What we've found during our time attack events is the stock ST cooling system is woefully inadequate. And I dont use that term lightly. Even several successive runs on the dyno will get the water temps pegged over 210. Our last event, the ambient was mid 80s and by lap 3 the ST broke 225 and never came down until idling in the pits. Drafting brought on the heat in under 2 laps and clean air didnt do much better to get it back down.
Two big issues exist. One, cheap and easy to remedy. The other will take some engineering and investment. The ST radiator is shrouded by a single fan on the right and flaps on the left. A vast majority of the air is trapped behind the shroud. We are going to switch to a 22amp, 265 watt, dual speed single high output (2100 cfm) derale 14" fan and nix the shroud. We'll incorporate the ford fan controller. The ONLY REASON to run a shroud is so that at speeds less than 15mph, the fan cools the entire radiator, not just the space it falls behind. With the derale, running without a shroud shouldnt be a problem.
Second is the radiator. Its small, its thin and its just not supportive of the higher engine loads we are asking of the 1.6. 1" thick and 16" of core height. The problem with the radiator is it incorporates upper and lower plastic brackets that support the condenser. The brackets must flex to lock in the condenser which makes it harder to design a true aluminum radiator. Not saying it cant be done, just labor intensive. The radiator also has a bleed valve. We are working with Griffin to come up with a racing radiator, with twice the capacity, possibly with an integrated oil cooler. This would allow for a remote oil filter design.
Next race is father's day weekend and we'll have the new radiator and fan installed for testing.
Two big issues exist. One, cheap and easy to remedy. The other will take some engineering and investment. The ST radiator is shrouded by a single fan on the right and flaps on the left. A vast majority of the air is trapped behind the shroud. We are going to switch to a 22amp, 265 watt, dual speed single high output (2100 cfm) derale 14" fan and nix the shroud. We'll incorporate the ford fan controller. The ONLY REASON to run a shroud is so that at speeds less than 15mph, the fan cools the entire radiator, not just the space it falls behind. With the derale, running without a shroud shouldnt be a problem.
Second is the radiator. Its small, its thin and its just not supportive of the higher engine loads we are asking of the 1.6. 1" thick and 16" of core height. The problem with the radiator is it incorporates upper and lower plastic brackets that support the condenser. The brackets must flex to lock in the condenser which makes it harder to design a true aluminum radiator. Not saying it cant be done, just labor intensive. The radiator also has a bleed valve. We are working with Griffin to come up with a racing radiator, with twice the capacity, possibly with an integrated oil cooler. This would allow for a remote oil filter design.
Next race is father's day weekend and we'll have the new radiator and fan installed for testing.
![[twothumb]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_twothumbs.gif "Two Thumbs [twothumb]"){kind=icon}
![[raceflag]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_race.gif "Race Flag [raceflag]"){kind=icon}
