Ed Maher

Hey all, thought i'd share this and get some feedback on my latest hair brain scheme.

Sonn enough i plan on pullling my plenum and porting /port matching till i get sick of porting. Anyyhow, while i have it out, i was thinking, why not make my own airfoil. Here's my plan.

You need to still allow for the IAC and PCV breather holes. So, you stick tubes in there to keep 'em open. Youi then proceed to fill that cavity in with JB weld, or any eposy putty of your choice (obviously, cleaning well beforehand will go along way.) You can even mold it to make that nice airfoil shape. When done, pull the tubes out.
For a few $$ as opposed to $50 you've acomplished the same thing.
...ed

evilho7810

I agree I thought about making my own out of scrap aluminum from my job. Just gring it smooth and drill holes for the IAC and PCV.

surfer02000

SLP is selling air foils for $26.75

406TPI

iTrader: (1)

I made my own airfoil about 3 years ago. The first one I made, I used a high temp epoxy resin(basically JB weld) that worked fairly well. The only thing I didn't like was the idea of having a chunk break off and getting sucked into the motor. So I decided to make one out of a piece of billet aluminum instead. The hardest part of making one out of aluminum is matching the backside curvature of the airfoil to the curvature of the TB. It took alot of test fitting and hand filing to get it to fit right. All in all, I probably spent WAY more time making the piece than if I would of picked up the phone and coughed up the $50-60 for one

87Z-ya

iTrader: (1)

Sounds kinda hairbrained to me. Would make neat designs out of pistons, valves,etc when gets loose and sucked out?

steve8586iroc

Ed, I've been running a home made air foil for about four years in my 86 IROC . I made it very simular to the way you described. I used two cans the same dia. of the throttle bores and then applied the epoxy putty to the tb. After it had set up I then cut the excess off and finished forming the areas where the two bores were to converge,(made it look like a store bought one),then painted it. Oh yeh, I did put the holes in it too. It's worked great ever since I put it in and I guess I've got maybe a couple of dollars and as many hours in it.

Steve



[This message has been edited by steve8586iroc (edited February 21, 2001).]

Ed Maher

Unless i get really bored and want to waste money, i am not buying an airfoil. IMO they are a complete waste of money, i have never heard of a NA car that saw any legitimate repeatable gain from an airfoil.
However, for $3 worth of epoxy putty, it may be worth it. I see what you're saying about it getting sucked out and into the throttle bores, but it seems unlikely. As long as it was made os one piece, i don't think it will randomly decide to break apart and go through the throttle plates. And then it would still have to tumble in such a fashion as to make it into a runner hole.
A lot of ifs in there, and a dangerous amount ot *thinking* but i can't really figure out the likelihood of it happeneing without having it sitting in front of me and looking it over.
I'd still like to hear any other experiences/ideas. Nothing is going to be happoening with this for a while anyway.
...ed

406TPI

iTrader: (1)

Ed,

Think of all the vibration that the epoxy is going to be subjected to not to mention heat cycles. Also, epoxy DOES age and get brittle. $3 worth of epoxy taking out a valve or piston is a big gamble if you ask me. Just a thought

steve8586iroc

Ed, like I said in my reply, I've been runnig mine for four years without a problem. If you can use epoxy putty to rethread a stripped bolt hole( although I wouldn't use it in a high torque situation)on an engine block or make a shifter gate on a Mercury Capi I once had and never had any trouble out of, I don't think you would either. When mixed properly this stuff is virtualy indestructable. I have checked the airfoil many times to see if it has started to brake down or flake off but it is still as hard as the day I put it in.

[This message has been edited by steve8586iroc (edited February 22, 2001).]

PONTIMANIAC 90

I got mine in a junk yard. there is one in my area where you go and take whatever you want of any car that's there.Than you bring it before the "guy" and you work out a deal(their policy).
Anything that fits in my pocket is free(my policy, regarding their policy).


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1990 Formula
Factory:TPI-305/Dual Cat/5 Speed,3.42 rear, Dealer:Aluminum Drive Shaft(230hp)
Mods:SLP air foil,K&N Filter, Accel:wires,coil cap,rotor.Hypertech Thermomaster chip,Stat,Fan switch,TES headers,Flowmaster 3" Cat-back exhaust,TB coolant bypass, Centerforce clutch (going).

Guest

I made one out of a piece of aluminum a long time ago, didnt even know at the time there was such a thing being made.
I dont think the epoxy is really a big deal. If you are worried about cracks, use some screen or fiberglass mesh.

james_fearn

about junkyards:
"Anything that fits in my pocket is free(my policy, regarding their policy)."

I believe that's part of the first amendment or something.

James


[This message has been edited by james_fearn (edited February 22, 2001).]

F22Raptor

This $hit is too much fun. Let's keep this subject going please.

The ODB

Those small tubes of LDR plumbers-putty is easier to work with than JB.

I have no fear of junk like epoxy going down the engine. After desintegrating a cast piston, the crankcase pressure coughed up huge amounts of aluminum chunks as far up as my throttle body & were injested by the other good cylinders. Result.. no damage whatsoever to the other cylinders, valves, etc... nothing. This happened at the big end of a 120+mph full throttle bottle pass in 1996.
I could see a piece of steel doing a lot of damage in an engine, even forged aluminum, but not epoxy or soft aluminum.
An engine is pretty tough if you give it a chance.

just my obviously warped opinion.

The ODB

about the junkyard policy..

yeah, I think those guys factor in money for the free stuff that they know you take.

I mean, come on,
who has never taken anything from a junkyard?

RP1987GTA

hey i took two bananas and stuck um in the throttle body ...looked cool as hell DOOD and after that i could really monkey with the engine