[DeTomaso] Engine Inlet Temperature Test Results

[JF]

I have followed some of the threads about engine inlet air temperature 
and how to get fresh air into the Pantera's engine. My tests showed that 
I had about 40 degrees warmer temperature with my sealed air box hoses 
disconnected and the air coming into the engine from the bottom of the 
car. The inlet engine temperature is normally about ten degrees warmer 
than ambient air temperature with the hoses connected to the small inlet 
air scoops that replaced the side windows. The warmer inlet air 
temperature tells me that there is warmer air from the radiator that is 
following the boundary layer along side of the car. The car also has a 
vented front hood and this may be adding to the increased inlet air 
temperature.

My data was easy to attain because the car is fuel injected and I also 
have a stand alone outside air temperature gauge in the dash. There is a 
system monitor on the dash that shows engine inlet air temperature along 
with many other things. I have done a yarn test with the air scoops and 
with the engine off at a 25 mph coasting speed, the yarn is being forced 
into the scoops. The air box is made by Spectre and the inlet nozzles 
have been reversed to allow for more clearance when I cut and install 
the engine screen.

In my opinion, pulling air in from the bottom of the car as the factory 
did is not going to give much of a temperature reduction. There is a lot 
of air under the car that has already gone through the radiator and with 
as low as a Pantera is, I believe you will be picking up heat from the 
pavement as well.

I have had no problems with the engine starving for air with this set up 
at full throttle or any rpm. For what it is worth, the engine is a 388 
cubic inch Fontana with CHI 3V heads and matching CHI air gap intake 
manifold. The fuel injection system is a F.A.S.T XFI 2.0 speed density 
bank fired.
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   I have followed some of the threads about engine inlet air temperature
   and how to get fresh air into the Pantera's engine. My tests showed
   that I had about 40 degrees warmer temperature with my sealed air box
   hoses disconnected and the air coming into the engine from the bottom
   of the car. The inlet engine temperature is normally about ten degrees
   warmer than ambient air temperature with the hoses connected to the
   small inlet air scoops that replaced the side windows. The warmer inlet
   air temperature tells me that there is warmer air from the radiator
   that is following the boundary layer along side of the car. The car
   also has a vented front hood and this may be adding to the increased
   inlet air temperature.
   My data was easy to attain because the car is fuel injected and I also
   have a stand alone outside air temperature gauge in the dash. There is
   a system monitor on the dash that shows engine inlet air temperature
   along with many other things. I have done a yarn test with the air
   scoops and with the engine off at a 25 mph coasting speed, the yarn is
   being forced into the scoops. The air box is made by Spectre and the
   inlet nozzles have been reversed to allow for more clearance when I cut
   and install the engine screen.
   In my opinion, pulling air in from the bottom of the car as the factory
   did is not going to give much of a temperature reduction. There is a
   lot of air under the car that has already gone through the radiator and
   with as low as a Pantera is, I believe you will be picking up heat from
   the pavement as well.

   I have had no problems with the engine starving for air with this set
   up at full throttle or any rpm. For what it is worth, the engine is a
   388 cubic inch Fontana with CHI 3V heads and matching CHI air gap
   intake manifold. The fuel injection system is a F.A.S.T XFI 2.0 speed
   density bank fired.