Looks great. Nice work.
The "Alternative" Radiator Cooling Plate
I'm not crazy enough to spend the $100 or so for a MonsterMotorworks or Greddy "air diversion plate", because I'm fully aware that they serve no performance purpose. But I do like the cosmetics of the piece-- I think it should be an OEM part, so I did the next best thing, and made my own:
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It's 3/32" ABS cut to fit, uses OEM bolt holes, etc, installs in a few minutes, no interference with the hood or latch or anything. Fits like OEM looks like OEM. Please note: the part installed in my car was the original prototype. It fits well enough, but I won't sell one that doen't fit exactly as I think it should. The "finished" pieces will be, in my mind, perfect.
I started a groupbuy on them over at ScionLife, and have had quite a few people in on the buy, and just wanted to see if anyone here was interested as well. You can opt for textured side or smooth side up, and the final cost will be ~$30 shipped. If shipping is less than my best estimate, I'll drop a buck or two off of the cost, but the price will be between $25-30 per piece.
Units will be in the finishing stages by the end of the week, ready to ship next week. I take ZERO money up front. When the first batch is finished, I'll PM interested parties with payment details. You pay, I ship. Simple.
Any other questions?
It's 3/32" ABS cut to fit, uses OEM bolt holes, etc, installs in a few minutes, no interference with the hood or latch or anything. Fits like OEM looks like OEM. Please note: the part installed in my car was the original prototype. It fits well enough, but I won't sell one that doen't fit exactly as I think it should. The "finished" pieces will be, in my mind, perfect.
I started a groupbuy on them over at ScionLife, and have had quite a few people in on the buy, and just wanted to see if anyone here was interested as well. You can opt for textured side or smooth side up, and the final cost will be ~$30 shipped. If shipping is less than my best estimate, I'll drop a buck or two off of the cost, but the price will be between $25-30 per piece.
Units will be in the finishing stages by the end of the week, ready to ship next week. I take ZERO money up front. When the first batch is finished, I'll PM interested parties with payment details. You pay, I ship. Simple.
Any other questions?
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I'm sure I could make one up...
6
Just an update... the templates are finalized, and the first batch of 10 plates are already in-production. A little timeline:
This:
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Became this:
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Which became this:
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Which produced this:
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Which then turns this:
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Into this:
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The small lifts on the front edge of the panel are already corrected (for the most part). There are a pair of metal clips, on on each side, that prevent the panels from sitting truly flush, and I don't want ot hack up the smooth line of the panel to allow the clips a "resting place". After I shaved the panel a bit more, the warp is virtually eliminated.
This:
Became this:
Which became this:
Which produced this:
Which then turns this:
Into this:
The small lifts on the front edge of the panel are already corrected (for the most part). There are a pair of metal clips, on on each side, that prevent the panels from sitting truly flush, and I don't want ot hack up the smooth line of the panel to allow the clips a "resting place". After I shaved the panel a bit more, the warp is virtually eliminated.
Looks like your pics are broken. All I get is a big
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To date, 21 panels have shipped.
The pics are working for me...
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The pics are working for me...
So what you are saying is that air enters through the grill, hits the radiator and instead of going through the radiator it escapes over the top of the radiator into the engine bay?
This plate might help prevent this, but I can't see any dramatic changes in cooling temperatures.
Oh, and as long as this thing does not have any adverse effects, Doc can sell it as a cosmetic piece or whatever - he can sell it as a talisman if he wants to
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This plate might help prevent this, but I can't see any dramatic changes in cooling temperatures.
Oh, and as long as this thing does not have any adverse effects, Doc can sell it as a cosmetic piece or whatever - he can sell it as a talisman if he wants to
I have built more than my fair share of airboxes for racecars. Racecars need airboxes because they have tube frames, and fully open bodies-- if the air isn't channelled into the radiator, it will just go wherever it pleases.
Once air passes through either of the tC's grilles, it has little choice but to move straight on through the radiator, around the block, and on out under the car. Why is that? Well, it's that pesky path of least resistance. You see, radiator fins provide a lot less resistance than the pair of rubber gaskets that run along the front of the car: one seals the lip of the hood against the bumper cover, the other seals the hood against the radiator support, about 6.5" back of the first one. The bottom of the bumper cover has splashguards that run along the entire width of the cover. The radiator has ABS panels at either end to further seal the radiator to the core support.
You see, Toyota did their homework here. The radiator is going to breathe as well as it's going to breathe, straight out of the factory. The factory grille pieces are likely in the high 80s as far as percent of air passed through, so until someone makes a "magic" grille that allows more airflow (like say, something with strung webbing like a tennis racquet), the radiator will flow no more air with or without a panel.
But that's just my impression, after having built parts for circle track cars that rely on such doodads to keep water temps under 260.
But I think I'll take zoltiz' advisement on this one: now introducing,
Doc's Alternative Radiator Obscuring Talisman.
You know... because it makes it harder to see the radiator.
![]()
Once air passes through either of the tC's grilles, it has little choice but to move straight on through the radiator, around the block, and on out under the car. Why is that? Well, it's that pesky path of least resistance. You see, radiator fins provide a lot less resistance than the pair of rubber gaskets that run along the front of the car: one seals the lip of the hood against the bumper cover, the other seals the hood against the radiator support, about 6.5" back of the first one. The bottom of the bumper cover has splashguards that run along the entire width of the cover. The radiator has ABS panels at either end to further seal the radiator to the core support.
You see, Toyota did their homework here. The radiator is going to breathe as well as it's going to breathe, straight out of the factory. The factory grille pieces are likely in the high 80s as far as percent of air passed through, so until someone makes a "magic" grille that allows more airflow (like say, something with strung webbing like a tennis racquet), the radiator will flow no more air with or without a panel.
But that's just my impression, after having built parts for circle track cars that rely on such doodads to keep water temps under 260.
But I think I'll take zoltiz' advisement on this one: now introducing,
Doc's Alternative Radiator Obscuring Talisman.
You know... because it makes it harder to see the radiator.
1 - 20 of 119 Posts
