Vents for Exhaust Cooling - Question

[DanEC]

David - I had not heard that about the speedbleeder needing to be resealed after awhile - but that makes sense. I wonder if pipe thread sealer works OK.

Kind of what I figured with the vents letting a lot of dust into the engine compartment.

Thanks

Dan

[davids2toys]

Maybe that was part of the reason I did not install them, more bother than they are worth. I also have them for my Mustang and Harley. I don't believe I installed those either...LOL

[BAsque1]

Originally Posted by Grubby

Hal,

Thanks. The problem I am trying to improve is the temperature of the air thru the vents in the cockpit. They are completely useless long runs when everything is heat soaked.

My car gets driven and I would like some cooling for me and my wife.

John

Hi John:
Do you have ceramic coated headers? that makes a huge difference, I just did mine last year and the temperature of the cockpit did go down quite a bit, Happy Wife happy Ride
Cheers
Lou

[Grubby]

Lou,

I am currently between Cobras, but the last on had ceramic coated headers. I drove it on some long trips without the screens and then installed them and drove it on some long trips.

No noticeable change in cockpit temp and didn't really notice the engine compartment getting any dirtier.

All I noticed was my wallet getting $200 lighter, and the vents did look cool.

John

[sea2jet]

I was going to install the vents but decided against it after speaking with Doug. My car has the heat shields installed and thought the vents looked cool, but Doug said if you ever get caught out in the rain, it makes a mess in there with the screens installed.

[jconley]

Would someone post a good picture of the exhaust vents installed on the car? Am I correct that these are installed in the wheel well between the headers and front tire? I'm confused as to how the vents could allow dust or rain into the engine compartment. My Cobra is currently being built at ERA. I had ordered the vents, but am early enough in the build to make a change.

Thanks.

[jconley]

I found some good pictures of the vents installed on the ERA website. Now I see how dust and water kicked up by the front tires could get into the engine bay.

Looks like these vents would allow for cross ventilation across the headers from this vent to the side vents, although I don't know how much wind would pass through the screen while driving. If anything, it would help when sitting still, allowing another passage for heat to escape.

I probably don't need them since I'm getting ceramic coated primaries, and the aluminum heat shield too. I could always add them later if I need to.

[davids2toys]

Originally Posted by sea2jet

I was going to install the vents but decided against it after speaking with Doug. My car has the heat shields installed and thought the vents looked cool, but Doug said if you ever get caught out in the rain, it makes a mess in there with the screens installed.

Doug told me the exact same thing!

[Large Arbor]

I have them installed on mine and it doesn't get hot in the summer. I do have the ceramic coated headers and pipes. I will post a picture later tonight if that helps.

Phil

[Large Arbor]

Here is the pics of ERA 714 with the vents in.

Phil

[davids2toys]

Phil,
Do you have heat shields installed? Also, is your tire hitting. I think I see a rub mark.
Dave

[Xack]

You can purchase louvers to fit in the area to keep dirt from being thrown up onto your headers and route the air to the vent.
This example is for a West Coast Cobra. It did not have any fender wells at all. As you can imagine, dirt would go everywhere. You should be able to add the louver from the back side on three holes drilled to match your vent hole pattern.

[Large Arbor]

Dave,
Yes heat shields installed. With the aluminum block and ceramic coated headers it just does not get that hot in my foot boxes. Perhaps its because I don't wear many socks when it gets warm and just flip on the Sperries. I did use the air vent though and that also has helped.

Phil

[davids2toys]

Originally Posted by Xack

You can purchase louvers to fit in the area to keep dirt from being thrown up onto your headers and route the air to the vent.
This example is for a West Coast Cobra. It did not have any fender wells at all. As you can imagine, dirt would go everywhere. You should be able to add the louver from the back side on three holes drilled to match your vent hole pattern.

Interesting idea for sure. So this is two sets of louvers you have, 1 set facing up, 1 set facing down?
I have not installed the screen yet so I have no holes to worry about, just the heat shield locating holes.
Do you have dimensions for the louvers and maybe a link. They look quite a bit smaller than the screen. Perhaps I could use this instead of the screen. Paint it black, it will blend right in!

[davids2toys]

Originally Posted by Large Arbor

Dave,
Yes heat shields installed. With the aluminum block and ceramic coated headers it just does not get that hot in my foot boxes. Perhaps its because I don't wear many socks when it gets warm and just flip on the Sperries. I did use the air vent though and that also has helped.

Phil

How did you avoid interference with the heat shield/ mounting holes? I don't see the heat shield mount hardware in your pics?
Also, is that a tire rub mark in your pic

[Large Arbor]

Dave,

Sorry, I thought you mean on he foot boxes themselves. I do have them on the foot boxes, but not on the floors or in the fender wells. I hope that answers your question.

Phil

[Large Arbor]

Yes, also, the tire hits very rarely. I had never heard it or even noticed it. That's all the rubbing on 5,000 miles so I am not too inclined to worry about it. I think its the tight turning when parallel parking.

Phil

[davids2toys]

Phil,
I meant the heat shields installed directly above the primary pipes.

All that rubbing damage on my car, I never heard a thing!!!

Doug suggested making a stop and installing it on the control arm There is a tab on the caliper with a rubber bumper on it. That bumper is on an angle and still has a 1/4 inch gap between it and the control arm at full engagement of the tire against the wheelwell

[Large Arbor]

Sounds cool. Got a pic? I would like to install that control arm stop. I have never heard mine rubbing. Other occasional noises I have heard such as rocks hitting the fenders and other things like large bugs getting sucked in the front from the cooling fan. I used an air hose and blow out the radiation fins every so often.

Phil

[Xack]

You can have these Louvers custom made to match the pattern of your hole in the wheel well. I bought these louvers to place them in 2 positions. 1 as far back into the wheel well and I mounted it on the outside because there is no interference with the tire. 2. The one outermost has to be mounted inside the aluminum panel to avoid tire interference. The tire will kick up dust and debris so they should vent from the top down and block dust, dirt and rocks being thrown up from the tire tread. This along with your screen, should keep the footbox and header collector clean longer. You can mount them on the inside on top of the screen. I did not use a screen, because that'll just get clogged with mud. Mine is a West Coast Cobra. It has no wheel well material at all. The aluminum you see in the photo is non-standard. I have no heat shield. I think I may need to look at making one.