Footwell Ventilation

[redbaron]

As all of you Rotus owners know, driving at low speed in heavy traffic during warm weather can be quite an unpleasant experience. Not wishing to clutter up the exterior of my Rotus with add on air scoops or deflectors I tried a NACA inlet opening on the driver side cowl area. What follows are a series of pictures showing the opening in the cowl side, the discharge snout under the instrument panel and the plastic duct I used. I have found this system to be quite effective in bringing in prodigious amounts of fresh air thus making warm weather driving much more comfortable. During cold weather I have a plastic cap that slips over the outlet snout that blocks any airflow. Not very sophisticated but it works.                                                          Red Baron

[redbaron]

http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/redbaron/2006-01-06_204233_112-1239_IMG.JPG

[redbaron]

http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/redbaron/2006-01-06_204327_IMG_1404.JPG

[redbaron]

http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/redbaron/2006-01-06_204436_IMG_1406.JPG

[redbaron]

http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/redbaron/2006-01-06_204536_IMG_1405.JPG

[slngsht]

That's a great solution. Thanks for the pics.

 

 

 

I experienced the "cooked foot" a few months ago, stuck in traffic on a 90 degree day.

 

 

 

Cheers

[solder_guy]

Thanks for the pics .. How about a pic of the plastic cap?

 

 

 

Is that a speaker? How thin is it? And an antenna too?

 

 

 

More pics of your dash setup please?

 

 

 

Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

 

 

[redbaron]

Rob, the plastic cap is merely the top of a typical spray can. As I said, not very sophisticated but it does the job. Yes, that is a speaker you see in the picture. I have a radio/cassett player with a 4 speaker stereo system. One speaker on each cowl side inner panel in the front and two speakers mounted on the hinged portion of the boot door in the rear. Frankly it was a big waste of effort 'cause with my Borla exhaust system the only time I can listen to it is when I am parked with the engine off. Oh well, we live and learn. The antenna, by the way, is a Honda replacement mast I bought at Radio Shack. OK, I will send some pictures of my IP layout in subsequent posts in the near future.                                                              Red Baron                                                               

[solder_guy]

I have speakers and an amplifier .. We'll see if it is of any good at all.

 

 

 

I guess the pin through the air intake is used to keep the cap in place. BTW: What is the screen material that is covering the opening of the left air intake?

 

 

 

Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

 

solder_guy38724.9238425926

[redbaron]

Rob, you are correct on the purpose of the pin. The screen material I used is that "gutter guard" sort of stuff that you install on your house gutters to keep the leaves from clogging them up. It's expanded aluminum mesh. I spray painted it flat black. I bought it at Home Depot. The plastic NACA duct I ordered from Pegasus. My carving projects for both for the footwell vent system and the hood vents were all the more trickey because I did them AFTER the car was painted!

[solder_guy]

Here's the >Butler Built Duct Not expensive at all!

 

 

 

So does alot of air flow through the duct?

 

 

 

Mazda, Are you still thinking of insulating your footwell(s)?

 

 

 

Rob Mitchell, Atlanta, GA

 

 

 

solder_guy38725.5836342593

[slngsht]

 

Mazda, Are you still thinking of insulating your footwell(s)?

 

 

 

 

Yes. I plan on using either Reflectix, or Frost King. Both are thin, light insulation materials. Frost Kings is used for duct insulation.

 

 

 

C5 Corvettes have a center tunnel heat problem because the exhaust is routed through that area. Many owners have reduced cabin heat using this stuff. They are much lighter than many of the commercial sound/heat insulation stuff available for cars.