just wondering if anyone has any experience with this:

i have a 92 civic hatch thats in the process of being built up for track use, and right now it does not have the front splash shield that runs from the bottom of the front bumper to just in front of the engine. part number 7 in the illustration:



does anyone know what (if any) benefits not having this has for cooling, as compared to possible negative effects of producing drag or front end lift that not having it woud create?

 

I would not worry about this part. It's just another thing to get ripped off when you go off track!

 

I would leave it on. It helps draw air thru the radiator.

Do you have a full width radiator (or a dual core 1/2 width)?
If you have the 1/2 width unit make sure that you block off the opening where the a/c sits (there is a Honda piece for it).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Willard &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would leave it on. It helps draw air thru the radiator.
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He said he does not have that piece.

I don't think it's something he should go out and find.

 

you can consider recreating the design when you build a front splitter.

but i think it would be useful in getting the most out of your radiator. its hard to tell always though what would be beneficial aerodynamically without explicit testing. best rule of thumb, is do what the fast guys do...

 

Underpanels like this make a huge difference of reducing aerodyanmic lift and helping air go through the radiator. Air will always take the path of least resistance, so by leaving that out, you're effectively letting the airflow that goes through your radiator opening in your bumper go down around the core rather than through it. This changing of the airflow also creates lift.


My 240SX has the bumper basically do this, but I had to trim it to put in my FMIC. Water temps rose 15 degrees F on the track(and I had to leave my fans on, where before I could turn them off and the temp would stay the same), as well as my oil temp rising since I wasn't getting any airflow to my aluminum oil pan(it all tends to go down under the car). Front end felt a little floaty, even with some canards I added to the car compared to before.

I say get it and put it on, or fab up something that does basically the same thing. The factory wouldn't have bothered putting it on if it didn't do anything cooling wise.

 

Mine looks very nice sitting in my garage.

I've run without that piece since the first time I replaced the timing belt. No overheating experienced, even running at Sebring or Road Atlanta in July.

I did, however, ziptie the floppy back of the bumper cover to the frame.

 

I did what some one else suggested and recreated it, and improved upon it.



to see the whole process check this out https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1161170


now about the block off plate, another freind of mine had the civic with the 1/2 core radiator and the block off plate, he was in some extreme situations experance high water temps. Which he never experanced befor with out the block off plate. So he took it out and figured that the air traveling threw that side was coming in contact with the actuall motor it self and playing some part in keeping it cool.

But this is not the best solution for airo so he opted for a full length radiator

 

I know this is for an integra but it might give you an idea. http://collettimotorsports.com/brake_duct_kit.html

 

it would be ideal to get a full width 2 rows rad. the engine tends to overheat at racing situation. if u cant buy the rad block half of the opening in front so all air will pass thru the rad and buy the parts that goes beneath the bumper.

 

i had a 92 Civic HB and ran w and w/o the cover plate. With no cover plate I had overheating at high speeds. The engine was a B18C1.

There might be some benefit in covering up that side of the inlet in your bumper cover in addition to using the plate, but i dont think youd notice much in your lap times.

 

I've run without that engine "splash shield" on my Integra and I feel more lift in high speed turns. Not a lot, but it's noticable to me. I really need to get it back in there or replicate it's function with some sheet metal...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Def &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
My 240SX has the bumper basically do this, but I had to trim it to put in my FMIC. Water temps rose 15 degrees F on the track(and I had to leave my fans on, where before I could turn them off and the temp would stay the same), as well as my oil temp rising since I wasn't getting any airflow to my aluminum oil pan(it all tends to go down under the car). Front end felt a little floaty, even with some canards I added to the car compared to before.
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The rise in temps is most likely the FMIC restricting and heating airflow to the radiator. Myself and several other turbocharged road racers have had significant cooling issues as a result of a FMIC. More airflow through the radiator is the only solution. I added an upper vent to the front bumper and it works, but my competition swears by vented hoods, so I'll be giving that a try as well...