Cooling tunnel - Anyone done it? Or any pictures

Hey guys,
Finally getting back to working on my ol'girl. (been battling loss of vision in one eye.)
As I had mentioned many moons ago, I put a 292 six in her and want to be sure I can cool it. I have a new aluminum radiator and I'm going to use 2 - 10" fans, catty-corner to each other,  to cool it with a thermostat set at 180*, that will stay on to cool it down after I shut it off.
I'm still concerned it might not breathe well enough in there and thought I would go ahead and fab up a cooling tunnel while I'm at it. I was wondering if anyone had any pix of this job or if anyone had any suggestions so I don't have to re-engineer the mousetrap.
I was thinking of just using a hole saw and cutting holes in the front floor board and and then in front of the dog house. I have stainless screen I can cower the holes with so I don't get any "mouse house's". Then just fab up the tunnel to connect the two.
It seems like a win/win as I can fab up a nice top on it and use it for beverage holders, etc. Otherwise, that just seems like wasted space up there.
Any ideas or suggestions???
Thanks,
 Chaz

Thank you Dadio!
Wow, that is nothing like I had imagined. I was thinking of something about 10'' tall and about half as wide as the dog house. I was going to use the top for a drink holder and clutter spot . I guess I should rethink this if that is all the bigger it needs to be.
My radiator does extend down a little more than stock too.
Thank you for the pix!!!!!!!! I appreciate your time and help!
Chaz

When I did my Van I built a tunnel cutting the front floor and the doghouse.


I left the flat part of the floor for support and the brake line is attached to it. I thought it might help to add a small fan or something else to. The tunnel is screwed to the floor and the doghouse hole fits over it with some weather seal foam around the edges so I can pull the doghouse by itself if needed.
With some material and some carpet it came out nice and works well.

1st I made one from cardboard, then bent some thin aluminum.



I found a couple cheap cup holders at pep boys attached on each side of the latch and the tunnel is a great place to put things within reach.
This is the view through the grill.

As you can see it gets plenty of air to the radiator. I have a mildly built smallblock that runs between 170-200 steady using just the fan attached to the water pump.

When I cut the doghouse I left room for the latch and parking brake.

Outstanding! That is what I had more in mind. I figure that space could be better utilized as some sort of console.
What kind of carpet did you use to form to the contours of the lid?? (Ozite?) Nice looking job!!!!!!!!!!!
I have to flip the top around to accommodate the radiator but I like the nice carpet job!
Thanks!!
Chaz

The material I used is the same type most places use on speaker boxes, I bought it at U.F.O. (upholstery fabric outlet) It's fairly cheap and stretches real easy. Spray glue the material and the metal, stick stretch and trim.
I also used it on the dash and the inner window frames.

Cool, I'll look into it! Thank you!!

Guys what kind of temp drops are you getting with the cooling tunnels?
Is the purpose to lower engine temps or cabin temps?

Russ I really like your upholstery work.

Thanks,

Tom

I am doing it to keep the engine cool but, you may have a point there. It might keep the cabin temp down too. (???)

Just the tunnel by itself can help cool things but it really isn't the cure-all. Need to make sure the air on the back of the rad gets out of the way also.

Wow Digs, that is involved!! Nice job!
I hope the 2- 10'' fans will pull enough air in, and out, to cool her. I am going to do a tunnel regardless but, I may wait to see if it cools OK without it.
Thanks for the pic!!
Chaz

The fans will cool it ok at 60mph and slower ok for sure. it's the highway speeds I had trouble with. was jamming more air in than could go through. Did another mod and lowered the rad another 3" and it accidentally cured that issue. Running a small cross flow.

Well, I took her out on my Maiden Voyage and, well..........she gets hot. In about 4 miles, town a state route driving (50 mph max) , she is up to about 220*. Not good. And it is even cool out.
I knew I was going to build a tunnel, but now, I think I will make it as large as feasible. I sure would have thought that a larger aluminum radiator and 2 fans (1600+ cfm) would have done a better job than that.
Oh well, it's just going to happen now sooner than later.

Does it get hot  just idling ? Or maybe up to 35 mph it does ok? The faster you go the more air has to get through. Is your dual fan set up such that it only allows air to pass through the fans? In a stock rad position a belly pan may come into play but the air still has to get through it all easily.

I don't think it gets hot idling but not 100% positive. I haven't had it idling that long yet. The fans allow air past them as well as thru them. See pix.




I do not have a belly pan. I guess that would be a plus. I am going to build the tunnel and try it. If that doesn't work, I guess I'll have to fab a belly pan.
Thanks!
Chaz

Skulptorchaz wrote:I don't think it gets hot idling but not 100% positive.

I do not have a belly pan.

No belly pan is why your van runs hot.

Personally with that down flow rad I would go along with Kooky and try the bellypan first if possible. I run a small X flow with a V8 without one and do fine but it took some willingness to change stuff to even make that work. So much of the rad on a first gen set up is above the floor air needs to be guided in better. I know from my mistakes a tunnel by itself is not the cure to get rid of the air dam that occurs near the top of the radiator. It needs the push. Your fan setup looks good to me. Just have to tweak the flow. Ideally you should be able to run cool at the higher speeds without a fan even having to help. Kooky (Joe) has done a few of these and knows the ropes. Yours is not the first 1st gen to have the Hot problem. The reason I asked about idling and slow speed is that if it stays cool there your fan is doing its job. After that it may take some effort.

Thanks gents.
So where might I find a belly pan? If I had one to pattern after, I could easily make it. I just don't know anyone close that has one. I've seen pix but I would rather see one first hand.
I'm still going to build the tunnel first as I want to do that anyway. But, if I could find a belly pan, I'd buy it or at least use it to make one as well.
BTW, the new radiator actually sits a bit lower. I was wanting to make something to protect it anyway. Here is a pic, altho not all that telling.



I'm wondering since the rad. is a bit lower, if it would interfere with the belly pan??
Thanks Gents for all the help and insight!!!!! I appreciate it!!!
Chaz

I found the belly pan on ebay. It's for 2nd gen.
They want $250.00 and $113.24 shipping. I think not.
I guess I need to find one I can borrow and make my own.
BTW, will 2nd or third gen work in case I find one to buy or use as a pattern?
Thanks!
Chaz

If I'm seeing it right by the pic. I think you would be ahead of the game to build one. They fasten at the front roll pan and back at the engine crewmember normally. You have an opportunity to get a little creative.

I'm fabbing up a belly pan now. Also, a guard for the bottom of the radiator. I will start a separate thread so if someone is looking to do the same, it should be easier for them to find.
I'm still going to do the tunnel but, I thought I would see if this works first. I want the tunnel for basically a console. If the motor stays cool with the belly pan, I just won't cut holes in the floor and dog house. (I could use it for hidden storage then.)
Thanks guys.
Chaz

     looking at your pics, I see your fan is only pulling air threw a portion of your radiator. you really need a bigger fan. even if it has enough flow, its only cooling part of the radiator similar to having no shroud.

"Fan(s)".
There are 2 - 11'' fans pulling the air at both the inlet and outlet of the radiator. 1600-1800 cfm. They cover a large part of the radiator. A large, center mounted fan will not fit (I have one for sale now. ).
I do believe that these should cool it. Hot Rod friends, and even people on here, believe that since it does not get hot idling or slow in town driving, the fans are OK, it's just not getting enough wind going down the highway.
If the belly pan I am making and then, if necessary, the "cooling tunnel" that I am going to make out of the console doesn't work, I guess I will have to try to fit another fan......somewhere. Boy, I hope not.
Thanks!
Chaz