I've been having a think what to do with my front bumper to make it a bit different.

It looked this this to start





So I've taken it and cut more out the centra bar and straightened up the cuts which didn't need enlarging, enlarged the brake cooling ducts on the front, blended the tow eye cover and put mounts on the attach an Laguna splitter on the bottom.



However, I've been thinking about putting some NACA ducts in the sides, like these.





This is the size they would be and they would be blended in, rather than riveted on.



They would be functional feeding the oil cooler, brakes, and when I fit it the gearbox cooler, but I'm also aware of the fact you can "overdo" things. I don't want the car too look like I'm trying too hard, if you get me.

What's people thoughts on this?

 

Yes

 

Think that would work m8..deffo blended in but not riveted

 

what would you use to blend them in that wouldn't crack on a plastic bumper? I remember having endless trouble trying to blend into a bonnet and no matter what I used it always cracked with the bonnet flexing.

 

I was going to PU seal them on from the rear then fibreglass them into shape and light skim of filler. I didn't give any consideration to them cracking to be honest, although that could be a problem...

 

Slightly off topic, but that bonnet is awesome.

 

I'm trying really hard to be modest, but yes, yes it is lol

 

Where you have cut the bumper for the intercooler i would finish the edges and make some returns like i have on mine

 

By returns you mean like the 'walls' either side of the cooler?

 

Yes mate

 

I probably should, but as my cooler sits so far forward it's not too bad without them. I might look into it though. Shame the car's 250 miles away so I can't do a test fit!

 

both your car and twin's car are epic and make me miss my xr3i and rs turbo loads.

Off topic muz whats the extra bonnet vent off?

 

I recall Lancia but i could just be totally making that up.

 

Those ducts look great Muz. I'd be leaving them bonded though or riveted. The rest of the car looks Motorsport so I reckon they would suit it.

 

80% of the bonnet is Lancia Delta. I was just going to use the vents but decided to graft the whole thing into an Escort frame inc the power bulge.

 

I'm probably going to have to rivet them on as I'm wary about smoothing them now. The bumpers just a shell now so not very strong and does flex a lot. Someone Unknown moved it yesterday as I'm doing it at work and obviously picked it up using the lower bar and cracked all the filler around where I smoothed the tow eye so had to dig it out and re do it.

 

Are the NACA Ducts plastic? Could you plastic weld them on?

 

Yeah, the ones is use are plastic. Could plastic weld them but could still crack where they are skimmed. I'll probably go with them riveted on.

 

Gonna look cool I think dude

I'm like your way of thinking
Will you be able to duct to brakes on lock?

 

What do you mean?

I'm thinking about making some shrouds in time which bolt onto the hub. With the size of the brakes it probably doesn't need it, but I like the idea of just developing the car further when it's "finished"

 

Ah, you you mean, will the ducting work with the steering moving from lock to lock?... We'll see.

 

Would the vertical vents from mk1 frs go in? Just another thought

 

Yeah that's it

Be interesting mod for sure

 

They look cool, but seem like a bit of a gimmick to me. They can't be up to much cooling wise, unless they were turned around to force air in.

What I'm thinking is 2 1/2 inch aluminium tube which runs along the bottom of the chassis here



Redesigning the calipers brackets to allow a shroud through this hole in the hub between the calipers mounting tabs, maybe.



Connected with flexi tube at both ends then into some sort of hub mounted shroud like this,

 

They look cool

 

If you had them welded in and had the plastic weld raised, you could then sand/grind the plastic back to flush with no risk of cracking. It would be as if it was one bit of plastic.

We have been repairing some of our bike fairings and used this technique to avoid the use of any filler thus eliminating the risk of cracking.