general | | What is E.P.I.C.? | | Erik Penz Industries & Composites was incorporated in 2002 by a team of seasoned racers, engineers and manufacturing professionals with a common goal: going faster! EPIC, Inc. doesn't just innovate products; we deliver value, performance, as well as maintain the highest levels of integrity. | | | What is the "RAD Plenum"? | | The Reduced Aerodynamic Drag Plenum is a radiator system that functions on the same principles as those found in proper race car applications. The RAD Plenum maximizes cooling efficiency (i.e. BTU heat rejection vs. corresponding aero drag) while at the same time reducing the polar moment of the kart, lowering the weight, and improving safety and aesthetics. | | | Will the RAD Plenum work for my kart? | | Chances are, yes! If your kart has a liquid-cooled motor it will undoubtedly benefit from an EPIC RAD Plenum. The original Plenum system is engineered for use with TAG, 80cc, and 125cc motors. The RAD Plenum –HHO is designed to work with 250cc Superkarts but can also be utilized by 125cc shifter drivers who race in extreme heat conditions.
| | | Is the RAD Plenum legal? | Yes, the RAD Plenum is legal for competition in many classes and by many sanctioning bodies:
-SKUSA: all classes including shifters, Superkarts, and TAG
-IKF: all shifter sprint and road racing classes (depending on the class, you may need to trim the width of the fairing down to 14” from its original width of 15”.)
-WSK: all classes
-WKA: most Enduro classes and limited Sprint classes (refer to current regulations manual)
*the RAD Plenum is also approved for use in all regional series complying with the IRA rules package
| | | What is the TCU? | | The EPIC TCU (Thermostatic Control Valve) is a precision thermostat developed specifically for karting applications. Unique simply because kart motors require relatively low operating temperatures, the TCU effectively maintains coolant temps in the ideal range of 120 +/- 1 degrees F. Also, as kart motors are configured with various types of water pumps and have a wide range of flow rates, the EPIC TCU is revolutionary in that it accommodates all makes and models of 2-stroke engines. | |
technical | | How does the RAD Plenum work? | | The RAD Plenum intake scoop is positioned on the front of the kart where it can trap clean, laminar, high-velocity airflow. Once the air enters the plenum chamber it is diffused and the kinetic energy from its velocity is converted to pressure as the air slows down. This pressure gradient is then used to force the air through a specially engineered radiator core –which is much denser and has even more internal surface area than a parachute style side-mount or rear-mount radiator. As a result of the enhanced pressure differential provided by the plenum chamber, the EPIC radiator can easily outperform other radiators that are 3 times its size and double its weight. | | | How does the TCU work? | | The TCU has a constant-flow design which insures negligible losses due to pressure drop across the valve. A variable-bypass regulator is the unique feature that sets the EPIC TCU apart from all of the other in-line thermostats currently available on the market. The TCU maintains the coolant temperature in a very narrow range due to its ability to direct partial flow out to the radiator for cooling and partial flow directly back to the engine. Most thermostats available for karting simply restrict the water flow but this design is inherently flawed for two primary reasons: 1) there is a latency associated with the valve opening and closing which may cause the motor to overheat or cold stick before the thermostat can adjust 2) there is a significant pressure drop across the valve (in fact it hydraulically locks the system at full shut!) which in turn consumes horsepower. The EPIC TCU maintains very steady coolant temperatures and does not rob any horsepower from your motor. | | | Will the RAD Plenum heat up the driver? | | No, not at all. In fact, most drivers contend that they cannot even feel that it is there. Generally speaking, the warm exhaust air exiting the radiator is swept up by the air spilling over the top of the fairing and then mixes with the turbulent air steam that swirls over and around the driver’s helmet. When the weather is very cold it may be possible to feel a slight warm breeze across your finger tips but this is actually a welcomed by-product of the radiator’s positioning. | | | Will the RAD Plenum heat up the fuel? | | No. The warm air exiting