Front Bumper Cut outs? (Cooling)

[danielsl1999gsx]

Hello fellow tuners, i am really considering cutting into my front bumper to help keep temps down on long drives. I have seen a couple of cut out on tuner's cars, but i thought it would be cool if we could have a thread with all the cut out done already or new ideas. Anywho this is my favorite one so far...

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[TSiAWD666]

I saw this one the other day:

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[koryto2012]

I think that looks pretty good.

 

[BurrowZ]

There's a local here who is running this:

(I hope he doesn't mind me creeping his fb and stealing the pic.. )

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I like it a lot, but I've seen them cut nearly too much and even this one looks bad from certain angles I'm sure.

 

[danielsl1999gsx]

Nice finds, keep them coming. Also i was wondering if anyone has take the EVO 8 grill approach, kinda like the first picture i posted but opposite direction.

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[4g63tc]

Nice finds, keep them coming. Also i was wondering if anyone has take the EVO 8 grill approach, kinda like the first picture i posted but opposite direction.

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Actually I have also thought of going the Evo Route, but the not the Evo, actually it's the Lancer Grill from the current body style, the measurements are close for between the headlight mounting, and it's thin enough to not dip too far into the front of the bumper. i think with some heating, it can be curved into the correct shape.

Kinda Like this

Since it's just a Grille and not molded into the bumper it should be fairly easy to modify.

 

[Paching]

There's a guy on here, he has a white eclipse that did a rhinoplasty (cut some holes) on his car that looks good, I don't remember his name but he's from Miami. I'm sure someone knows who he is.

 

[LandoAWD]

H but i thought it would be cool if we could have a thread with all the cut out done already or new ideas.

Like this one?
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/app...329000-bumper-cut-out-merged-3-31-09-a-4.html

 

[simple jake]

You could also get some of these for a cleaner look. https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productselection.asp?Product=3623

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

I don't think any of those look good. If I had a cooling issue, I would consider ducting.

 

[ShizzySupra]

Is this actually an issue? Before beginning cutting of the bumper wouldn't it make more sense to make sure your cooling system is functioning properly? Even plug in a lower temp thermostat, change fans, etc.

 

[hypergenesis]

Is this actually an issue? Before beginning cutting of the bumper wouldn't it make more sense to make sure your cooling system is functioning properly? Even plug in a lower temp thermostat, change fans, etc.

True but at the end of the day more air flow through some well placed cuts will help the temp's drop even after they have done all you have stated above.

 

[LandoAWD]

A thermostat is a band-aid, and doesn't play into operating temp in the end. Ducting would work better, but I logged 3* (average) reduction with the 2 holes in my front fascia, all other factors being the same.

 

[danielsl1999gsx]

Like this one?
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/app...329000-bumper-cut-out-merged-3-31-09-a-4.html

I was kinda intending this for 2g onlys, sorry for the mix up.


But anyways, I do not have any cooling issues as of now. My fluidyne radiator and spal fans are doing the job just great! However, i do plan on reinstalling my A/C unit and i hear this is when cooling issues arise.

 

[LandoAWD]

2g only?

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[killer1GDSM]

2g only?

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You always have good pictures/mini clips to show us.

 

[eligst21]

I have cut out on my gsx. The only issue i have is to reinforce the bumper so it doesnt sag. I will be redoing mine once i get another bumper and putting fiberglass behind it or something. I have some pics in my profile i think.

 

[daplatano91]

Mine is kinda hacked/drilled out I did it kinda in rush to get more air to my fmic.

 

[Calan]

A little 1GB love (forgive my oxidized/primered hood where the PO ruined it with a water-soaked bra):

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Although small, they seem to be worth a couple of degrees. Air gets channeled by the hood latch support plate straight into the front of the radiator.

 

[SeaveeDSM]

There's a guy on here, he has a white eclipse that did a rhinoplasty (cut some holes) on his car that looks good, I don't remember his name but he's from Miami. I'm sure someone knows who he is.

That would probably be me.

And for the OP, the cutouts make a HUGE difference on keeping the temps dowm. Before the cutouts, even with my pair of SPAL hi flow fans, ceramic coated EM, 02 sensor housing and turbo exhaust housing and with DSMlink running both fans on full hi all the time my temps would still creep up in stop and go rush hour type traffic.

Now, other than a 10 degree + offset on the temp coolant with DSMlink, I run the fans like stock - one on as cycled on by the ECU and the second with the AC on. I can now sit at idle - with or without the A/C - on even the hottest days here in Miami and the temps run fine - basically never more than 203 and most of the time about 196. In the summer down here it gets brutally hot and the humidity is higher than Megan Fox's inner thighs.

Notice that aside from the cutouts I also trimmed off the little (formerly) black section that ran horizontally at the top-most edge of the regular bumper opening.

To do the cutouts:

Do it with the bumper ON the car initially. Use blue painter's tape to make the outline of what you want. I had to do several iterations until I got it to visually "flow" right - especially the upper line where I followed the curve of the front edge of the bumper (the second pic below shows this better than a straight on low level shot). Use a dremel with a cutting wheel to make a rough cut about 1/8" SMALLER than your painter's tape outline. Then use an 80 or 100 grit dremel grinding drum wheel to refine it. For the corner radiuses (sp?) use the dremel with a tapered, conical shaped stone. The mesh I glued in from behind (with the bumper removed and laying face down supported between two saw-horses - a couple patio chairs will work too) using 3M 5200 marine adhesive. I also added a couple of aluminum vertical "spars" (about 1/2" X 4" X 1/4" thick) and hammered them to make them curved to fit the inner curve of the bumper) to give it a little more rigidity. The spars run vertically - one just behind the Mitsu logo and one just below it.

There are a couple more pics in my gallery.

Good luck.

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[danielsl1999gsx]

^^ There you GO! ^^ thank you so much for posting in this thread, that was exactly what i was wanting to see. Now my mind is set, i just gotta grow the balls to cut into my bumper =/

 

[Evo_This]

^^Looks pretty close to an Evo, nice job.

 

[manny correa]

Wanna do this myself. Looks good on that white 2gb. You have a pic of the front head on but more closer to ground level then the second pic you posted..? That would help my decision to hack my bumper .

 

[gho5tone]

From HaveBlue83, which I think is a excellent idea that I might try.

 

[danielsl1999gsx]

That one look great as well, i just dont think i could make that bracket he made for the logo.