Experience with Belly Pans

[Garage Dog 65]

Hi All,

Looking at Rads 70 Nova build and the belly pans. (PS, they always do SICK cars don't they !!) Does anyone have any experience with belly pans and resultant heat buildup ? I was looking to add a front and rear belly pan to my Porsche 356G with the exhaust running through the tunnel and wrapped front to rear - and wanted to close the entire deal off like Rads is doing here. Wouldn't the heat buildup be huge ?

Anyone running pans with input appreciated.

Jim

[Bowtieracing]

Hello Jim!

I was asking same thing in that nova thread.This is good idea to open totally new one for belly pans and "diffusors"

I would like to know can it be done with leaf springs? Does it matter if leafs come out in tight hole-will it affect air flow ??

I remember Johnnys orion camaro had one too !

[HRBS]

On our wagon project we are running the exhaust tight to the trans in the "tunnel". The side belly pans run from the outer rocker to the inner side of the frame rail leaving the "tunnel" open. The exhaust will then make a 60 degree angle thru the frame rail and exit thru the rear rocker. The oval round mufflers will be in the open tunnel area and only 3" oval tubing will flow thru approx. 30" of covered belly pan area. In that area we will run a 3/8" thick steel plate for protecton of the carpet padding and dyno mat the top under the carpet. At that distance from the engine and post muffler, the tubing will not reach temps that could cause any direct flame or temp. concerns.

[BRIAN]

I am doing a similar treatment with a 51 Woody I am building going from the rocker pinch weld to the inner rail, The car sits low so unless you have it up on a lift or a ultra skinny head you would be hard pressed to tell it doesn't have full pan.


Am I the only one who just doesn't have any luck with exhaust wrap on a driven car? They get ANY leak on them and they will smoke forever. They destroy the finish on the pipe from the heat and trapped condensation. Last with a thermometer the temp drop was about 10 degrees. Better off just having system coated. Work great on a bike where you skin comes in contact with pipe.

[Garage Dog 65]

Thanks for the info Steve and Brian. I have some of the same concerns Brian.

I plan on doing a 3 piece undertray system. An engine bay pan with 3 naca ducts on it like (if you've seen these before) something on a VW Passat. I have a Passat and the belly pan is plastic with foil faced insulation and 3 naca ducts to remove heat. I'd planned on doing something like Rads is doing on the rear. And for the middle - I'm setup just like a stock C5 vette. Planning on a heat shield just above the dual exhausts (stock like the vette) so that the middle section of exhaust is open to outside/bottom. But then I've also seen this setup done closed - with the closeout panel having 4 inch louvers front to back all the way to the rear. (something like the Mclaren or Mercedes solution)

Also had planned on ceramic coating the entire exhaust system - and then tape wrap everything. But if I only get 10 degrees for the tape - it's not worth the effort/cost IMO.

[Garage Dog 65]

Hey Steve Rupp,

Here's another couple ideas for an article.

1) Tape wrap engineering vs real world test.

2) Diffusers for the street. How do they work, real engineering test of a couple cars, and an analysis of is it worth the cost on a non-track car.

Circle Track or some other mag may have already covered these and I just didn't catch it.

Jim

[Bowtieracing]

Hey Steve Rupp,

Here's another couple ideas for an article.

1) Tape wrap engineering vs real world test.

2) Diffusers for the street. How do they work, real engineering test of a couple cars, and an analysis of is it worth the cost on a non-track car.

Circle Track or some other mag may have already covered these and I just didn't catch it.

Jim

Yes!!!

3) The principals of diffusers and "how to" made one:lateral:

[G-Body]

I have built a belly pan for my 48 Pro Street although my exaust will run up under the rockers. They are a nice detail to the rear of the car that cleans up the whole whole rear area!
Although still in mock up and plan on using smaller stainless nuts should be pretty cool when done i like the look of they on most cars ecs customs!

[syborg tt]

here is what we did on my project

http://www.syborgtwinturbo.com/albums/Build/2006_09_28_011.jpg

http://www.syborgtwinturbo.com/albums/Build/2006_09_28_006.jpg

http://www.syborgtwinturbo.com/albums/Build/2006_10_07_016.jpg

http://www.syborgtwinturbo.com/albums/Build/2006_10_07_017.jpg

http://www.syborgtwinturbo.com/albums/Build/2006_10_07_018.jpg

[dave96dcm]

Nice pics, are those removeable, or did you weld them in?

[Garage Dog 65]

Hi Joni !

I noticed you have header wrap on your 63. How about some info on how well that worked at holding in and/or reducing underhood temps for you ? Have you ever taken any thermo readings with or without the wrap ?

Thanks !

[Garage Dog 65]

[QUOTE=syborg tt]here is what we did on my project

Hi Marty !

I've checked out your built site a couple times and saw what a great job Competition Fab did with your chassis and sheet metal fab. I have printed several of your shots on 8 x 10 for reference.

