Not a problem! I love seeing projects like this actually getting made!

update posted on the opening post. my clay piece got warped during the drying process so I have to do a new one using proper automotive clay, but at least the quote I got from a 3D scanning company is not too bad. stay tuned!

Making these vents functional actually does release a lot of heat from the engine bay. I did mine last summer and was very surprised myself!

I can't wait to see this finished. So much time, effort, and thought is going in to this project. I bet it'll look fantastic.

so i have to ask..... how much heat would a heat vent vent if a heat vent could vent heat?

Definitely interested!

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Do you know what the pressure is in the engine bay? There is almost 0 psi in that area on the fender so positive pressure is needed in the engine bay. You want as high of pressure differential as possible to get as much mass flow out of there. There are some trick to do this for sure.

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...ps63f88f11.jpg

This got me thinking of something else to do with the vent :drool:

Hey thanks for the input! I know we talked about getting my rear diffuser tested out and I'm not joking.. I'm very serious about it :)

With this side vent piece I'm not looking for a drastic performance change.. I just want something that is not a faux piece that mimics a genuine side vent. I still do think however, even if it will be just a little bit, tunneling some air out from the engine bay could remove some heat. If it were to be super functional you probably need some sort of a naca duct to draw air in from the front of the engine bay (front bumper area) and guide it out through the side vent but my personal car is not a dedicated track car...

For example, canards and splitters do their job at the track and it's super functional but is it really a beautiful design? Hmm...

I would like a good compromise of both form and function, compromising more on the functional side a bit.

you could give the vent a leading edge, kind of like a reverse gurney flap, if you really want to draw the air out

I don't like any of these diagrams for air pressure, as my car is always drifting sideways, so therefore I have great air pressure on my side vents.





Jkjk...it is nice to see real data/technical stuff. Plus I'm interested in the side vent, well, being a vent and I don't have the knowledge/time to figure this stuff out. So those experimenting, I thank you.

Here's an interesting thread on F1 Technical about air flow in the fender well area. It seems like there's an opportunity for aero there... but the low pressure zones seem to be above the wheel and aft of it. The vent location is pretty awkward, in terms of functionality.
LINK

My initial thought was to run something like this:
http://gurneyflap.com/Resources/PB241350.jpg

Ah...I know that issue all too well. If you want, I have some Kolb Automotive grade modelling clay from a project I did a while back. Keep in mind that you'll need to bake it slightly to soften it enough to mold. Another tip is that after you have the shape you want, use some Acetone to smooth out any sharp lines after you use your slick.

3d scanning is a good way to go these days though, much faster and more precise. Plus you can get a super clean OEM look using CAD that is a real bear to do by hand. In fact, that's what I'm having done as well. lol

vacuum forming would be the easiest and cheapest way of doing it...I would just take the stock trim off and remove or add to it by cutting and adding body fill. once i have the shape i'd vac form it...then turn that into a positive mold and vac the positive giving you a final piece that you can finish and place on your car.