Steve-B Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 i am using my car everyday going to work during this "heat wave" here in the UK just now. that gives me time to contemplate various cooling mechanisms to get forced air into the footwells. with the temps being 25-30C this is fairly representative of what we will have for part of next years (13 months from now!!) USA2005 event. whatever i do must be able to be easily sealed when we get to the mountains, or perhaps rain as well. i believe that i can just remove the pedal box cover which will get air into the drivers' side, and that should be that. so if i do this, will it let water in on my feet should i get caught in rain? its the passengers side i'm a bit stumped on. since i've got a K and the primaries for exhaust are on the passengers' side, i'm stumped as of yet to how to do the same. one idea that Mrs. B came up with this weekend was to drill a hole into the footwell, with a corresponding rubber plug like a dinghy uses to keep the self-bailers from the boat sinking. another thought is to use a slightly bigger hole, and some flexible metal ducting. run this to the drivers' side, and put a funnel on the front of it to force air in. discuss Steve B Big Black Beast^3 Lighten up everybody....NOW USA 2005: How the West Was Driven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTD Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 Sandals...? G 4 Geoff Leather Good - Carbon Fibre Bad (Apart from tax disc holders!) - Cranks W *mad*RSE 619 GTD here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 I've seen a hole in the bulkhead next to the fuse box , with a B&Q shutter vent , then a length of 3" ducting down to the front of the engine bay near the radiator . Also insulating the footwell with reflective matting helps a lot down the transmission tunnel . If you remove the carpets the heat will increase , and your thigh will burn on the tranny tunnel after a fewhours . If you simply remove the pedal box cover you get a lot of dust being blown up through the footwell into your eyes , been there tried that ☹️ Lotus 7 Club Speed Champion 2003 South Wales Area Organiser C7 TOPhere Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve-B Posted July 29, 2004 Author Share Posted July 29, 2004 interesting news dave, i could get some airfilter material and tape over pedal box. wonder where tey got the ducting stuff Steve B Big Black Beast^3 Lighten up everybody....NOW USA 2005: How the West Was Driven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiff Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 Never tried it but (for us wimps with heaters) how about putting on the heater fan to max with the heater itself turned off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 The ducting is available from most motorsport factors , its known as "donkey dick" . Blanking off the hot water supply to the heater and then turning onto full power sounds a good idea . Lotus 7 Club Speed Champion 2003 South Wales Area Organiser C7 TOPhere Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Biddle Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 Steve, I have fitted stainless steel vents to my footwells, and they work very well. They are available from boat suppliers and come with a closable vent that can be fitted inside. I can mail a picture if you like. Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Mupferit Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 I tried isolating the water supply and turing on the fan. Oddly enough, it still blows hot air into the footwells which I eventually put down to the heat soak in the engine bay warming the air as it comes in. This year, I found it was more effective to simply block the air inlet completely at the top of the heater. The footwell is still warm but your feet aren't being roasted by hot air assisting the process ❗ I also insulated the passenger footwell which has made a big difference. Brent Zetec 209 Reassuringly Expensive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony C Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 You might want to consider what would happen to your tootsies in the event of an engine compartment fire if you reduce the firewall properties by merely making holes in them BRG Brooklands SV 😬 It seems that perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to take away. (Antoine de Saint-Exupery) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David M Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 You could always clad the inside of the footwells with the material plumbers use to protect walls etc. when welding pipes together....... 😬 😬 David GF04RCE is built running and on the road.... every day is a Caterham day!!!! He heee!!... pictures here , I am as excited as an excited thing..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve-B Posted July 29, 2004 Author Share Posted July 29, 2004 mike B i would very much like to see a set of piccies for that modification. Steve B Big Black Beast^3 Lighten up everybody....NOW USA 2005: How the West Was Driven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slomove Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 I have diligently sealed all gaps and crevices to the engine compartment, including complete removal and blanking off the heater. But the remaining small openings (around the steering column and pedal box) still inject noticable jets of hot air into the footwell. And of course the heat transfer through the ali sheets.... In my LHD car I am sitting of course right behind the exhaust and California summer makes it no easier. A big louver in the floor of the footwell helps a lot and is invisible (if you don't crawl under the car) but I am not satisfied yet. I think I try some additional insulation or a duct next Gert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe 90 Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 Steve, Opening up the footwell by removing the pedal box cover blasts loads of hot air in to the footwell, so you really want more insulation. The gearbox also generates significant heat, which is quite noticeable on mine as the tunnel is bare ali. I was wondering if anyone has tried blowing air down the tunnel to cure this? SEP field working, not spotted in 102,000 miles. Some photos on webshots, updated 10 June Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bricol Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 I think the tunnel heat is actually mainly from the hot air blowing past the hot engine assy and warming the tunnel sides rather than heat generated from the box. Also with the pedalbox top removed, wouldn't heat from the engine bay have an easier route into the foorwell? If anyone else's heater blower is as good as mine, you won't notice the air movement! I found on last years tour of Europe that I didn't especially notice footwell heat - it was the upper half that cooked - solved it for Debs in the passenger seat with 8" fan strapped to the two centre tonneau poppers and brace ddown to the dash blew air around nicely - a simple BnQ garden spray bottle gave a nice mist of water into the fan blades - the evaporating water mist off your skin giving