V8 Swap - Retaining Frunk and water tightness

[almostordinary]

Hey gang,

For those of you that went the full RH kit, were you able to maintain a water tight frunk?

Looking at a lot of builds it looks like the full RH fuel tank and radiator setup makes it a fairweather car.

I plan some extensive roadtrips with my build and don't want to find myself with a front full of water and debris. First of many will be from LA to Victori, BC next summer.

I've seen some builds where the stock fuel tank is preserved and an RS style duct is created, leaning more toward this solution, as it keeps a fully sealed front.

credit: @not_hans_stuck
This is the full Renegade kit. But seems exposed, RH gas tank sits on top of the stock opening. I will contact them to get details.


credit: @vacant_sky
More of an RS cut out and deflection, stock fuel tank.


Any insight is welcomed.

Thanks,
Ian

[Mr jamo]

Bump - curious about this as well.

I’ve seen some guys rear mounting a radiator and using a front mounted one where oil cooler would go. Losing the frunk space isn’t an option for me.

[almostordinary]

Looking around a bit more, came across this aftermarket hood. Wondering if going w the RSR style (oil cooler) I.e. smaller / thicker radiator, if you can modify the frunk to divert air through the front and out the hood...






https://www.f-s-h.com/Front-hood-for-911-30-RSR

Allowing you to keep the stock gas tank and retain some weather-proofing there would just need to be a seal when the hood shuts to the rear of the radiator.

[almostordinary]

.. also the plan I will likely take, which will lose the frunk, but maintain water tightness is create a mold of the bottom of the fuel tank out of carbon fiber and place it under the RH fuel tank and create an airtight cavity between the radiator and the interior of the frunk. vacantsky never did finish his build thread, and it looked like his rad solution was only cooling in optimal conditions, I'd think his setup would suffer from heat saturation with the hot rad air having nowhere to go when not in motion.

[Yan2947]

My rear radiator setup with my 89 LS1 works good but not on really hot days 90+ temps… I added an oil cooler to the stock front fender position and will see how things work this summer. I added two temp sensors for the oil cooler - in and out - and the oil cooler reduces oil temps between 5 and 15 degrees, kind of randomly. I will see this summer how it helps cool the coolant temps…. When I get my 86 back from the body shop I have a LS7 and 930 Tranny. I will probably do the RH radiator setup but also have issues with the gaps of the radiator setup. Their setup works from what everyone says. I don’t like the riveted sheet metal setup but I assume one could fab something a little different when doing their kit. This might help in decisions. It’s regarding a superlite slc car https://socalslc.com/2018/03/04/28-full-of-hot-air/

I don’t necessarily like a large hood opening solution. I have thought of either doing RH or modifying rear rad again with a couple smaller radiators or front rad with airflow out the fender vents on the 86 LS7 slant nose…

[almostordinary]

Great setup in that article. Just about to buy a g50 then then the LS3 in the coming weeks. Hoping to fully be in the build in a month.

[Yan2947]

RH tilts their radiators to push the air down where in the article the radiators are tilted forward which lines up to push the air up and out. Not sure which is better...

[Mr jamo]

Retaining the frunk would be very desirable! This is helpful, thank you! Nicely done