I really liked the bumper tube mount idea. Had not seen anyone do that and it will work great on my project. Pass along my thanks ! :thumbsup:

PS, also noted your new signature tag. 'Mini-Truck' ????

:lol:

Jim

[syborg tt]

Nice pics, are those removeable, or did you weld them in?

They are removable we wanted to have easy access to fuel pump and fuel cell.

[notorious1970]

and wanted to close the entire deal off like Rads is doing here. Wouldn't the heat buildup be huge

Im going to stop over at the shop this week to see the car one last time before they send it to the body shop. I am going to ask the guys about this topic of heat buildup.
-d

[syborg tt]

Hi Jim,

thanks for the compliment on the Truck - Dave did outstanding work. If you want full side pics or more pics - shoot me an e-mail [email protected]


[QUOTE=syborg tt]here is what we did on my project

Hi Marty !

I've checked out your built site a couple times and saw what a great job Competition Fab did with your chassis and sheet metal fab. I have printed several of your shots on 8 x 10 for reference.

I really liked the bumper tube mount idea. Had not seen anyone do that and it will work great on my project. Pass along my thanks ! :thumbsup:

PS, also noted your new signature tag. 'Mini-Truck' ????

:lol:

Jim

[syborg tt]

Im going to stop over at the shop this week to see the car one last time before they send it to the body shop. I am going to ask the guys about this topic of heat buildup.
-d

I don't think it's a problem i've seen many cars with the same set up and they never had a problem

ps - the chicayne also has a similar set up

[notorious1970]

I don't think it's a problem i've seen many cars with the same set up and they never had a problem

ps - the chicayne also has a similar set up

what i figured..thanks

[Bowtieracing]

Hi Joni !

I noticed you have header wrap on your 63. How about some info on how well that worked at holding in and/or reducing underhood temps for you ? Have you ever taken any thermo readings with or without the wrap ?

Thanks !


Hello Jim!!

Yes i had lots of header wrap on my headers and mid section on exhaust pipes. I wish i would have that idea on my mind before polishing my headers:lol:

I really really like the thermotechs headerwrap. It definently cooled my engine bay and floor area. That is for sure because i didnt had any other material under my carpet. And i drove it a lot ! Allso i could touch the headers without immediately burning my hand when engine on idle. Offcourse they are hot but not "that" hot.

To have good looks and solid end result i have few tips for you.
-bay way more than you think you will need.
-Use heavyduty stainless wormclams instead of thermotechs own clams when you start the wrapping.
- Use stainless steel wire to tie it on the way. I did tied it just to be sure about every 5-6 inches .
- Soke it carefully in the water
- Most important : Bolt the header to heave bench etc to keep it in place so you can tight the header wrap for good.
- Bay heady dutu rubber gloves !! And use em all the time . Have another friend with you to tight the stainless wire and clamps while you are doing the wrapping
-Start at the shortest tube first and end it close to collector joint. Then the second one , etc etc . Last the longest tube and work to the end of collector. End with heavy dyty stainless clamp and tied few rounds with stainless wire too.

I am not sure did you get all what i was trying to say because my "language":willy: But ask for more and try to do my best :)

One more, i definetly noticed at there wasnt any big heat wave to notice when working over running engine :cool:

http://www.bowtie-racing.com/cars/63corvette/images/putket2.jpg

[notorious1970]

Wow that looks really nice. Did you use any kind of sealer at all?? Or is it simply the wrap and the ties?

[Garage Dog 65]

Excellent info gents - what a GREAT community here at Lat-G !! All was greatly appreciated and it sounds like I won't have any problems with doing a 3 piece tray system completely closed off.

Joni, Thanks so much for the process and your personal experience info on the wrap. I understood it all - your english is very good sir !

Thx !!

[dave96dcm]

- Soke it carefully in the water

When do you soak it in water? Before you wrap it so that it wraps tighter?

[MarkM66]

Excellent info gents - what a GREAT community here at Lat-G !! All was greatly appreciated and it sounds like I won't have any problems with doing a 3 piece tray system completely closed off.

Joni, Thanks so much for the process and your personal experience info on the wrap. I understood it all - your english is very good sir !

Thx !!

I agree. Capitalizations, punctuation, indentions! Better then a lot with English as their first language, lol.

[Bowtieracing]

When do you soak it in water? Before you wrap it so that it wraps tighter?

Before, just cut a long piece and sunk it in a bucket full of water. It strecths some when wet ,and adapts more easily on tight bends and on the surface of the pipe. After it drys ,it shrinks small amount and fits tight and nice.

[Bowtieracing]

Excellent info gents - what a GREAT community here at Lat-G !! All was greatly appreciated and it sounds like I won't have any problems with doing a 3 piece tray system completely closed off.

Joni, Thanks so much for the process and your personal experience info on the wrap. I understood it all - your english is very good sir !

Thx !!


Thank you Jim for kind words,glad i could help :cheers: :lateral: