Side Vents

**6-Speeder** · 02-07-2008, 12:07 PM

Ok i know i saw somewhere on this forum information about the side vents on our cars. However i have been unable to find it over the last 24 hours of searching. So i ask this, i am pretty sure they are non functional and just there to look nice, however i also want to know if theres a way to make them functional, like side heat extractors. Any ideas anyone know anything, if its a dumb question i apologize couldn't find anything to help here or ls1tech. Thanks

**Transam388** · 02-07-2008, 12:58 PM

Instead of messing with those side vents I would say just get an aftermarket hood with heat extractors built in. Heat does rise so having those side ports opened up may do a little good but having the openings at the high point of the hood would help much more.

**6-Speeder** · 02-07-2008, 01:05 PM

I already got an aftermarket hood, of course w\ out the heat extractors as the previous owner had done. But I was just curious as to their purpose if any. Ive seen someone do something interesting to cool the brakes in a similar fashion. Had a custom fiberglass tube made from the bottom hole in front of our cars (under the DRLs) and snaked back to in front of the rotors. Cool idea. Just thought maybe those vents could be modified to do some good. Thanks though.

**Transam388** · 02-07-2008, 01:11 PM

Honestly unless you are doing something like autocross where you are constantly braking, I doubt you are heating your rotors up enough to make doing anything like that worth it. Stock rotors can and do warp but most aftermarket are decent. What might also need to be taken into account is if you created a wind tube to the rotors then when in rain it would also be blowing water onto the rotors.

always good to keep ideas going though man!!

**6-Speeder** · 02-07-2008, 01:17 PM

Yeah i got em from here http://www.paveglio.com/firebird/2001tamods.html
one of the many sites i keep bookmarked in my transam section lol. Theres soooo many good ideas out there. Im not looking to do the rotor cooling thing just a cool idea, didn't think about the rainwater but im sure enough of it gets on there if your driving in the rain anyway. Thanks man

PS i noticed he has extra lights below his DRLs, i guess using those holes are my idea for something

**FORD RECOVERY EXPERT** · 02-07-2008, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by Transam388

Honestly unless you are doing something like autocross where you are constantly braking, I doubt you are heating your rotors up enough to make doing anything like that worth it. Stock rotors can and do warp but most aftermarket are decent. What might also need to be taken into account is if you created a wind tube to the rotors then when in rain it would also be blowing water onto the rotors.

always good to keep ideas going though man!!

water on hot rotors = warps n cracks !!! the lower front holes (below signals, circulate air in thru the fender and out the side vents. as far as i been told its strictly for aerodynamics...

**6-Speeder** · 02-07-2008, 05:55 PM

Really? Where did you read that? Im not doubting it I just want to read up myself as it would seem kinda pointless for GM to put such a thing on our cars and be non functional.

**FORD RECOVERY EXPERT** · 02-08-2008, 08:49 PM

it is functional, it for the aerodynamics... it was like that on the 2nd gens also... in the bumper, thru the fender, and out the side vents... cant remember where i saw that, but you should be able to find it w/ a search.

**IronBird** · 02-10-2008, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by FORD RECOVERY EXPERT

it is functional, it for the aerodynamics... it was like that on the 2nd gens also... in the bumper, thru the fender, and out the side vents... cant remember where i saw that, but you should be able to find it w/ a search.

Thats right. I had a '79 SE T/A, and read in one of those books you can get on the history an development of the T/A, and it said just that. The vents on the '79's fenders bleed air at speed (from under the hood) to reduce front end lift (heehee...I put this to the test at 130mph...it was like it was on rails!), and the side vents on our forth gens are for aerodynamics...but I can't specifically remember what. The book credits Pontiac for making the T/A "fuctional"...spoilers and all, and not just "window dressing"...gotta' luv it!!!