Center Radiator Question

[jaykay]

Originally Posted by insite

it's also well documented that it causes more cooling.

the standard radiators on the 2.5L / 2.7L cars are BARELY adequate at the track w/ a stock motor. i have shoveled a 3.4L in my car & the temps spike up to 225 after thirteen minutes at full tilt in 80F weather. i need more cooling.

Just as a side note .....yes any vent causes drag. I am wondering if my 60% flow through radiator mesh would reduce drag at higher speeds as more of the air flow is directed up over the car instead of being caught by the front openings.

[The Radium King]

to reiterate other posters and support the images, the 986/996 vent the centre downwards. the gt3 vents upwards. it's not just a simple matter of putting the gt3 vent thingy on your bumper ($79, $350 if you want it in CF to save .5 oz and get that cool japanese look); the centre rad is actually tilted back on the 986/996 install kit such that the top of the rad is pretty much flush with the forward bulkhead - nowhere for the air to go but down. if you want to vent up, you can get the gt3 kit, but i'm uncertain if the attachment points are the same, and i think the kit is an order of magnatude more expensive. or, some have taken the 986 kit and turned it upside down to get the rad to angle the proper way (check out the thread on the subaru engine conversion). again, uncertain if all the attachment points still work. also, you may have issues with rad hose length, the plastic duct on the front of the rad no longer meets the bumper cover properly, and the bumper interferes with airflow (some remove the bumper alltogether). there may also be fitment issues with the two side radiator duct assemblies.

more of a project than you would think; i cannot understand why porsche would do it that way ...

[Gilles]

Insite you are correct, you need the center radiator if you running at the track with more than warm temperatures.

I installed the center rad a couple of years ago and had to cut a couple of rectangular holes on the bottom of the bumper like the tiptronic cars do

Also with a dremel tool I cut open (removed material) from the wheel well splash guard, right between the reinforcing web contours casted on the plastic, it seems that some P cars had these holes punched at the factory, this allows more air to flow from the radiators as well.

I had mine for 2 1/2 years and never had any issues at Willow's cozy 115 F... (yes, on the shade)

.

[The Radium King]

re cutting the wheel well liners, my understanding was that the side rads do vent down, but with the intent to send the air to the brake ducts?

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by The Radium King

re cutting the wheel well liners, my understanding was that the side rads do vent down, but with the intent to send the air to the brake ducts?

Radium,
Some P cars come with the vent holes already cut from the factory (punched) and other models (like mine) didn't, I remember someone mentioning the reason behind but that was almost 3 years ago...
.

[Cloudsurfer]

My 3.8 stays plenty cool with the stock S cooling setup, but in hindsight, I really do wish that I had added the ducting and made the cutouts in the bumper.....