Turkey Pan ?

[xracerbob]

I believe it is of no value since air is actually coming out of the hood scoop at speed since it is a high pressure area as a result of the air passing through the radiator. If this is the case, then the air going into the carb has a much more difficult route to travel than if the turkey pan was not there. I also think this will make the dyno tests inconclusive regarding the turkey pans true effectiveness, since you wont be moving.

If you want to test the air out of the hood scoop theory, take a few drops of oil and put them on the hood in front of the hood scoop, then drive quickly. Look at the trail the oil drops make. If they go straight into the hood scoop opening, then my contention that air comes out is all wrong. If it goes the other way or is in a smear pattern (indicating turbulence) then air does indeed come out the scoop opening.

[TerrysSPF]

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

I was always of the impression that purpose of the Turkey Pan wasn't to necessarily build a ram air effect, but rather to isolate the carb from the heat of the engine compartment and essentially build it it's own chamber to feed it cooler denser outside air.

Jockey: This is my impression as well. The turkey pan is more to keep the hot air from the engine away from the carb, than it is to draw cool air into it. Personally, I've always thought the engine breathes better with the pan off, which is why I run without it most of the time.
I had a a 69 Z-28 DZ302 and a 70 LS-6 Chevelle, both with true "Ram Air". -The set-up and scoop on the Cobra is not even close to being "functional", IMO. -Even with a little "rubber" around the top of the pan.

Eric @ Performance Engineering ran dyno tests with and without a turkey pan installed. He told me the pan usually dropped about 20hp from the engine (on average). Sure, when you're running over 500hp you probably won't notice a 20hp loss..........but what the heck.
-I can't tell you if he had a fan blowing on the front of the car though!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by xracerbob

...then drive quickly. Look at the trail the oil drops make. . .

Remember, I've got an FE under the hood ... I already do this!

[olddog]

Rambling thoughts:

Shelby and his racing team had to think the turkey pan was doing something benificial or they would not have waisted the time and money.

Since the frontal area that air flows into the radiator is small, my intuitive thought would be that the under hood area would be at a low pressure, when going down the road.

Since the turkey pan is open, there will be no ram air affect, however the question is which air has the higher pressure? If the hood scoop air is at a higher pressure than the under hood pressure, then the cooler outside air will be flowing through the turkey pan, out the holes, and into the engine compartment (minus the air sucked into the engine). If this is the case (I suspect it is), cooler air is a good thing, providing flow restriction does not overwhelm the good. When going down the road at speed, I would have to think the air flowing through the scoop would have to be moving fast enough to overcome the restriction of the pan.

Seems like a simple thermometer in the air filter with the pan on and off would answer half the question.

[olddog]

Another test would be a 1/4 mile run with the pan on and another with the pan off, assuming you are consistent on the launch.

[patrickt]

Here's a link to the SPF Newsletter that analyzed air cleaner size and elements along with the effect on horsepower. The first three scenarios in Table 1 are with the Turkey Pan installed. The 14" cleaner with the felt element came out on top; it's pretty tough to stuff a 14" cleaner in a Turkey Pan. http://www.secondstrike.com/Technica...leanerHelp.pdf

[olddog]

Patrick thanks that was very informative.

I did note that they said the turkey pan is a cold air box. Also that the worse case filter costs 8.2% in restriction. If my temp assumptions were correct, I still showed a 11.1% increase from the cooler air. As they showed there are better filters. Although filter selection looks to be critical, cooler air would be a big benifit, so I guess it comes down to a question of how much the turkey pan actually drops the air temp going into the engine.

I always wondered why anyone bothered with two carbs at the 400-500 hp level. Looks like that second air cleaner is much more important than the carbs.

[davids2toys]

Yes, this would be my only reason to run dual quads, plus the WOW facter under the hood.
Carl at Carl's parts, I believe told me I could put 3 inch k+n elements on the H+S air cleaners and still fit under the hood