Mid-Engine Cooling

[Deadeye]

Originally Posted by jaykay

Yeah....I had my carpet off and man that firewall gets pretty toasty. Has anyone put insulation/gold leaf on the backside of the hatch...? If my engine comes out I think I might foil up the whole engine bay.


Back on topic: Assuming that engine oil cooling is the way to go ( for a dedicated track car: transmission?), I had envisioned a duct incorporated in the right side vent that directs cooling air to shrouded oil cooling heat exchanger. If there is enough room you could put in a duct for the trans. as well.

You would fashion an opening the side vent shroud to accept a bell mouth / velocity stack with a duct leading to the shrouded oil cooler. I think setrab makes some small stuff that may fit in the engine bay and I believe I have seen them used for Boxster trans coolers.

With this arrangement you would get a seamless cold air intake for oil cooling. The engine bay fan along with ram air from the side vent would provide for superior heat exchange.

Not sure about how to properly mount the heat exchanger in the bay....without welding mounts. Unfortunately all this may have to done with engine out

I have installed an oil cooler as described above into my track car to keep the trans oil temps under control. I ran a 3" flexible brake duct from the right side vent scoop to a small heat exchanger with a 5" Spal fan attached. It is mounted directly to the rear trunk floor in a small space next to the gearbox on passenger side. I will post pics when I get the car back on the lift.

[jaykay]

Originally Posted by Deadeye

I have installed an oil cooler as described above into my track car to keep the trans oil temps under control. I ran a 3" flexible brake duct from the right side vent scoop to a small heat exchanger with a 5" Spal fan attached. It is mounted directly to the rear trunk floor in a small space next to the gearbox on passenger side. I will post pics when I get the car back on the lift.

Nice glad someone has actually done this....seems to be the best packaging solution. Were you able to incorporate the intake right in the existing side vent rubber plastic duct for an ultra OEM look? You would also get a boost effect with the fan when it runs. Don't know how the heck you mounted the heat xcr though...my imagination / vis skills can't picture that...I would guess an edge is facing up..so get air flow. Do you have a manual fan switch?

I take it that cooling the trans take care of everything else including engine oil. Any data?

Pictures would be much appreciated!

[Deadeye]

Originally Posted by jaykay

Nice glad someone has actually done this....seems to be the best packaging solution. Were you able to incorporate the intake right in the existing side vent rubber plastic duct for an ultra OEM look? You would also get a boost effect with the fan when it runs. Don't know how the heck you mounted the heat xcr though...my imagination / vis skills can't picture that...I would guess an edge is facing up..so get air flow. Do you have a manual fan switch?

I take it that cooling the trans take care of everything else including engine oil. Any data?

Pictures would be much appreciated!

The car is loaded into the trailer for a trip to the track this weekend. When I get back I will get it on the lift and take some pics. I use some of the same components in the Patrick kit and I added a small fan to pull the cold air coming in from the right side engine compartment vent through the cooler. Fan is switched to come on with the pump through a separate relay. Trans oil temps with back to back drivers (wifey drives it as well) get up to 260 degrees. Just had a full rebuild on the box partially due to hot temps (and 5 years of track abuse)