Author Topic: What is the best and approved way to get air to the driver in a CGALT  (Read 9754 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline wheelrdealer

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1255
  • D/CBGALT
    • WHEELRDEALER RACING
I am enjoying my winter rebuild or as I like to say, "Rattle Can Restoration." 

I have a question that I am sure has been asked but I cannto find the answer. What is the best way to get fresh air to the dirve that is approved by SCTA? The car orinally had a 1 1/2" piece of muffler pipe bent to follow the wheel well.  It opened just behind the turn signal light and was welded to a plate the entered where the original wiring harness passed thriugh the fire wall.  The pipe seemed to work other than it had no filter so a lot of salt entered into the car.

I have some NACA ducts but on my car there does not seem to be a good plase to install them. Except the front of the side window but I am not sure I want the air blowing right at me.

Also, there was no provision for the incoming air to escape, i.e. a duct out of the back of the car. Should there be an air exit duct?

Thank you for any thoughts you may have?

Bill
ECTA    Maxton D/CGALT  Record Holder 167.522
ECTA    Maxton D/CBGALT Record Holder 166.715

WWW.WHEELRDEALER2100.COM

Offline Stainless1

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 8948
  • Robert W. P. "Stainless" Steele
Re: What is the best and approved way to get air to the driver in a CGALT
« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2013, 11:28:29 PM »
Extend your duct to pick up air in front of the car, not it a spot that the wheels can throw a lot of salt dust. 
Or rig a cowl duct for fresh air, make it one you can regulate air coming in.
Most of the off the shelf plastic NACA ducts are not very effective.
When you put it in, it needs somewhere to go.
Stainless
Red Hat 228.039, 2001, 65ci, Bockscar Lakester #1000 with a little N2O

Offline fastman614

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 724
Re: What is the best and approved way to get air to the driver in a CGALT
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2013, 05:43:58 AM »
Be careful about ANYTHING entering the driver's compartment from the cowl area.... For years on our Vega, we had an opening in the cowl for the purpose of pressurizing the cockpit with air (we all know that the cowl is a high pressure point on the front of coupes and sedans) ...it did what it was supposed to do quite well....

Now.... enter some new inspectors who have the thought that a fire could come up the back of the firewall and be pressured in to the cockpit theough the open cowl.... (plauible, I guess) ....They, from that point on, required the cowl area to be sealed from/to the outside..... We now take the air through a metal tube from the front of the car....

There are other ways it can be done as well.... we considered a small hole in the roof just rearward of where the roof curves up from the windhield and about two inches toward the axial center of the car drom the driver's door that would have a tiny forward opening/facing scoop shape..... several cars have setups like this but we figured that, if a regular fire could go int othe cockpit through the cowl, a BIG fire could come up and over the roof and enter the car through there as well.... so....

Lots of ideas....
No s*** sticks to the man wearing a teflon suit.

Offline wheelrdealer

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1255
  • D/CBGALT
    • WHEELRDEALER RACING
Re: What is the best and approved way to get air to the driver in a CGALT
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2013, 07:46:28 AM »
Thanks for the ideas and insight.

A question on the tube to the front of the car... Should it open through the front bumper to front area air or just behind the front bumper? If it is in the front area air will put too much air in the car at speed? I don't want to push my windows out at speed.

 When I bought the car the tube opening was just behind the front turn signal lens.

I was thinking I will run a tube out the back from the rear firewall through the rear valence panel.

Thanks,

Bill
ECTA    Maxton D/CGALT  Record Holder 167.522
ECTA    Maxton D/CBGALT Record Holder 166.715

WWW.WHEELRDEALER2100.COM

Offline JustaRacer

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 258
Re: What is the best and approved way to get air to the driver in a CGALT
« Reply #4 on: January 15, 2013, 09:09:05 AM »
This has always puzzled me.  In 24 hours a human inhales 340 cu ft.  That's a cube 7' on a side.

I can imagine a streamliner MIGHT have a problem after 1 hour, but unlikely.  That a cube 2.4' per side.

There must be a reason for the "forward human air" rule, but I don't know what it is.  It has nothing to do with air supply.





My doctor told me to go out and kill people.
Well, sort of.  He told me to reduce the stress in my life.

Offline JustaRacer

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 258
Re: What is the best and approved way to get air to the driver in a CGALT
« Reply #5 on: January 15, 2013, 09:16:56 AM »
Thanks for the ideas and insight.

A question on the tube to the front of the car... Should it open through the front bumper to front area air or just behind the front bumper? If it is in the front area air will put too much air in the car at speed? I don't want to push my windows out at speed.

 When I bought the car the tube opening was just behind the front turn signal lens.

I was thinking I will run a tube out the back from the rear firewall through the rear valence panel.

Thanks,

Bill

You can't push your windows out with ram-air effect.  It's not enough. 

Blasphemy but my "fresh air" comes in from where the factory put it, which is the rear of the driver's compartment.  I trust GM.  I've been scolded about it, but I have enough air for over 10 hours in the cab.
My doctor told me to go out and kill people.
Well, sort of.  He told me to reduce the stress in my life.

