With my 2002 Avante I've more or less got all the pressing repairs done, I've got a suspension setup I'm happy with and I don't have enough money to do the turbo yet. This means that, according to my completely inalterable progression, I must now punch my perfectly nice car full of holes and vents.
I'm trying to cut drag significantly, improve cooling efficiency, make a little downforce in the front (I'll worry about the back later) and do so without being too ostentatious.
Any ideas?
This is what I did last time, for reference.
well its been 6 months got money for a turbo yet
An upper grill block is the first thing I would do. Testing that I have done found that the air is going into the lower air opening and being pushed out the upper grill. The block will be pushed out, not in like you would think. the block improved cooling by allowing high pressure air to enter the bottom and then slow down and expand to the whole radiator.
The more air that flows around the car the less drag it will have. Any air that goes into the car increases drag, it seems opposite of what you would think. A lower air dam at the height the low hanging parts of the car can help but a front or full belly pan is better.
The front wheel wells and sometimes the rears have high pressure areas at the top. Venting this pressure can reduce drag. I once ran ducts from the top of the inner fender wheels down to behind the tire. It gave small gains but the ducts filled with dirt. Some cars vent the top of the fenders. A vent to the engine bay would be better. That would be a good place to drill.
A hood cut out allowing air from the radiator to go up and over the car might help. It might also help cooling. It might also cause other engine components to over heat as it will reduce air flow in the engine bay.
Cool. I'll try that plug next chance I get.
For the fenders, I've got a cool idea to use the fake, factory "vents" and make them functional. Have to see how that works out.
