I would love some louvers

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Mar 29 2007, 07:20 PM) [snapback]414531[/snapback]</div>

Something like cowl flaps on an airplane. The amount of air flowing over the air cooled engine on an airplane varies widely with airspeed, so many airplanes incorporate exactly what you describe. Traditionally they are manually controlled by a lever in the cockpit, but they can be automatic.

Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Mar 29 2007, 08:18 PM) [snapback]414641[/snapback]</div>

The heat through the back window is certainly a problem, but I can honestly tell you from living here in sunny Southern CA that most of the heat problem comes in through the front windshield on the black dash board. In my car I have all of my side windows, as well as my rear AND front windshield tinted, its not exactly legal but I've had the same setup in my last 5 cars over the past 6 years out here and have had no legal troubles. The heat reduction is incredible to say the least, especially when the sun is shining from straight down on top of the car onto you're lap! The trick is to find a shop that can tint the front windshield in 1 piece of tint with absolutely NO air bubbles, on my windshield you can't tell at all that the front is tinted.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Apr 2 2007, 11:04 PM) [snapback]416893[/snapback]</div>

yes, i had louvers on my old 87 IROC-Z back in the late 90's, but they would look like nice person on a prius in my opinion, the tint looks very sleek and clean, it also does a much better job of cutting down on the heat issue.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Mar 29 2007, 03:20 PM) [snapback]414531[/snapback]</div>

This is the best use for louvers that I see. Rather than just OAT, temperature under the hood should be read as well. That way, variations in load could be compensated.

Dave M.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Mar 29 2007, 06:20 PM) [snapback]414531[/snapback]</div>

Hear Hear! Even manually controlled from within the cockpit---I mean from the driver's seat would be great.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dmckinstry @ Apr 3 2007, 02:14 PM) [snapback]417159[/snapback]</div>

That's a great idea and it shouldn't be that big of a deal. My '65 Corvair had this kind of a setup, flaps controlled by the engine heat to basically act as a thermostat.