[Healeys] scoops not vents

[Joe and Lenore Armour]

Pieter and Linda wrote:

>I went along to a classic car rally here in Luxembourg today and saw a BJ8
>that had forward facing scoops on the side of the front guards in place of
>rally vents. Spoke to the owner who carefully explained that BMC had got it
>wrong at the time and all Healey racers since had "stupidly" followed suit.
>His theory was the the scoops and front grill combine to create an area of
>high pressure in the engine bay that "force feeds" the engine " just like a
>supercharger". I think maybe has has sniffed a few to many exhaust fumes. Nice
>day out though with some interesting cars including a very original and
>obviously much used Bugatti racer,
>cheers
>

A different perspective on vents vs. scoops.  Remember Geoff Healey was 
a very successful builder of record breakers and  long distance race 
cars ie. not rally cars. He achieved this by paying attention to the 
basics and small details. None of his Healeys could be considered full 
of exotic parts.

Now scoop vs. vent.  Anybody familiar with air flow will agree that the 
easiest way to achieve this without fans is to have air in a high 
pressure area ( for example in front of a speeding radiator) flow to a 
low pressure area. ( say behind a radiator)  This low pressure area will 
not exist if you have a bloody great scoop trying to force air into an 
engine bay that has only a small escape route such as under a speeding , 
low ground clearance Healey.  Also air which has been heated takes up a 
greater volume than cool or ambient air.  Therefore Healeys have vents 
behind the inner wheel arch to provide a low power required, 'free' air 
discharge point to prevent pressure build up behind the radiator where 
low pressure is required to facilitate good air flow through the 
radiator. Also less engine bay air pressure helps minimise that tricky 
hot stuff forcing ots way through all the holes and crevices into the 
cockpit.

Sucking is cheaper than blowing

My Healey with these vents has never overheated. I think Healeys have 
got it right.