Wrapping and Fans Innit?

[rustybin]

I have been doing a bit of pre-season testing to get ready for hillclimbing and sprinting this year. I am running a clubsport 1100 on carbs and have had a bit of trouble with what seems like fuel evaporation when the car has been queuing for a while. The idle gets a bit lumpy and a full bore start results in a stall. The previous owner has fitted a bike fan on the water rad that is pulling air through the rad otherwise it is standard.

My thoughts on a cure are...

Exhaust wrap: either just manifold or all the way to the silencer. Has anyone else done this? What is the accepted wisdom? Any recomendations as to products?

Reverse fanage: If I put a couple of smaller fans blowing forward through the rads I would be expelling hot air from the engine bay rather than heating it and pulling it into the bay. They would only run when stationary so I am not bothered by them running opposite to air direction.

Any thoughts, suggestions, dire warnings etc?

[DarioT]

on commercial plant the fan always blows away from the engine bay for that exact reason!

[RobC]

Create a shield out of this stuff http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/HEAT-INSULATION-... under the carbs, this will deflect the heat. Heat wrap works, I've used this kit before - http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/HEAT-INSULATION-... that was effective, fun to fit though

As for the fan, that shouldn't be a problem as the hot air will vent out by the wheels. The only suggestion would be to get the fan to kick in a lot earlier, I used to have mine set at 80degrees.

Edited by RobC on Monday 16th March 19:40

[SportsLibre]

I suspect there may be some other problem here as I did two seasons on Hills and Sprints with the standard Clubsport set up without any of these problems, and no fans fitted.

I briefly tried the flat-slides, but found the car gave better response and thus quicker times using the "standard" butterfly carbs.

BTW I have a set of each for sale if any one interested, Now run a ZX14!

[rustybin]

SportsLibre said:

I suspect there may be some other problem here as I did two seasons on Hills and Sprints with the standard Clubsport set up without any of these problems, and no fans fitted.

I briefly tried the flat-slides, but found the car gave better response and thus quicker times using the "standard" butterfly carbs.

BTW I have a set of each for sale if any one interested, Now run a ZX14!

I am curious as to whether the fan is causing more problems than it solves. Obviously it is hard to be precise but how long do you reckon it would sit at idle without water temperature getting excessive?

[rustybin]

RobC said:

Create a shield out of this stuff http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/HEAT-INSULATION-... under the carbs, this will deflect the heat. Heat wrap works, I've used this kit before - http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/HEAT-INSULATION-... that was effective, fun to fit though

As for the fan, that shouldn't be a problem as the hot air will vent out by the wheels. The only suggestion would be to get the fan to kick in a lot earlier, I used to have mine set at 80degrees.

Edited by RobC on Monday 16th March 19:40

The shielding idea appeals. Mainly because the wrapping option looks a horrid job. Not the best engineering reasoning but there we are.

[Marshy98]

I have just wrapped my exhaust, not a bad job if you take the pipes off, you can see a photo in the " Ready for 2009 : thread

Marshy

[RobC]

rustybin said:

SportsLibre said:

I suspect there may be some other problem here as I did two seasons on Hills and Sprints with the standard Clubsport set up without any of these problems, and no fans fitted.

I briefly tried the flat-slides, but found the car gave better response and thus quicker times using the "standard" butterfly carbs.

BTW I have a set of each for sale if any one interested, Now run a ZX14!

I am curious as to whether the fan is causing more problems than it solves. Obviously it is hard to be precise but how long do you reckon it would sit at idle without water temperature getting excessive?

Doubtful, my car would over heat very quickly before fitting the fan, afterwards you could leave it ticking over for months*

• slight exaggeration

[SportsLibre]

Usually the problem is getting it up to temp. If the paddock is well organised you may only have seconds (minutes at most) from being called to running, so timing when to start the car and leave it running in the paddock to warm up is the trick.
This is worst for the first run of the morning, then a 30-60 second run and possibly an hour wait before going again.
If you don't get it right the car can barely be up to proper running temp by the time you return to the paddock.

Having said all that wrapping the exhaust is a good idea.

[rustybin]

Blimey you must have run at some well organised events. I seemed to spend hours sitting in queues last year!