an even nicer cooling effect. A even greater need was drinking water - even water carried for a short distance warmed up quickly - I've invested in a Camel-bak for any future hot trips - fill with water and ice - as it's insulated, sticking behind a seat might shield it from the worst of the sun and keep it cooler for longer. Having survived several months of Texas/Ca heat in air-conditioned tin-tops pick-ups over the last year and a bit, I'm not too sure of the effect of driving a Caterham during the main part of the day over there would do to me - even a Hertz Focus would probably seem like heaven if it had air-con and worth swopping for! It gets really uncomfortably tiringly hot and saps energy very quickly. Bri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiF Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 DEVELOPMENT IN PROGRESS We have been working on solving this problem for my own car by utilising the products and contacts I have: Firstly several members have recommended Cool Tape or similar BUT it is VERY expensive!!!!! We have resourced a thicker better material used by a French car manufacture at half the price (special price through my father in law who knows the supplier) but the roll is large and I would need to get enough interest to cover the cost of at least half a roll. That would be 20m2 of material to be sold at £30 m2!!!!!!! It is self adhesive and is 1.5mt wide. Looking at DT prices similar material is £70 to £120 per m2. Next we have found that the air is trapped in the tunnel where the knee goes. We are making a set of fan aided scoops that channel the hot air through the arm rest and out the back. These fit under the tunnel in front of the gear stick. From our tests in sunny France it certainly brings the temperature down while driving. Slightly less when in traffic but takes that real burn off your skin. Hope you don't mind the posting, not meant as an advert but we are trying to help others when CC have not Richard in France Flying fast in my very bright yellow 226bhp Duratec 7, with internal kevlar/carbon panels and pushrod suspension 😬 😬 😬.for pictures of 7 and carbon Edited by - richard in france on 29 Jul 2004 21:03:12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve-B Posted July 30, 2004 Author Share Posted July 30, 2004 talking to others at The Phoenix meeting last night, came up with another option, much cheaper / safer than any other we'd come up with. get 2X1.5M lengths of "Donkey Dick" get 2X funnels heat funnels with hairdryer to semi-flatten them tape onto "Donkey Dick" carefully bend 180 degree into it, wrap around hood bag, to place at centre of car route "Donkey Dick" under / beside seat to front of seat et Violla, forces air into footwell, portable, no permanent modifications to car. cost = 5 squid discuss PS> RIF, i appreciate your posting, but feel it was going close to an advert and have not replied to it. Steve B Big Black Beast^3 Lighten up everybody....NOW USA 2005: How the West Was Driven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe 90 Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 With a bare ali tunnel you can feel the heat around the gearbox. Further back where you just have the prop shaft, it's much cooler. I reckon that during brisk road use, the gearbox will be dissipating about 2-3kW, and it has to go somewhere. SEP field working, not spotted in 102,000 miles. Some photos on webshots, updated 10 June Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe 90 Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 Double post, finger trouble Edited by - Oliver Sedlacek on 30 Jul 2004 15:02:58 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve-B Posted July 30, 2004 Author Share Posted July 30, 2004 that's the challenge Oliver, finding the "cool" spot. choices are: nosecone in front of windscreen (if equipped) near back top of car that seems to be narrowing down locations. note this doesn't have to be a permanent modification, but should be suitable that all participants NON-US can do for the week'ish that we'll be in 25-30C for parts of the day Steve B Big Black Beast^3 Lighten up everybody....NOW USA 2005: How the West Was Driven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiF Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 Sorry Steve, was genuinly trying to help. The insulation material was an offer via my Father in Law not as our business although we want some, so looking at selling at trade purchase price per m2 to help us all. Just think Demon Thieves is a rip off that too many members are forced to go to. It was a one off offer that is a shame not to take. Looks like DT will get fatter on me and other members then!!!! Again sorry but thought the piping air from the place our lengthy research has found to be the problem would give others, ways of solving their hot tunnel walls. I know ours will be too expensive for most but we don't mind sharing the principles. Our research has been done to basically keep the wife quiet as she moans everytime she goes out in my car ☹️ ☹️ ☹️ Richard in France Flying fast in my very bright yellow 226bhp Duratec 7, with internal kevlar/carbon panels and pushrod suspension 😬 😬 😬.for pictures of 7 and carbon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
normalbloke.29 Posted July 31, 2004 Share Posted July 31, 2004 I have been thinking about this problem too, as last year it got pretty hot with a turbo stuffed under there too.I plan to add a pair of the carbon nose blisters this winter and use one to duct air to the footwell, and another to bring more air to the filter. Time will tell if it's any good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe 90 Posted July 31, 2004 Share Posted July 31, 2004 Demon Tweeks do at least 15 different types of thermal insulation, ranging between £5 per square foot to £120 per square foot . I used the cheapest stuff and siliconed it down, which is cheaper than the self adhesive stuff. SEP field working, not spotted in 102,000 miles. Some photos on webshots, updated 10 June Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve-B Posted July 31, 2004 Author Share Posted July 31, 2004 thanks for showing me what you've done Oliver at Penn7s today. i've now got several more ideas to factor in and test over the next year 😬 Steve B Big Black Beast^3 Lighten up everybody....NOW USA 2005: How the West Was Driven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
db Posted July 31, 2004 Share Posted July 31, 2004 Ice cubes in the undies? My ... Preciousss! Member #109** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve-B Posted July 31, 2004 Author Share Posted July 31, 2004 thanks RIF for clarification on your post, i know it was intended in the spirit of L7CGB way i've looked at those blister thingies, but would invert them inside the SV Nose cone as another possible way to go. how would you proposal seal them in winter though 🤔 i think having just into/out of central london at 1830 tonight that the reflecting panels are needed too Steve B Big Black Beast^3 Lighten up everybody....NOW USA 2005: How the West Was Driven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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