I'm planning on getting some ABS plastic to shroud the mouth for the intercooler and rad.
Number 1: What thickness plastic would be best? 1/8"?
Number 2: How would you attatch it? Obviously I don't want to screw into the intercooler or rad, so how would it stay in place?

 

rivets

 

heat up and bend the edges and rivet them together, then attatch with metal straps.

 

educate my dumb *** about rivets. Wouldn't that still be putting holes in the rad and intercooler?

 

Attach it to the lip on the front bumper that curves back towards the engine bay. Also attached it around the sway bar area. Thats how i had mine. I also just took my belly pan modified it a little and shifted it forward and mounted it how I previously mentioned.

 

Also, do you want to seal the mouth to the intercooler and then seal between the intercooler and the rad or do you seal the mouth to the rad and let the intercooler hang open in front of it?

 

I use rivets- don't bother heating it anymore. Just fold it like thick paper and it holds the shape. I'd create a shroud that houses all heat exchangers. Air rolling around the IC isn't optimal for the IC but it is good for getting more air to the rad- which is going to need it since it now has the IC front.

 

Ty Wraps are your friend

 

^yes - I've got a lot of wraps holding the front together too.

 

Ty wraps?

 

I know someone posted a pic of a shrouded radiator some time ago but I can't find it. Would anyone be so kind as to post a pic to get a sense of how is done?

Thanks

 

Zip ties

 

+1!

 

the pictures that inspired me were from m2cupcar:

 

any idea if m2 cup car's **** has seen the track? Does it have AC?

 

Thanks hustler!

 

No it hasn't. The only claims I can make are for street, heat and heavy traffic. It has a/c (condenser/drier installed) but I don't have it charged yet and I've removed the compressor with plans to reseal my oil pan. Since it's not a DD and I have access to race cars for tracking, it doesn't demand a lot of urgency... unfortunately.

What I can say about my current set up is that everything I've done for the mouth/exchanger area (as documented in this forum) has improved oil and coolant temps for street driving (both speed, boost and heavy traffic).

I think that the track environment will be totally different than what I've addressed, BUT I do believe that the mods up to this point will work for track duty, primarily because they've been done in similar fashion to various race car applicaitons. My guess is the biggest issue will be lack of under tray. Which will probably cause a pressure issue behind the rad. I'm basing this on the compression of air that comes under the front lip spoiler, thinking it will expand into the engine bay.