that is also a possiblity, but I'll probably wait for the market to produce one vs making a custom. one like the top secret model for 350s that is said to have a real aero impact.

The course I typically run has a nascar oval that I want to be able to run flat out. Speeds now are about 120mph... when I'm done, should be up around 135mph. And I want to be able to do so well within the margins of the car, so I don't end up eating concrete!

We're also looking at options for a front splitter. That WILL be custom and made of some relatively inexpensive material such as di-bond or hdpe.

What about the sunline Z body kit

i could imagine using the front lip from sunline, then mounting a splitter beneath it, but otherwise nothing I'm interested in there... the rear fascia and sideskirts are just for looks

I didn'nt think you could do that

(reading your sig) well, you also "can't" put a 5-point harness on a car without a roll bar/cage

The five points are bolted to the floor and seat

Thats not safe they should all bolt to the floor and a harness needs a harness bar to be effective or you are better off with stock belts.

The seat is bolted to the floor as well. I dont race my z a lot just with some friend on the weekends

read this Installing 5point harness without roll bars or cage... - SRT Forums - SRT4, SRT6, SRT8, SRT10 & Dodge Forum you can find plenty others just like it

... please do yourself a favor and ditch the harness until you get at least a roll bar properly installed

Wow I didn't know that thanks

you might of saved my life

going to put stock belts back on until I go to the shop and get rollbars installed

thanks again "the red phrase below does not apply to you

a lot of people make this mistake... i considered doing it once... if you do enough google searches you will find pictures of accidents and mangled bodies of people that didn't figure it out... definitely put the stock belts back on... the stock safety systems work really well and are designed to work together.... don't change a thing until you're ready to go all the way

Thanks again

get the Amuse Ti Bar where the harness can hook up to it........

Okay

your car is so clean, and silver color is my taste, i like silver color:) hmmmmmm, nice pics, i think it must very cool when you drive this car:)!!!

man, did any of those guys make a complete sentence?

Travis,

It sounds like Caymans are having problems with oil starvation with R Comps on, to the point where Porsche is saying they won't warranty the motor if you mount R Comps.

Are you worried about oil starvation with the Z? Any plans to go dry sump? I'm actually wondering if someone will come out with a baffled pan to help prevent starvation. I have a friend who burned up his 944 motor, likely because the suspension and tires were so serious.

I have to say, I'm impressed with the Corvette Grand Sport for just that reason. Dry sumps rock at the track.

hey imag... interesting news on the caymans... hadn't heard that... sad that porsche would declare the car not track worthy ! very un-porsche like... but I guess I should stop holding onto the notion that somehow VW/Porsche is anything more than a corporation out to make a buck

agree, corvette gs was done right...

for our car, you may be right... I'm going to be watching my new spa oil pressure gauge very closely... not sure if WSTAR is stopping by here, but I remember that he ran an upgraded oil pan and I think it had baffling - but not certain... maybe in his journal somewhere

I think that pan would be super easy to make its tiny and square.

just found wstar's post http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-d...an-spacer.html a spacer, not a new pan

Yeah - it's going to be awhile before I'm good enough to need R comps, and I'm actually enjoying these tires - but I figure you're there, or getting there. That car is going to pull some Gs when you're done with it.

I'll give the Caymans credit - you can take them right on the track off the showroom floor and not have the issues we've had. And really, if car companies engineer cars for the forces associated with track tires, they will cost more. That's why I want a Caterham CSR someday - streetable, trackable, low pad and tire wear, total hoot to drive... you can beat the living crap out of it on the track and it will just want more.

caterham and others like it were on my list initially, but at end of day i decided it would be more fun to build out a mainstream car... i do love open wheel cars though ! was fortunate to spend a little time in a formula ford - was a total blast