GT style front cooler venting

[Charles Freeborn]

I've got an aftermarket front cooler that currently vents up through the hood. I want to change it to a more discreet set up to get past vintage tech.
Does anyone have access to photos of how the original GT's were done? I understand they blew out the bottom of the front trunk area through a louvered panel that created vacuum when in motion.
I do have access to sheetmetal working equipment to build the shroud around the cooler. Cutting louvers is a bit of a different story - would prefer to buy that panel, but making it is not out of the question. I recall a segment of "Binky" where they punched louvers. Will never show so doesn't have to be particularly pretty.

My alternative is to fab a box with round vents ducted into the wheel wells.

Thx.

[GregAmy]

I run a /4 2L-based racer with a front-mounted cooler. I spaced up the back of the hood a tad and it cools fine. In fact, I have to tape up the cooler at times to get the oil up to temp...

[Charles Freeborn]

Interesting... I'll give that some thought. I like the simplicity.
Thx.

[roblav]

Did this on my GT conversion last summer. Bought a louvered grate for a house at Lowes to weld in where the AC condensor was. Worked great.

[GregAmy]

I thought I had some better photos, but couldn't find anything; contrast isn't very good (and the car is in storage right now so I can't take a current photo). Note I clearanced the front bumper a bit; that was actually too much, it's cooling too well.

[Charles Freeborn]

"cooling too well" there's something you don't hear very often... Great looking car.
Mine has all the original front bumper and valance removed - replaced with 'glass valence with center opening, brake ducts, etc. Plan to change that out to the regular GT type and use the side openings for brake and cabin ducting.

[mepstein]

You can pop out the two round access covers at the back of the front trunk and cover them with a screen. They are just held in with seam sealer.

[Racerbvd]

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Byron's pics show an approximation of how the GT coolers were done. The GT ones weren't carbon fiber, and probably weren't as nice as his, of course.

AJ Seranno has some good pics on his site of the original parts:

https://pbase.com/9146gt/the9146gt_front_oil_cooler_install

You can see the screen, the shroud, and other parts that were used. You can also see how they were installed.

--DD

[Charles Freeborn]

Originally Posted by Dave at Pelican Parts

Byron's pics show an approximation of how the GT coolers were done. The GT ones weren't carbon fiber, and probably weren't as nice as his, of course.

AJ Seranno has some good pics on his site of the original parts:

https://pbase.com/9146gt/the9146gt_front_oil_cooler_install

You can see the screen, the shroud, and other parts that were used. You can also see how they were installed.

--DD

Many thanks. I've found another thread of a GT conversion too. I think it's more surgery than I'm up for - my fuel cell mounts in front of the cross bar and I've got an accusump reservoir in there too. Mine is by no means an authentic GT conversion - more of a duct tape / bailing wire sort of deal . I think I'll wrangle a shroud that vents to the wheel wells. Film at 11.

-C

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Some neat pics were posted on 914world of a setup that ducted air from the front a la the GT cooler, then ducted it to exhaust out the wheel wells. Probably took up space you need, but was really nifty looking!

--DD

[Charles Freeborn]

Originally Posted by Dave at Pelican Parts

Some neat pics were posted on 914world of a setup that ducted air from the front a la the GT cooler, then ducted it to exhaust out the wheel wells. Probably took up space you need, but was really nifty looking!

--DD

I think I saw that one too. Was with 2 individual coolers. Beautifully done. I need to get my fuel cell and accumulator in first, then see how much room is left.