Wing Window NACA Ducts (optional component)

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Major System Category: Body (Shell)
Task: Rough installation of NACA Wing Vents
Parts: NACA Wing Vents Carbon Fiber
Prerequisite Tasks: Install the rear cockpit window
Additional Costs: $1500
Time Requirement: 4 hour
Date Started: November 1, 2014

Date Completed:  January 11, 2015

This is one of those tasks that is dependent on the bank account. However, in late June the time arrived when I had enough money scraped together and put in my order for the NACA Wing Vents. These are available in either fiber glass (boring) or carbon fiber (yes!) These vents replace the rear quarter windows. Unless you have an extraordinarily flexible neck, you were never going to be able to see out of these windows anyway.

Carbon fiber Naca vent.

These provide  functional cold air intake. The intake off the manifold is a double "U" shaped duct that runs the length of the engine and can be position directly next to these entry ducts.

The NACA vent overlays this window. This does add an extra step, because now you have to account for the interior.

I chose carbon fiber to match the carbon fiber wing and to tie the carbon fiber to the interior accents. To get these fitted to the body shell is basic grunt work. The tools I used were a reciprocating saw, a die grinder and a cutting wheel.

This is a rough measurement of the cut. Becareful, otherwise, you'll have to do some repair work.

The cut needs to be tear drop shaped, because the shape of the duct dropping into the vehicle behind the rear fire wall . 

You can see how the underside of the vent slopes at an angle. This is why you need to make a tear drop shape cut.

Note: There are a number of things that you need to consider:

1. The location of the rear fire wall. Obviously the duct cannot extend into the roll bar. Provided everything is mounted properly between the body shell and chassis, this should be okay. But you will be cutting opening very close to this margin.
2. The fuel cap opening may touch the bottom of the NACA duct piece. I anticipate I will have to make an accommodation for this when I get there.



This is a recent photo where I was working on door fitment. I had to remove material from the rear pillar to get this right. The gaps in this photo are not finalized.

3. The duct piece has a lip that anchors against the rear door jamb. This will require additional sanding to remove material so the door can close.

This is the passenger side duct. You can see where there is some interference with the fuel cap.