Suction generating fans

[McF1]

Dear all,

I have been looking for more details regarding the fans used on the road version to generate downforce, reminiscent of Gordon Murray's Brabham BT46 "fan car".

Does anyone have illustrations, pictures, data, or anything about these two fans?
They are said to also have a cooling purpose, but it does not necessarily mean that they placed close to the radiators, does it?

Any input welcome!

Thanks!

[hurstg01]

Whenever I've seen #12R at Goodwood over the years, I've taken some detail shots, and one of them was this -



Any good to you?

[McF1]

Sure is, thanks!

Could you tell us the location and orientation of this shot?
By the way, is there any opening on the floor? (I do not see any on my model car )

Now this brings me two comments:
1. As this is a GTR version, I would have thought that from regulations point of view such device would have been excluded.
2. The size of it makes me think the generated suction is limited.

[hurstg01]

Originally Posted by McF1

Sure is, thanks!

Could you tell us the location and orientation of this shot?
By the way, is there any opening on the floor? (I do not see any on my model car )

Now this brings me two comments:
1. As this is a GTR version, I would have thought that from regulations point of view such device would have been excluded.
2. The size of it makes me think the generated suction is limited.

Just quickly [I may have time later for a more detailed reply] but this particular GTR has been converted for the road; that could be why there are the fans if they were omitted for racing due to the regulations and I think they are more for cooling rather than suction

I can't remember the orientation, but could probably hazard a guess later on when I am on my home PC

[Le Man]

Greg,

McF1 is after details for the road car aero suction/engine bay cooling fans, which are positioned in the top two corners of the engine bay bulkhead, not the road conversion cooling fans for the GTR shown in your pic.

I do have some details/pics etc, but I need time to sort them out.

[hurstg01]

Originally Posted by Le Man

Greg,

McF1 is after details for the road car aero suction/engine bay cooling fans, which are positioned in the top two corners of the engine bay bulkhead, not the road conversion cooling fans for the GTR shown in your pic.

I do have some details/pics etc, but I need time to sort them out.

OK, I'll leave it in your more-than-capable hands

[McF1]

This website is such a McLaren F1 Bible... I still cannot understand why it took me so long a time to find it! Thank you all for contributing to documentating and sharing the information of this chef d'oeuvre.

While randomly reading the threads, I found one with a scan of Road and Track magazine, and for the first time I actually found trace of the fans:

Originally Posted by Sauc3

December 1997 Road & Track Review of the Ameritech McLaren F1.





Enjoy.

Just great!

Of course, if Le Man has additional pictures and details, I am all ears!

[hurstg01]

[McF1]

Just great, love it!
Thanks!

Well, as much I love this cutaway, I have been looking at it and actually did not yet find the fans. Argh!

[Le Man]

I think the answer to your thread request, needs a more in depth technical answer, similar to the ABS thread. when I have time I shall add pics/details etc not unless anybody else wishes to take up the task.

But to get you started, this pic has the answer to the location of the fans and where the air flows from the floor then through the monocoque to the engine bay .

[hurstg01]

I think this may show some info along the same lines as Le Man's pic

[McF1]

Thank you gentlemen!

From Le Man's picture it seems the fans are located inside the monocoque. The air comes in through the wheelarch opening and exits at the bottom floor level.

Hurstg01's photo displays what I believe is a duct for the alternator cooling, and confirms the lack of space in this area. It comforts me with the idea that the fans are situated in the flanks.

While the output of the "fan" used on the Chaparral 2J was +55 hp, I would be curious to know the total output of the fans used on the F1. Obvisouly it will be nowhere near 55 hp, but it would be interesting to know.

[Peloton25]

Originally Posted by McF1

From Le Man's picture it seems the fans are located inside the monocoque. The air comes in through the wheelarch opening and exits at the bottom floor level.

The text I've highlighted in red is incorrect.

If Greg doesn't mind, here's one of his own photos of #013 showing where the air intake is located on the underside of the car at the leading edge of the rear diffuser. There is an identical vent in the channel on the other side as well.



>8^)
ER

[hurstg01]

I don't mind at all - I actually re-visited those 2 shots when trying to find shots for my post earlier - I didn't realise they were for this purpose

Here's the other one

[McF1]

Thanks you gents, these are valuable inputs.
I do wonder how many pictures of the car you have!