New Product: Warm Air Diversion- radiator shroud and fan combo

[hibshman25]

Just thought I'd share some info on a product I have been working on and testing. With some insight from stingray I have developed block off plate which bolts to the radiator shroud in place of the factory fan. Attached to the block off plate is ductwork which houses a small fan which discharges warm air from radiator to muffler rather than down into the air box inlet.

I have done extensive testing with the viper radiator installed inline on a 12 vector to compare my setup to the cooling efficiency of the vector/apex fan and radiator set up. The results were positive. The fan may appear undersized, but it outperforms the yamaha radiator and fan found on the vector and apex.

This product will eliminate hot air from being forced into the air box intake and is a safer alternative to doing a radiator delete.

Some claim the warm air being forced into the air box contributes to the hot start issues. Whether it does or doesn't, a known fact is warm air hinders performance of any engine. This product would help ensure warm air is not being introduced into cold air being rammed in towards the air box through the nose of the sled.

More details to follow.

 

[hibshman25]

Here's a sneak peak!

 

[stingray719]

Just thought I'd share some info on a product I have been working on and testing. With some insight from stingray I have developed block off plate which bolts to the radiator shroud in place of the factory fan. Attached to the block off plate is ductwork which houses a small fan which discharges warm air from radiator to muffler rather than down into the air box inlet.

I have done extensive testing with the viper radiator installed inline on a 12 vector to compare my setup to the cooling efficiency of the vector/apex fan and radiator set up. The results were positive. The fan may appear undersized, but it outperforms the yamaha radiator and fan found on the vector and apex.

This product will eliminate hot air from being forced into the air box intake and is a safer alternative to doing a radiator delete.

Some claim the warm air being forced into the air box contributes to the hot start issues. Whether it does or doesn't, a known fact is warm air hinders performance of any engine. This product would help ensure warm air is not being introduced into cold air being rammed in towards the air box through the nose of the sled.

More details to follow.

Hot air diverter is something every Viper with a radiator can use.

 

[bottlerocket]

Is that a computer fan and won't it hate moisture? Interesting idea.

 

[cannondale27]

What advantage would this system have compared to the Excell system? I have seen some Viper/7000's bubble the stickers right above exhaust. Do you think this won't contribute to that?

 

[hibshman25]

Is that a computer fan and won't it hate moisture? Interesting idea.

The fan is a computer fan. I have been using it to test the whole concept. We would do more testing and research before we would release the product to ensure the fan would hold up.

Some computers live down in basements and are exposed to some dampness so I would think there is some tolerance to moisture. On the sled the fan would not be in direct exposure to snow/rain. When sled is in operation it will have hot air passing through it to keep it dry.

Many people that added apex radiators to their rx-1 sleds used computer fans to circulate air through the radiator. Results and opinions from anyone that did this?

 

[hibshman25]

What advantage would this system have compared to the Excell system? I have seen some Viper/7000's bubble the stickers right above exhaust. Do you think this won't contribute to that?

I have a good relationship with Aaron at Excell and I will not get in a debate comparing his product to mine. I am not targeting the performance market with this product. I have no intentions of doing dyno runs and making HP claims. My intentions are to just let basic physics sell the product.

Hot air rises, so the factory intake location on the bottom of the air box does make sense. What doesn't make sense is having a fan discharge hot air into the bottom of the chassis right where the airbox intake is. The product is geared towards eliminating this. By design the viper will naturally introduce cold air into the intake through the mesh in the nose of the sled, and the fan diversion will allow that to occur.

The exhaust under the hood generates alot of heat. With no air flow the muffler will radiate heat. Think of the muffler as a wood stove. If you hold your hand near a wood stove you can only tolerate it so long. Turn a fan on and blow air across your hand while holding it near a wood stove and its more bearable. The muffler is going to radiate the most heat when at slow speeds or an idle.....which is also when the fan will likely be running. By moving air across the muffler the chance of a decal bubbling from heat will decrease.

We have further testing to do to see if we need to attach a tube to the fan discharge or if the discharge air will naturally flow across the exhaust based on the fan orientation.

As with all of our products ease of installation is a high priority. The diversion kit would be a bolt on application. Basically you would swap out your fan for the diversion which would ship as one assembly. Just 4 screws. The install may not even require coolant hoses to be take off the radiator. The fan would have a plug that plugs right into the factory harness. No wire splicing.

 

[bottlerocket]

I had a fan like mounted in my trailer to move air around and had to replace after the winter. Always cold and wet so I'm not sure you can compare the two though.

 

[cannondale27]

Makes sense. Fan may actually get some of the really hot air from muffler out. I like it. Two birds with one stone. Need a tester?

 

[stingray719]

I have a good relationship with Aaron at Excell and I will not get in a debate comparing his product to mine. I am not targeting the performance market with this product. I have no intentions of doing dyno runs and making HP claims. My intentions are to just let basic physics sell the product.

Hot air rises, so the factory intake location on the bottom of the air box does make sense. What doesn't make sense is having a fan discharge hot air into the bottom of the chassis right where the airbox intake is. The product is geared towards eliminating this. By design the viper will naturally introduce cold air into the intake through the mesh in the nose of the sled, and the fan diversion will allow that to occur.

The exhaust under the hood generates alot of heat. With no air flow the muffler will radiate heat. Think of the muffler as a wood stove. If you hold your hand near a wood stove you can only tolerate it so long. Turn a fan on and blow air across your hand while holding it near a wood stove and its more bearable. The muffler is going to radiate the most heat when at slow speeds or an idle.....which is also when the fan will likely be running. By moving air across the muffler the chance of a decal bubbling from heat will decrease.

We have further testing to do to see if we need to attach a tube to the fan discharge or if the discharge air will naturally flow across the exhaust based on the fan orientation.

As with all of our products ease of installation is a high priority. The diversion kit would be a bolt on application. Basically you would swap out your fan for the diversion which would ship as one assembly. Just 4 screws. The install may not even require coolant hoses to be take off the radiator. The fan would have a plug that plugs right into the factory harness. No wire splicing.

One other important point is this will get any steam away from the air intake. This product would actually help the Excell kit not be a replacement for it.

 

[cannondale27]

Good point. Hope ducting is not needed though. To much under hood already.

 

[hibshman25]

Makes sense. Fan may actually get some of the really hot air from muffler out. I like it. Two birds with one stone. Need a tester?

My viper is still in pieces. Fixing up a wreck. May take you up on being a tester!

 

[cannondale27]

Ordered Excell kit today. Send your diverted over and I will put it on at same time.

 

[hibshman25]

Will let you know when I have one ready. Having trouble getting my prototypes made as the shops are busy and running limited hours from hunting and holidays.

 

[hibshman25]

Should have material back next week to make up about 6 kits for testing and trial fits. Will post up some pictures once they are all welded up and assembled.

Block off plate will be aluminum. Fan scoop/duct will be aluminum as well and tig welded to the block off plate.

Target sell price is going to be around $150 if we go to production with this product.

How much interest is there in this product?