Help Jim G or Everyone

crazyrtr53 · 06-11-2006, 08:07 PM

First of all I'm a stock kind of guy with an 04 so here goes....We all know our SSR's heat up while idle or at stop and go. The air box sits over the radiator and it would be better if it wasn't or drew air from in front of the fenders or somewhere else. But today I took the front peace of the air-box out of the truck and looked at ways to stop hot air from rising into that area. Jim G I'm sure you have seen this peace many times and I have a few question to a possible fix so I can stay with the stock box....

1. There are two slots 1/2 x 1 on the bottom of that peace. I'm sure the design was maybe for drain holes if water got into the air filter but those two holes sitting right above the radiator has got to be sucking hot air far more than draining any water. I was thinking about plugging those with the black foam.

2. When that front peace is mounted there is a 1/4" gap across the front and about a 1"x 2" hole right and left of housing at the bottom that sits above radiator sucking hot air also. I was thinking the foam would help this two.

3. Black foam the area hole right below the hood latch.

4. Run black foam also across the top front of the black cross bar above the radiator so when you put the black front cover on heat rising won't be scooped back to the air filter box..

5. Last but not least using the black foam to surround the air box to the front hood when closed like they did on the 05 & 06's.

I'm running both of Mike's air-dam & aux fan which are great products but I think with these above changes I should draw alot more cold air from in front of the truck, what do you think, yes, no, sound dumb, need everyone's 2 cents.....

Mike in AZ · 06-11-2006, 10:21 PM

I think Jim will agree that this is key in reducing heat entering the air intake system. There are other heat sources that influence the inlet air, but you have identified some that can be cured with some pretty simple solutions. How you do it is important, as we don't want it to look like you used a caulk gun......

I think you should pursue it and see how it turns out.

Regards,

Mike

AusTexKid · 06-11-2006, 10:29 PM

You might also consider putting a thin sheet of DynaMat or some other heat-reflecting material between the radiator support and air box. It should help keep the radiator from heating the air box as much.

JimGnitecki · 06-12-2006, 08:57 AM

There is one more thing to consider and address:

Some of us have noted that GM took the trouble to block some of the spaces on either side of the radiator with foam blocks. I now relaize why they did this: it was to prevent any cold air drawn in to the radiator area by the puny factory fan from going AROUND the radiator instead of THROUGH it.

I have read in a number of automobile eprformance books that when trying to optimize engine cooling, it is vital to ensure that all air inducted is forced to go trhough the radiator, by a combiantion of shrouding and perimeter barriers.

The shrouding ensures that the fan (or dual fans) draw through the ENTIRE area of the radiator.

The perimeter barriers ensure that the air does not simply take the path of least resistance, which it WILL if you don't block that path of least resistance. Air will always prefer to go AROUND a radiator than THROUGH it, because it is easier.

So, seal all around that rad too, but use a material that for sure will not burn, will not give off noxious fumes, and that will not melt into a blobby mess.

Mike in AZ: I cannot remember whether t ws your axuliary fan install or the Magnacharger install that required taking out a foam block that was somewhere beside the rad. Taking that foam block out is probably a negative step as far as perimeter sealing. We may want to add a replacement block if that removal is associated with your auxiliary fan (I can't rememebr if it was the fan or the supercharger that required the removal).

Jim G

crazyrtr53 · 06-12-2006, 02:02 PM

I'll give it a try... Have to find the foam stripping(GM doesn't sell it in bulk)and styro blocks...

JimGnitecki · 06-12-2006, 02:10 PM

crazyrtr53: Home Depot has pipe insulation foam that seems to be a close match to the GM stuff.

Be SURE to try to ignite first a sample piece of any material you intend to use, to ensure that it does not burn, does not melt, and does not give off fumes harmful to your SSR or to YOU!

It would be embarassing if you burnt your SSR . . .

Jim G

Mike in AZ · 06-12-2006, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimGnitecki

Mike in AZ: I cannot remember whether it was your axuliary fan install or the Magnacharger install that required taking out a foam block that was somewhere beside the rad. Taking that foam block out is probably a negative step as far as perimeter sealing. We may want to add a replacement block if that removal is associated with your auxiliary fan (I can't rememebr if it was the fan or the supercharger that required the removal).

Jim G

Jim,

The Aux Fan kit does not require (or even refer to) the removal of the foam barrier.

I was working on Wildesertwolf's S/C truck this weekend and discovered the absence of the foam pad on the passenger side. This was obviously done to allow for the intercooler hoses to pass from behind the radiator to in front of it. I hope everyone who installed a magnuson S/C has saved the pad. I highly recommend that as much of that pad as possible be re-installed. When I have the fascia off Hank's truck again on Saturday, I'm going to find a way to reseal the area.

Regards,

Mike

crazyrtr53 · 06-12-2006, 08:01 PM

Looks pretty good for being a half a$$ mechanic...

I used the 5/8" hot pipe insulation(thanks Jim G for suggesting it) and a little Dynamat.

The dynamat was used to seal up the two bottom holes on the front part of the air box and closed the hole up under the hood latch.
The best I could do on pipe insulation for heat rating was 220 I'm hoping it doesn't get any hotter than that around that area since there is some air space from the radiator....
Insulated the bottom front half of the air box installed and then ran a solid run around the sides and top of air box like is on the 05 & 06's..
Will see how it goes, I did hold a plastic bag in front of the area and it seemed to draw the bag in more than it did before...

I did like how the pipe insulation sealed up the 1/4"x 15" gap across the front bottom of the air box and when you put the front plastic cover over the beam and hood latch area it seals right up tight on the bottom front of the air box...

Will road test and let you know...