Recent Mods To NZ OPanoz

As they say you don't get anything for nothing.............and so it proved when we upgraded the engine to 600hp.

Recent mods to keep up with fuel flow requirements and heat generation as follows;

Brake calipers turned from silver to bronze in 4 hour race, dust seals were literally burned off and the pad backing plates were an ash colour..........:

http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp355/NZGTRA/IMG_3259_zps2fef13fc.jpg

So on went an external scoop for the rear brakes using the LH exhaust cut out:

http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp355/NZGTRA/IMG_3257_zps46877cac.jpg

Hoses that duct the air from the scoop to the rear discs:


http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp355/NZGTRA/IMG_3258_zpsac5479b5.jpg

Then we needed more fuel flow and surge capacity so in went a lift pump and surge tank:

http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp355/NZGTRA/IMG_3260_zps1d346798.jpg

On changing rear ratios we found slight heat marks on the crown wheel indicating that a diff cooler was required. So in went a Johnson 2 stage pump with coolers for the diff and trans:

http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp355/NZGTRA/IMG_3256_zps76cf4a0d.jpg

Naca duct feeds cool air into a plenum above the coolers:

http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp355/NZGTRA/IMG_3254_zps7660777c.jpg

Duct feeds down into side of plenum:

http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp355/NZGTRA/IMG_3255_zps0909e162.jpg

That NACA duct install in the quarter panel is very trick. Do you have the entire underside of the car sealed off, or am I seeing the surface of a 4-post lift here?

http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp355/NZGTRA/IMG_3258_zpsac5479b5.jpg

Kel,

Out of curiosity, have you considered brake blowers?
http://pitstopusa.com/i-5084031-allstar-performance-4-heavy-duty-inline-blower-8-long-240-cfm.html
I similar problems when I was running circle track and began running 75 and 100 lap features. I ran a bunch of brake ducts to various components but found I really didnt have enough speed for the ducts to be effective. So I went brake blowers and the problem was fixed.

Just a thought

That NACA duct install in the quarter panel is very trick. Do you have the entire underside of the car sealed off, or am I seeing the surface of a 4-post lift here?

http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp355/NZGTRA/IMG_3258_zpsac5479b5.jpg

Brian, yes the underside is all sealed off except for the trans tunnel which I left open until I had coolers fitted. May close this off as well now.

Kel.

Kel,

Out of curiosity, have you considered brake blowers?
http://pitstopusa.com/i-5084031-allstar-performance-4-heavy-duty-inline-blower-8-long-240-cfm.html
I similar problems when I was running circle track and began running 75 and 100 lap features. I ran a bunch of brake ducts to various components but found I really didnt have enough speed for the ducts to be effective. So I went brake blowers and the problem was fixed.

Just a thought

Thanks Mark, seem to have reached a happy medium with cooling now. Have run a couple of events with the rear hoses in and seems ok so far.

Kel.

What's it sealed with? Aluminum sheet panels? Alumalite? Other?

What's it sealed with? Aluminum sheet panels? Alumalite? Other?

Used alumalite Brian. Closed off from fwd of rear edge of splitter through to just in front of diff. Would like to close in the diff area as well to get good transition to diffuser but practicality for maintenance is another issue!!

You can sort of see in this shot flat bottom looking forward......

http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp355/NZGTRA/IMG_2740_1.jpg

this is around front wheels

http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp355/NZGTRA/IMG_2741_1.jpg

Makes it easier working around the engine as white surface reflects light well. Has not made access to many areas much more difficult.

If you are going to look at this, think about protection for underside of chassis rails as water can collect in between promoting corrosion. Possibly OK with your powder coating but would wet install fasteners (I used aluminium rivets) to seal the hole.

I found car much easier to drive near the limit after flat bottom and diffuser were installed. Just seemed a lot more stable on my local higher average speed circuit. Was not so effective on circuits I did the national champs on. That was probably due to lower average speeds as well as increased ride height due 680 dia slicks which would have made the diffuser less effective.

Kel

Very cool... I was laying under the car awhile back thinking how easy it would be to seal the entire thing. Not going to do that at this point, but maybe this winter we'll tackle further areo enhancements in the off-season.

I was thinking of using nutserts so the panels could be easly removed and re-installed for service. But, like you said, you'd need trans and rear coolers to do it right and fully seal the bottom.

Sealing off the bottom has been one of the things I have seriously considered. I bet it really smoothes out the air under the car instead of creating turbulance. I never thought of what you did around the front tires. Very nice. Do you have any pics of your diffuser? Its something else I've considered.

Sealing off the bottom has been one of the things I have seriously considered. I bet it really smoothes out the air under the car instead of creating turbulance. I never thought of what you did around the front tires. Very nice. Do you have any pics of your diffuser? Its something else I've considered.

Mark, this is the diffuser panel. I made it removable so that it is easier to trailer the car:
http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp355/NZGTRA/IMG_2737.jpg

fitted views:
http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp355/NZGTRA/IMG_2739.jpg


http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp355/NZGTRA/IMG_2738.jpg

Very cool... I was laying under the car awhile back thinking how easy it would be to seal the entire thing. Not going to do that at this point, but maybe this winter we'll tackle further areo enhancements in the off-season.

I was thinking of using nutserts so the panels could be easly removed and re-installed for service. But, like you said, you'd need trans and rear coolers to do it right and fully seal the bottom.

Nutserts would be the ticket Brian. I riveted mine as I wanted to try the concept and wasn't sure if it would be permanent.

Definitely cuts airflow to the trans and diff so yes coolers mandatory. I have a theory about TKO's and the fact that our cars do not run trans coolers.

If you buy any racing dog engagement trans for road racing often they will not warranty the trans if no cooler was fitted. I think this is due to case growth that occurs as alloy cases expand with heat (I have seen some racing trans expire due to this). The expansion affects the gear alignment etc.

TKO''s have tapered roller bearings aligning the shafts and so excessive case growth would be exacerbated. I have fitted the cooler to try to limit case growth and potential misalignment of the running gear set. Just a theory..........

Kel.

Wow, seriously!

You should market that diffuser. I'd be your first customer. That looks beyond my fabrication skills. Very nice.

PS did you like the supercars in Texas? What a race. I'm a "Frosty" fan but he's killing me. Hope he wins one this year.

Wow, seriously!

You should market that diffuser. I'd be your first customer. That looks beyond my fabrication skills. Very nice.

PS did you like the supercars in Texas? What a race. I'm a "Frosty" fan but he's killing me. Hope he wins one this year.

Thanks Mark, was a bit of fun designing and building it. The diffuser units are Stillen extended length Ford GT that I adapted to suit the Panoz with the mounting arrangement you can see in the pics.

There is another car that has a similar flat bottom and diffuser arrangement but he has a smaller tank in his car so was able to push the diffuser units up higher in the car.

No plans to start manufacturing but happy to share info so you can make some up yourself.

I followed the results from Texas and would love to have watched but they are only airing over here on a pay channel so am not seeing it these days. I am obviously rooting for the kiwi drivers Fabian Coultard, Scott McLachlan and Shane Van Gisbergen. Has been awesome that all 3 have taken race wins so far this year and all are in the top 10. You are right Frosty is having a bit of a mare of a season but his stoush with Whincup that they got going at Pukekohe could get interesting as the season unfolds....!!

Kel.