Oh mama, I did it. Finally cut into the hood and installed the GT500 vent. After prepping the vent with the dremel and belt sander, I made a paper template and centered it up. Then centered it up again. And again.


I used 3M urethane windshield adhesive to stick it in place, weighted it overnight, and so far it has held up just fine around town and on track with no sign of expansion/contraction related warpage. I'll post an update if it flies off.






And the obligatory post-***** track picture:




The surprise tech for me was that I am now seeing a consistent 10-15 deg F reduction in temperatures. The hood vent was the only change made. I didn't go over 200 deg F on the track--a very nice surprise for a $45 modification. Thanks to the guys on cornercarvers.com for first doing this.

 

i like! two thumbs up!

mo pics mo pics!

how was bw? what kinda times were you turning?

 

Very cool. Saw that on C-C as well!

New car is lookin good

 

I'll post a few more pics. *LOVED* Buttonwillow!! We ran the 13-CW configuration. Very technical track and loads of fun. By the end of the day I was able to fairly consistently run ~2:15-2:16. Not slow, not fast. Just right for my first time back on track after the crash. So many different "sections" of the track to learn. I was able to get each one down fairly well, but need another few days to link them all. Sub-2:10's should be possible next time out. If I can find my nads.

I tell you, drilling the first hole in the hood was a toughy. Worst case, though, it would have meant I just had to get the carbon fiber hood.

I'll start another post on the rollbar build I did in the next day or so.

 

And a few more pics. **** it's good to be back out there.

 

I've been thinking about doing this on my SN ever since I saw that thread on C-C. Too cool.

 

Hey nice job on the hood vent. Glad to see you back on track. Is that the same car that you crashed? Looks like you have a pretty stout cage in there now also.

 

Thanks--I was amazed at how functional it actually was. Different car, but basically a clone of the first one. In the next few days I'll do a writeup on the rollbar here. It isn't a full cage--just a 4-point with diagonals.

 

After I wrote this, I went back and searched your other thread and read about the deal with the old car. Glad to see you are back out again as that tramatic incident is enough to turn ppl away from the sport. I too have a 4pt custom but with only one diaganol. I am considering to go with a full cage this year.

Not to get too far off topic but, what suspension are you using? Do you know anyone using coilovers?

 

I think I just lucked out with the crash--no injuries at all, so I was rearing to get back out ASAP. But...my wife, who normally is fairly open to my hobbies, laid the law down with 2 demands: (1) Full safety gear--rollbar, seats, H&N device (I got the Defnder); and (2) a huge life insurance policy.

I'm still on D-specs/Eibach prokits/FRPP sways. I don't know anyone on coilovers yet. I've come close on a few occasions to getting the Koni Sports and then converting them with the Ground Control coilover kit. Maybe later this year...

 

I have all Steeda Suspension bits with Tokico's and I would like to see my car lower and I have alot of Squat in the rear under hard acceleration (see photo below). Even with the shocks on their stiffest setting. I think I need some more spring in the rear.

 

Wow--that is a lot of squat. Which Steeda springs? Comps or Sports/Ultralights? Also, have you corrected rear LCA geometry with relocation brackets? Bringing them to level should help if this hasn't been done. I haven't done that yet (still trying to figure out if I am going to time trial with NASA--if so, those relo brackets are too many points...).

Have you noticed a difference in rear end grip with the Steeda wing? I assume it is doing something, since quite a few teams have chosen to run in on their FR500c's in the Koni challenge.

By the way, your car looks great.

 

Sorry if i'm asking the obvious...what are the wheels in this pic? They are beautiful! GREAT car as well! Thanks.

 

They are the Steeda Pentar 18 X 9.5" . Thanks for the complements.

 

Answered my question....

013-0007-45
Steeda Silver Pentar Wheel - 18" x 9.5" - '05-'09 $229.00

 

The rear springs are the Steeda Competition springs. I do not have the rear relocation brackets.
I installed that rear wing and the front splitter to run my first Daytona last year. I can't say that I noticed any difference at Sebring, Homestead or PBIR as the fastest I can get is about 130 at Sebring.
At Daytona, I did not have a base line before the wing/splitter combo but the car felt good at nearly 150MPH with the wing and splitter. Seeing the Koni Challenge guys using them was the main decision that I got that particular wing. They spend the money on R & D so....It must be good...

 

They also come in black....

 

They are beautiful!

 

I've been itching to upgrade to coils myself. Maybe later this year too. Not to change the subject but I was thinking of getting KW v3s. I've heard nothing but good about KW's. The Ground-control kit is about 1600, and I've been able to find kw v3s for about 1800. Guess I'll have to cross that bridge when I get to it!

Now back on topic... I realize the placement of the vent is for function, but just out of curiosity, might it be able to be placed further back?

 

To continue the off-topic , my brother is running the v3's on his GTO and I was amazed at the ride quality. Very nice setup. I figure I can get the Konis for 750 and run them for a while. Then for another $450 I can get the conversion kit from GC when I get the itch.

As for the vent placement, it could definitely be placed further back and still remain functional to a point. Once you get within a foot or so of the windshield, though, you are in a high pressure area and instead of evacuating hot air, you will be forcing outside air into the engine bay.