Offline Dynoroom

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2192
Re: What is the best and approved way to get air to the driver in a CGALT
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2013, 10:11:04 AM »
Racer, the air's not for you to breath. The idea is to slightly pressurize or at least ventelate an enclosed cockpit in case of fire or smoke, so it will be retarded in it's entry to the compartment.


As to your point of view on windows not being pushed out with ram air...... Yes they can and do push out. You forget the negitive pressure on many cars on the outside of said window. The differential makes it very easy for the the window to "push out". Happens all the time.
Michael LeFevers
Kugel and LeFevers Pontiac Firebird

Without Data You're Just Another Guy With An Opinion!

Racing is just a series of "Problem Solving" events that allow you to spend money & make noise...

Offline JustaRacer

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 258
Re: What is the best and approved way to get air to the driver in a CGALT
« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2013, 11:54:29 AM »
Racer, the air's not for you to breath. The idea is to slightly pressurize or at least ventelate an enclosed cockpit in case of fire or smoke, so it will be retarded in it's entry to the compartment.


As to your point of view on windows not being pushed out with ram air...... Yes they can and do push out. You forget the negitive pressure on many cars on the outside of said window. The differential makes it very easy for the the window to "push out". Happens all the time.

Thanks.

Somebody can check my math, but I'm getting less than 1 PSI at 200mph in ideal conditions for ram air.  If there is a exit path, that drops radically.

High speed air + flammable liquid raises the temperature of the flame.  Static air keep the temps down.  ie - your firesuit will survive longer if there is intrusion.  Kind of a mixed blessing.  If the ramair does not keep fire out, the fire will be far more intense.

My doctor told me to go out and kill people.
Well, sort of.  He told me to reduce the stress in my life.

Offline 4-barrel Mike

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3173
  • Any fool can drive a V8
Re: What is the best and approved way to get air to the driver in a CGALT
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2013, 12:12:49 PM »
Racer, the air's not for you to breath. The idea is to slightly pressurize or at least ventelate an enclosed cockpit in case of fire or smoke, so it will be retarded in it's entry to the compartment.


??? Am I misreading? 

3.E DRIVER'S COMPARTMENT....All enclosed driver compartments shall be equipped with a forward-pointing fresh air intake or breathing system directed to the driver and adequate venting to carry away fumes.

Mike
Mike Kelly - PROUD owner of the V4F that powered the #1931 VGC to a 82.803 mph record in 2008!

Offline Dynoroom

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2192
Re: What is the best and approved way to get air to the driver in a CGALT
« Reply #9 on: January 15, 2013, 01:25:15 PM »
Mike, I read or. Probally will be changed to "and" next year now....

You can bet that in tech they will advise you to pressureize your cockpit, especially at El Mirage.
Michael LeFevers
Kugel and LeFevers Pontiac Firebird

Without Data You're Just Another Guy With An Opinion!

Racing is just a series of "Problem Solving" events that allow you to spend money & make noise...

Offline Stan Back

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5879
Re: What is the best and approved way to get air to the driver in a CGALT
« Reply #10 on: January 15, 2013, 02:26:13 PM »
". . . pressurize your cockpit, especially at El Mirage."

And experience (bad) has shown that that includes Street Roadsters with windshields.

Stan
Past (Only) Member of the San Berdoo Roadsters -- "California's Most-Exclusive Roadster Club" -- 19 Years of Bonneville and/or El Mirage Street Roadster Records

Offline 4-barrel Mike

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3173
  • Any fool can drive a V8
Re: What is the best and approved way to get air to the driver in a CGALT
« Reply #11 on: January 15, 2013, 03:19:19 PM »
Thanks, Mike!

I wonder how one would test for "adequate venting to carry away fumes"  :mrgreen:

Mike
Mike Kelly - PROUD owner of the V4F that powered the #1931 VGC to a 82.803 mph record in 2008!

Offline wheelrdealer

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1255
  • D/CBGALT
    • WHEELRDEALER RACING
Re: What is the best and approved way to get air to the driver in a CGALT
« Reply #12 on: January 17, 2013, 06:59:53 AM »
Ok, adding some positive pressure to the driver's compartment makes sense. I did not consider that. In that case I will replace what I had.

Thanks for your thoughts,

Bill
ECTA    Maxton D/CGALT  Record Holder 167.522
ECTA    Maxton D/CBGALT Record Holder 166.715

WWW.WHEELRDEALER2100.COM

Offline dw230

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3165
Re: What is the best and approved way to get air to the driver in a CGALT
« Reply #13 on: January 17, 2013, 11:32:00 AM »
"I wonder how one would test for "adequate venting to carry away fumes"

Thats why there is a space for a test dummy - er - alternate driver on the entry form.

DW
White Goose Bar - Where LSR is a lifestyle
Alcohol - because no good story starts with a salad.

Don't be Karen, be Beth

Offline JustaRacer

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 258
Re: What is the best and approved way to get air to the driver in a CGALT
« Reply #14 on: January 17, 2013, 11:42:59 AM »
It would probably be best to keep a canary in a cage inside your car.  It's worked for hundreds of years.
My doctor told me to go out and kill people.
Well, sort of.  He told me to reduce the stress in my life.