289 FIA Brake Ducts

[Bill D]

How were they mounted to the body?

Thanks
Bill d

[xb-60]

Bill, here are a couple of pics of brake scoops on a Comp 289...






....here's one that Tim (tkb289) took of CSX2323....




Cheers,
Glen

[Bill D]

Perfect. Thanks. Considering trying to make mine in aluminum.

[krausewich]

What you can just barely make out where the scoop and the body overlap, is there are four rivets along the front edge.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Bill D

Perfect. Thanks. Considering trying to make mine in aluminum.

And I'm sure they will be up to your usual standard Bill. There would be a market for them (me , and no doubt, others).

Cheers,
Glen

[1795]

Bill,

Can't wait to see them! No doubt that they will look great.

Jim

[MAStuart]

Look easy to make. Just need some kind of ruff drawing.

Mark

[LMH]

I have a set of ducts I got from David Kirkham a few years ago. If one of you wanted to use them for reference, I'd loan them out. Just like to have them back once finished.
Larry

[MAStuart]

Larry are they mirror images of one another? How accurate are they or where all the originals all a little different? Got a few pictures? I might be able to make a hammer form that would be close. What would these scoops be worth in aluminum? Just wondering if it was worth my time. I have a lot of projects.

Mark

[LMH]

Boy, I know that situation with projects!
They are pretty much mirror images of each other. The ones I have are fiberglass but I don't know about their particular history. I thought the originals were fiberglass but it looks like they're aluminum in Glens photos. Comp cars aren't my specialty. Too many differences between individual cars to know all the details! I can dig them out and post a couple photos if you want.
Larry

[MAStuart]

Larry when you get time take some pictures put a tape measure in with the pictures.

Mark

[CompClassics]

As Dan Case will back me up on this the original scoops were hand fabricated from aluminum. Being that they were hand fabricated there was slight differences in all of the scoops and also differences in right to left sides. There were definetly differences in the transition to fiberglass scoops in right to left sides. There were also rear brake scoops that also started out being fabricated from aluminum and transitioned to fiberglass at some point. The rear scoops are very different side to side.

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by CompClassics

As Dan Case will back me up on this the original scoops were hand fabricated from aluminum. Being that they were hand fabricated there was slight differences in all of the scoops and also differences in right to left sides. There were definetly differences in the transition to fiberglass scoops in right to left sides. There were also rear brake scoops that also started out being fabricated from aluminum and transitioned to fiberglass at some point. The rear scoops are very different side to side.

+1 Race parts hand fabricated as required to a general specification to fit hand fabricated coachwork. That general specification comment is real important. Most Shelby American race part drawings were more like guidelines than specifications. Parts produced had to be similar to what was submitted to the sanctioning bodies but they didn't have to be identical. Even if you had "factory" drawings it would be remarkable that any one new fabrication decades later was exactly like any one "original" piece or parts made for one car would fit another exactly the same. That was day one fresh; add in racing wear and tear and crashes and almost anything became possible.


Regarding “fiberglass” pieces. Shelby American Inc. sold fiberglass general purpose brake air duct scoop sets retail. This was just one example of what was sold to customers was significantly different than what Shelby’s team car’s used. That practice, i.e. works team using one thing while selling something similar but different to people that were likely to race against them, started by the time the first customer race car was sold.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Dan Case

...they didn't have to be identical....

Found some more pics.
These were made towards the top end of the tolerance range:




OK, these are on an early GT40, but I thought they were of interest because they are obviously race 'blooded':




Cheers,
Glen

[Karl Bebout]

Glen, thanks for the pictures. Interesting to note the safety precautions, or lack there of.....

[LMH]

Finally got a few minutes to dig out the ducts I got from Kirkham. I have WAY too many parts! Anyway, here's a few pics of them. Note that in the last photo, the duct is not sitting flat, rather it has a curve to it across the duct.
The ducts are mirror pieces of each other, so only one is pictured.
Larry

[LMH]

Forgot one!
Larry