Re <VV> A/C Condensers & Fans (long)

[N. Joseph Potts]

This invites consideration of some REALLY COMPLEX air flows, where you
either (carefully) unseal the engine compartment or install a VALVED
(one-way) air outlet for overpressure situations (actually not that hard,
with a well-placed rubber flap). The original purpose of engine-compartment
sealing is to prevent recirculation of hot air exhausted from the engine
cooling system. In a complete engine, this air exits the rear of the
car/engine. Conceivably, the front shroud could be unsealed without causing
recirculation. Mine (a 66) has a nice, big, round hole there that is used by
the cool-air input for the heater, which I have blocked at the top shroud in
order to enhance cooling for Cylinder #5. Whenever the fans are running,
hot-air recirculation is presumably not an issue - pressure in the engine
compartment shoves back out any that's trying to get back in. But when the
fans are off, it becomes a possibility, presumably minimal at the front
shroud.
     It occurs to me that merely removing the lower shrouds could affect
this analysis somewhat.
     This could be worth pursuing - for SOMEONE ELSE. I've got other
(Corvair) things I'd rather be doing, even though I have an A/C and will be
needing it VERY MUCH in the coming months.

Joe Potts
Miami, Florida USA
1966 Corsa coupe 140hp 4-speed with A/C

-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-admin@corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-admin@corvair.org]On Behalf Of Bill Hubbell
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2004 10:51 PM
To: Rusty Rose
Cc: Virtual Vairs
Subject: Re: Re <VV> A/C Condensers & Fans (long)


Hmm.  If it is true that the limiting factor is the amount of air that can
flow through the top of the engine, then I wonder what would be the effect
of puller fans PLUS an additional air outlet, say through the spare tire
well or maybe creating a vent between the rear edge of the deck lid and the
rear of the car.  Assuming that the puller fans really are pressurizing the
engine compartment, opening a vent elsewhere should allow some of the excess
air to be exhausted.  If true, now we only need to figure out how to exhaust
the hot air from the compressor and bring in fresh cool air for the engine.
Maybe some sort of "ram" effect from the front of the wheel wells?

Bill Hubbell