how do birds breathe?
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Car: 1988 Firebird
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700r4
how do birds breathe?
was looking at my firebird yesterday parked next to my durango when a question popped into my mind, how do firebirds breathe? I saw this big nose that will suck my shirt into it if I walk in front of it on my durango
and this on the firebird
and i was thinking most cars i know of have some sort of open grill to suck air through, challenger, charger, mustang, heck even a corolla has somewhat of a grill for air to flow through to get through to radiator. I just dont see how air gets into our birds.
and this on the firebird
and i was thinking most cars i know of have some sort of open grill to suck air through, challenger, charger, mustang, heck even a corolla has somewhat of a grill for air to flow through to get through to radiator. I just dont see how air gets into our birds.
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Car: 1991 firebird GTA
Engine: 305 tpi
Transmission: 5spd
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
Re: how do birds breathe?
I honestly think it was poor design. Maybe it gets some air from the air dam, but I doubt it's much. Same goes for the camaros. This is why an open element is a big upgrade from stock. Breathing in a lot of hot air is better than breathing in little to no air that might be a bit cooler.
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Car: '86 Bird, 96 ImpalaSS, 98 C1500XCab
Engine: LG4, LT1, L31
Transmission: 700R4, 4L60E, 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.73 Tors, 4.88 spool, 3.73 Eaton
Re: how do birds breathe?
The nose of the car and the AIR DAM create a high pressure area underneath the front bumper/valence that forces air up into the cavity in front of the radiator. Believe me, it gets all the air it needs at anything above 30 mph (below that your fan should take care of it).
This is why it's critical to maintain the air dam as the factory installed it.
This is why it's critical to maintain the air dam as the factory installed it.
#5
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Re: how do birds breathe?
These cars and the 4th gens are bottom feeders they draw air described by86LG.
Having no grille reduces drag; it improves aerodynamics, boosts fuel economy etc. The 3rd gen firebird was one of
GMs most aerodynamic mass produced models ever made.
Why do think the OEMs are now putting shutters in the grilles of their cars & trucks which close when at speed?
Having no grille reduces drag; it improves aerodynamics, boosts fuel economy etc. The 3rd gen firebird was one of
GMs most aerodynamic mass produced models ever made.
Why do think the OEMs are now putting shutters in the grilles of their cars & trucks which close when at speed?
Last edited by FRMULA88; 01-21-2015 at 07:58 AM.
#6
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Re: how do birds breathe?
The nose of the car and the AIR DAM create a high pressure area underneath the front bumper/valence that forces air up into the cavity in front of the radiator. Believe me, it gets all the air it needs at anything above 30 mph (below that your fan should take care of it).
This is why it's critical to maintain the air dam as the factory installed it.
This is why it's critical to maintain the air dam as the factory installed it.
Under 30 your fan must work or your car will over heat. Over 30mph and you must have an intact air dam or your car will overheat.
#7
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Re: how do birds breathe?
The airdam also has another side.
As it creates a high pressure area in front of it and forces the air up into the radiator, there is a low pressure area directly behind it, allowing the hot air to escape downward and leave the engine bay.
I have no idea if and how much the outlets on the hood or in the fenders do for heat extraction, though, which the Firebird doesn't even have.
As it creates a high pressure area in front of it and forces the air up into the radiator, there is a low pressure area directly behind it, allowing the hot air to escape downward and leave the engine bay.
I have no idea if and how much the outlets on the hood or in the fenders do for heat extraction, though, which the Firebird doesn't even have.
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#8
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Re: how do birds breathe?
The hood and fender vents on 3rd gen Trans Ams were just for show. The air dam under the radiator support (also called the chin spoiler) is the critical piece. If yours is missing or mangled, buy a new one. Install it using ALL THE FACTORY BOLT HOLES. You don't want it flopping around in the breeze.
The difference between a mangled/worn/bent-back OEM unit scraped against a million parking curbs, hanging on by its fingernails and a fresh/straight/rigid new one mounted properly can be pretty dramatic.
The difference between a mangled/worn/bent-back OEM unit scraped against a million parking curbs, hanging on by its fingernails and a fresh/straight/rigid new one mounted properly can be pretty dramatic.
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