Twin Nostril Spare Cover

[Chris Duncan]

The more I look at my twin nostril spare cover the more I realize it's either going to need extensive modification or replacement.

Since I've already spent weeks on fiberglass mods and have weeks to go (the body had no interior panels or ducting) it would be nice to just buy something that is correct.

The existing piece was purchased from Integrity, the Florida firm that bought out KVA and sold to Sabre. I didn't buy a kit from them just a discounted collection of "used" parts. While most of the rest of the parts supplied are pretty straight and correct the spare tire cover is warped upwards in the center about 1-1/2 inches. Not only that but the inside duct surfaces do not go completely down to the back of the radiator, it's short of touching the radiator by about 6 inches. Nor does the floor of the ducts curve downward in the proper manner, it's more of a straight line which points at the middle of the radiator instead of curving down to the bottom of the radiator.

After having read this thread-

http://tinyurl.com/32ssv

-about aerodynamics I've come to realize that the airflow into and out of the radiator is critical to avoid front end lift. Specifically all the air that goes into the front opening must go out the twin nostril holes otherwise you get lift and pressurization.

To accomplish that the twin nostril spare cover must effectively seal around the back of the radiator. Having looked closely at my buddies MK V you can see the big difference between his cover and mine.

So basically there are two questions

1. Which kit manufacture makes a twin nostril spare cover that goes completely down to touch the radiator with a nice aerodynamic curve.

2. More importantly who will sell this piece individually?

The only picture I've found is on the linked thread but it's of a single opening with a splitter. You have to imagine this duct depth and curve but with twin nostrils. I had to lighten it in photo shop to see the bottom of the duct, I can email it if necessary.

 

Hi Kalun

The other problem that you may have is that the KVA nostril surround is larger than the GTD and CAV it is also not as curved, In other words you will have to get a modified KVA nostril to get it to fit.
I have just modified a GTD twin scoop nostril to allow more air flow, I will post photos on its return from the paint shop
Regards
Chris.

 

[Chris Duncan]

Chris,

I did borrow my buddy's MK V spare cover, it fits close enough that I can do some minor work on the edges to make it perfect. So whatever is the same as a MK V will work also.

 

[Peter Delaney]

DRB (Gt40 Australia) make a really nice "deep nostril" option - it is supplied as 2 nostril intakes, a centre joining piece, & a full top panel piece. I am sure that Peter Ransom would be happy to supply all the underneath bits so that you can graft them under your top panel. They are all supplied oversize & fairly flexible, so cutting down & joining is mostly all that is needed.

From anything more than 5ft away, it looks just like a normal twin-nostril setup, but takes air up from the whole of the radiator rear surface area. Mine has worked really well - after hours under load on the dyno, it just sits at 95degC !

Kind Regards,

Peter D.

 

[Peter Delaney]

Hopefully, a pic of the GT40 Australia "Deep Nostil" setup follows :

 

[Chris Duncan]

Apparently there's more to this story than meets the eye. Talking to the local fiberglass expert he says the difference between the KVA piece and the Mark V is that the KVA is a one piece mold and the Mark V is a two piece. That sort of explains it as a cost/return issue.

I'm probably going to settle with modifying the KVA, which is after all perfectly fine for street use, just having plans for running on the salt flats requires something with different aerodynamics.