C-FAH Q
Well Known Member
In the search for a little more speed, I have embarked on the mythical world(to me anyway) of exit air flow modification, as it relates to the flow of air from the back of the oil cooler. I decided to make a plenum for the back of my oil cooler and, in seperate test stages, will find out what works and what does not for my current configuration. I have a IO-360 A1B6 with hartzell contstant speed and superior cold air sump with a Rod Bower Ram Air induction. I installed a 9 row oil cooler , which was the largest I could fit on the back of the baffles behind the number 4 cylinder. My current oil temps run around 197 degrees at 23 square, leaned to best power and on a fairly wam and humid day. I am happy with that oil temp but want to see if i can increase efficiency of airflow.
First step was to make a plenum to fit on the back of the cooler and leave room for clearance for the engine mount.
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I did this by taking a foam block and started to hack, chop and file to get the shape I wanted. Next step was to glass over the shape, cure, remove the plug and attatch it to the back of the cooler and then seal up any gaps with RTV.
I will test fly this soon and see if my temps are affected for the better or worse. After that, I plan to attatch a 4 inch skeet tube to the bottom of the outlet I made and direct the airflow down to the lower cowl, near the exhaust pipes. Hopefuly this works, if not, other mods are in the works with regards to smoothing airflow to more gently guide the airflow out the lower cowl and possibly directing the oil cooler airflow out the side of the cowling if other mods dont work. The three pics are of the part that was made and the last is a last resort of airflow redirection.![Big grin :D :D](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Hopefully some of this ends up giving me better airflow and some better speed. If it dosnt....oh well, it was fun doing it anyway.
First step was to make a plenum to fit on the back of the cooler and leave room for clearance for the engine mount.
![33kdwds.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2F%5BIMG%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fi26.tinypic.com%2F33kdwds.jpg&hash=0dba3cde11d6a4938e655d038c546941)
![eug8lg.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi25.tinypic.com%2Feug8lg.jpg&hash=490285b4c8249abac85d0701e7312741)
![2dtq5ud.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi27.tinypic.com%2F2dtq5ud.jpg&hash=07fba4c9d85f67c3aa33781cff30acba)
I did this by taking a foam block and started to hack, chop and file to get the shape I wanted. Next step was to glass over the shape, cure, remove the plug and attatch it to the back of the cooler and then seal up any gaps with RTV.
I will test fly this soon and see if my temps are affected for the better or worse. After that, I plan to attatch a 4 inch skeet tube to the bottom of the outlet I made and direct the airflow down to the lower cowl, near the exhaust pipes. Hopefuly this works, if not, other mods are in the works with regards to smoothing airflow to more gently guide the airflow out the lower cowl and possibly directing the oil cooler airflow out the side of the cowling if other mods dont work. The three pics are of the part that was made and the last is a last resort of airflow redirection.
![4rx1fp.jpg](/community/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi27.tinypic.com%2F4rx1fp.jpg&hash=dd9d1a172c8d4928875690bdf993d83b)
Hopefully some of this ends up giving me better airflow and some better speed. If it dosnt....oh well, it was fun doing it anyway.