low buck splitter project

[blacksheep-1]

Ok on project mustang it was "create a splitter time" while in the real world this would aid high speed handling in my world this is to protect the body work from cones..not that I have ever hit one of course, it was after all their fault for being in the racing line, but none the less.......

First off, generally measured the front of the car and cut some 3/8 plywood to that dimension, then dummied it up, under the car....



Made dot-marks 3.5 inches from the front air dam...



and connected the dots...



I also did the same under the car, in retrospect, I should have made several small access holes instead of one big one..but maybe next time..



acquired some fasteners from the local hardware store, the "Captured nuts" are the most important since access is not easy in some places



Painted the splitter with truck bed liner since this was the most bulletproof and weather proof stuff I could think of at the time..



Installed it under the car using existing holes in the radiator support and then carefully...(except maybe in one spot-oops) drilling the air dam lip to accommodate the "captured nuts"



I also installed a set of aluminum hood pins using rubber hose to set the hood height



Presto..Race-o done!
View from the top....






total investment in the low tech splitter, about 70 bucks, plywood, bed liner and hardware.

[snookwheel]

That should work! And this is pure gold " it was after all their fault for being in the racing line"

I've got to remember that line!

[RacingHart71]

Nice DIY!

What are your plans for under the engine?

[buddy bodean]

Always nice to get an update on your project. When will it be making it's debut?

[blacksheep-1]

What are your plans for under the engine?

Probably nothing, there is normally is not that much room there but it has an aftermarket tube crossmember now so it looks kind of empty

Always nice to get an update on your project. When will it be making it's debut?

soon I hope, I'm basically down to details, shake downs and finding some tires.

[RacingHart71]

The reason I asked about what you might be doing under the engine is because some argue that a splitter is most effective when used in conjuntion with an undertray, to carry the airflow along the bottom of the car as far as possible. Something like what is pictured here.

http://projectimport.com/january-2011-e ... rettyPhoto

Your design would work very well with a seperate undertray, allowing for easy removal of oil changes and such.

[blacksheep-1]

The reason I asked about what you might be doing under the engine is because some argue that a splitter is most effective when used in conjuntion with an undertray, to carry the airflow along the bottom of the car as far as possible. Something like what is pictured here.

I designed a laydown kart body that won at Daytona back in the 90s.(130mph) what you are saying is true, but I'm not sure it's worth it for our low speed stuff, I have in mind a blown defuser for the rear of the car but I have some other priorities first. I ran the exhaust down the center of the car and raised the fuel cell just for that reason. This way the exhaust can add to the cars velocity,through the defuser. That might work better.
On the other hand raising the weight of the cell might just negate any benefit the defuser would give...Who knows?

[RacingHart71]

That's good stuff sir. I imagine that at the speed of autocross such benifits can be relative, aero vs weight/distribution. My 240sx has such a large opening behind the nose assembly its terrible. Your splitter design and the one in the link appear to be something that the car would make great use of that empty space. Please, please, please let us know about the driving impressions!

[buddy bodean]

Ok on project mustang it was "create a splitter time" while in the real world this would aid high speed handling in my world this is to protect the body work from cones..not that I have ever hit one of course, it was after all their fault for being in the racing line, but none the less.......

errr...BRC?

[RacingHart71]

I essentially "thread jacked" with the question about the under tray...but I see what you're saying. It might as well be a bumper guard when you consider the material used and dimensions of the lip. Regardless...the impression I will be looking for will relate to what, if any sort of down force is created.

With the experience the OP has he could probable say what it might be capable of right now.

[impalanut]

When I added a splitter to my CRX there was a noticeable improvement of front grip in large sweepers where I had been pushing out. So even at our speeds there will be some improvements in some elements. The rear diffuser will probably have less improvement because of the uneven architecture of the underside of the car. It would probably help more with a flatter bottom, but a full body undertray would probably put you in the racecar class because there is no street prepared or prepared class that allow that type of set up.

[Loren]

As far as FAST is concerned, this car is already either in M0 or R1 depending on whether he chooses to run street tires or race tires.

For SCCA... it's surely a CP car at a minimum... unless it happens to squeak in under the bar for STU or whatever they're calling the unlimited street tire class these days.

[blacksheep-1]

As far as FAST is concerned, this car is already either in M0 or R1 depending on whether he chooses to run street tires or race tires.

Yep, this has been a fun project, it's pushing the NASA AIX rule book only using an almost stock engine. I might do some HPDE with it and wanted something safe and that if broke, I could fix at my leisure. The main thing is that it had to be easy to work on.

That's good stuff sir. I imagine that at the speed of autocross such benifits can be relative, aero vs weight/distribution. My 240sx has such a large opening behind the nose assembly its terrible. Your splitter design and the one in the link appear to be something that the car would make great use of that empty space. Please, please, please let us know about the driving impressions!

even in the karts we didn't worry about aero until about 50 mph sustained speeds, but then, not much handles better than a kart, our problem was getting them down the straights. However the 250CC guys have plenty of power enough to use wings, and ground effects.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b0WkHOLRJw

errr...BRC?

huh?

[RacingHart71]

BRC = Better Read Carefully...

Awesome video.

Who is going to Rumba tonight??

[buddy bodean]

BRC = Better Read Carefully...

Awesome video.

Who is going to Rumba tonight??

BRC= Because Race Car.

[RacingHart71]

Dude!! You can't make an acronym of Because Race Car...thats just wrong!! It deserves to be spelled out...LOL. Thanks for the clearification though.

[blacksheep-1]

Dude!! You can't make an acronym of Because Race Car...thats just wrong!! It deserves to be spelled out...LOL. Thanks for the clearification though.

It's somewhat of an inside FAST joke among us. In reality he's just tired of the beat down from my old v6 mustang and now he's exacting his revenge.

[buddy bodean]

Dude!! You can't make an acronym of Because Race Car...thats just wrong!! It deserves to be spelled out...LOL. Thanks for the clearification though.

It's somewhat of an inside FAST joke among us. In reality he's just tired of the beat down from my old v6 mustang and now he's exacting his revenge.

so true [head hangs in shame]

[RacingHart71]

Sounds like good times.

I missed the Rumba get together again. Man, I have got to get out there.

Looking forward to meeting you guys and, to a lesser degree, being the butt of the noob jokes for a while.

[blacksheep-1]

so true [head hangs in shame]

He DID get the last shot in though