the radiator core rises immediately due to the low pressure airflow region immediately above and aft of the driver fairing. The air that occupies the space between the radiator, fuel cell, and the driver’s legs is stagnant and therefore has a higher pressure than any of the surrounding environments. The fundamental laws of aerodynamics dictate that unrestricted air flows from regions of high pressure to low pressure. For this reason the warm air exhausting from the radiator exits upward before it has a chance to come in to contact with the fuel cell or driver. Think of a hot-air balloon… | | | Does the RAD Plenum bias weight to the front of the kart? | | In general terms, by removing the traditional side-mount or rear-mounted radiator and fitting the RAD Plenum there will be a 1% shift in axle weight towards the front of the vehicle. For example, a shifter kart that scales 42% front / 58% rear with a side-mounted radiator will be 43% / 57% after the RAD Plenum is fitted. This has virtually no effect on the kart’s handling and any measurable effect on rear-end grip can easily be overcome by minor adjustments such as track width. For comparison, moving your engine forward 1” to take up chain slack will have the same effect on the kart’s overall weight distribution. | | | What kind of performance advantage can I expect to gain by adopting the RAD Plenum to my kart? | It is difficult for us predict how much of an increase in performance you will obtain as there are many different types of karts and engine configurations that may utilize the RAD Plenum. Bottom line; you will see a measurable improvement in both top-end speed and lap times. However, as a baseline, we can suggest the following for a typical 125cc shifter kart:
Sprint track: 1-2 mph increase in top speed and 0.1 - 0.4 reduction in lap time
Road Course: 2-5mph increase in top speed and 1.0 – 1.5 second reduction in lap time
| | | How much does the RAD Plenum weigh? | The RAD Plenum is very light-weight and generally reduces your over-all kart weight by about 4-6 lbs. compared with a typical side or rear-mounted radiator w/ brackets. Weights specified below include: DRIVER FAIRING, RADIATOR, as well as all necessary MOUNTING BRACKETS and HARDWARE.
RAD Plenum –Original: 7lbs. 4oz. (holding capacity = 700ml)
RAD Plenum –HHO: 8lbs. 4oz. (holding capacity = 1240ml)
| | | What are the advantages of the High-Performance Hose Kit? | | There are a number of advantages to using the EPIC Hose Kit on your kart including: ease of installation, increased cooling capacity, and the ability to quickly excavate air from the cooling system via the Bleeder Body. The High-Performance Hose package is sold as a universal kit and is engineered for use with any chassis/engine configuration –including both internal and external water pumps. The silicon and aluminum plumbing work together to reject additional heat, lowering your motor temperature an extra 3-5 degrees. The Hose Kit makes the RAD Plenum a cinch to install and guarantees that all plumbing can be routed clear of the driver’s legs and any moving linkages. | | | How does the RAM-air Induction Kit work? | | - | | | How does the EPIC Induction Kit work? | | - | | | What kind of performance advantages can I expect to gain from the Induction Kit? | | - | |
shopping | | What are my payment method options? | | EPIC accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, as well as Paypal. Personal checks, money orders, and wire transfers are also acceptable means of payment but special arrangements will need to be made. For questions regarding payment details please contact sales@erikpenz.com. | | | Is my credit card information secure? | | Yes, www.epicincorporated.com uses a registered SSL security certificate and all of our transactions are protected and secure.
| | | What is the lead time to receive my order? | | All orders are typically shipped within 24 hours. Depending on your location, and selected shipping service, you can expect to receive your order in 2-5 working days. If circumstances dictate a delay in shipping your order you will be notified by email. | | | How will my order be shipped? | | Epic, Inc.'s preferred shipping vendor is FedEx. All orders will be shipped FedEx Ground service unless otherwise specified. FedEx overnight, 2-Day, and Express Super Saver can also be selected from the Check-Out menu. UPS as well as other carriers can be arranged for in the special instructions menu. | |
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