Post your DIY aero pics
#1802
Nice work! I'd be interested in a picture of the structure/arrangement of the mount at the subframe. Also, lots of fasteners there, is that overkill, or are you expecting lots of flex, or lots of pressure?
It looks as strong as hell, have you considered the failure mode? Are the fastener holes in the ply the weak point?
It looks as strong as hell, have you considered the failure mode? Are the fastener holes in the ply the weak point?
#1803
Nice work! I'd be interested in a picture of the structure/arrangement of the mount at the subframe. Also, lots of fasteners there, is that overkill, or are you expecting lots of flex, or lots of pressure?
It looks as strong as hell, have you considered the failure mode? Are the fastener holes in the ply the weak point?
It looks as strong as hell, have you considered the failure mode? Are the fastener holes in the ply the weak point?
3/16" countersunk fasteners in lower front hopefully should tear through wood, if reduced shank fasteners holding angle on splitter don't shier first?
#1805
Partial/Chop Top NB1
Dollars spent: $160
Hours spent: 10ish
How effective: ~3 (track tested tbd)
Materials used: Convertible Brow, LEXAN, Aluminium, steel hardware
Size/thickness of materials: 3/16” Lexan
Bracket location: Windshield header & Rollbar
Tracks tested on: Spokane County Raceway (reach ~118 in NB1 N/A, no top)
Race/TT class built for: Track days, non class specific
Super stable partial top to improve airflow over the car. Significantly reduces air flowing into the cabin. Have tested up to 80mph, will work back up to track speeds in a few weeks during next track event. Very light and sturdy construction fastened with steel hardtop plates and steel ties. I am 5’-7” and have no helmet clearance issues with this setup. Most track days require windows down (took out windows) and didn't want to pay 150 for a fiberglass partial top plus another 150 for freight shipping.
Hours spent: 10ish
How effective: ~3 (track tested tbd)
Materials used: Convertible Brow, LEXAN, Aluminium, steel hardware
Size/thickness of materials: 3/16” Lexan
Bracket location: Windshield header & Rollbar
Tracks tested on: Spokane County Raceway (reach ~118 in NB1 N/A, no top)
Race/TT class built for: Track days, non class specific
Super stable partial top to improve airflow over the car. Significantly reduces air flowing into the cabin. Have tested up to 80mph, will work back up to track speeds in a few weeks during next track event. Very light and sturdy construction fastened with steel hardtop plates and steel ties. I am 5’-7” and have no helmet clearance issues with this setup. Most track days require windows down (took out windows) and didn't want to pay 150 for a fiberglass partial top plus another 150 for freight shipping.
#1806
Dollars spent: $100 materials + TSE Brackets
Hours spent: 10 hours
How effective: 2.5
Materials used: 1/2" Birchwood, , Push-on rubber trim (https://www.mcmaster.com/12335A29) , Staple gun
Bracket location: NA airbag sensors in wheel well
Weight: 12 lb for undertray/airdam w/brackets
Tracks tested on: Buttonwillow 13CW
Race/TT class built for: n/a
I wanted to run Supermiata S2 (Airdam + Spoiler) style aero on my miata, but didn't want to swap bumpers or build a full airdam yet. I also wanted to be able to swap the aero bits off as my car still gets street driven. The spoiler is blackbird fabworx and mounts to a spare trunk that gets swapped. The front is birchwood mounted to TSE brackets. The whole kit takes me about an hour to swap on and off. Not pictured are the staples, which I needed to keep the rubber trim in place. I was impressed by how stable the car was at Buttonwillow, especially on Riverside, and the car gained a few MPH on the front straight. Didn't go off, so the aero performance seems consistent or the driver needs to push harder.
I still need to workout how to mount the tire shrouds to the airdam. The shrouds are 1/8" abs and bend a bit at speed, but i dont want them to damage the bumper if the undertray gets damaged. I already snagged the undertray on the terrible roads at Lost Hills and had to push the undertray/airdam back into position at the track.
Last edited by moocow; 05-03-2019 at 05:13 PM.
#1811
You can laminate the 1/8" sheets of the nice stuff Lowes/Home Depot carries in the project board section, or just use the nicest grade they have. It doesn't have huge voids, but is usually a little thicker than 3/8". That's what I used, and it didn't fare much worse than my frame rails did when I wrecked, lol.
#1812
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Sixshooter's Basement
Posts: 333
Total Cats: 38
You can laminate the 1/8" sheets of the nice stuff Lowes/Home Depot carries in the project board section, or just use the nicest grade they have. It doesn't have huge voids, but is usually a little thicker than 3/8". That's what I used, and it didn't fare much worse than my frame rails did when I wrecked, lol.
I am starting to think about going with this 12mm stuff .. Sande Plywood?!
#1813
I doubt you'll find 3/8 birch, use 1/2", spray it with 2 or 3 coats of black krylon, no primer. The krylon well act more like a stain then and the first few coats well sink into the wood and seal it, you well also be saving weight. The 1/2" well actually be a little less because it ain't a full 1/2" now days. Mine's been on for 7yrs now with no issues.
#1814
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Sixshooter's Basement
Posts: 333
Total Cats: 38
+1 on all of it. I did the same thing and this all matches my experience. Also do yourself a favor and buy one of these:
http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-d...tle-66422.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-d...tle-66422.html
I'm glad you like it. Yes, learn from my mistake and get a wing first.
It is riveted to the bumper skin, and then the lower part of the skin was cut off. This gives me a lot more room in there for brake and radiator ducting and saves a bit of weight. The rivets don't have any backing but they aren't quite strong enough, a couple of the more stressed rivets pop out occasionally. I'd recommend backing them with rivet washers. I'm gonna add some washers myself next time they pop out.
The hardest part is getting the air dam cut right. It looks like its a perfect rectangle, but its not. I used the recessed line in the bumper skin as a guide and cut the dam to follow it. I found that a jig-saw worked well for cutting the ABS, a sawzall would probably work too. The hard part is to keep it from melting as you cut it, keep your cutting speeds low and be patient. Of course, a cardboard mock up is crucial.
Good luck, and feel free to ask here or shoot me a PM with any other questions.
It is riveted to the bumper skin, and then the lower part of the skin was cut off. This gives me a lot more room in there for brake and radiator ducting and saves a bit of weight. The rivets don't have any backing but they aren't quite strong enough, a couple of the more stressed rivets pop out occasionally. I'd recommend backing them with rivet washers. I'm gonna add some washers myself next time they pop out.
The hardest part is getting the air dam cut right. It looks like its a perfect rectangle, but its not. I used the recessed line in the bumper skin as a guide and cut the dam to follow it. I found that a jig-saw worked well for cutting the ABS, a sawzall would probably work too. The hard part is to keep it from melting as you cut it, keep your cutting speeds low and be patient. Of course, a cardboard mock up is crucial.
Good luck, and feel free to ask here or shoot me a PM with any other questions.
#1815
DIY Naca ducts 3d printed, flush mounted in the birch ply splitter floor and feeding 3" hose feeding to the rotor/hub area.
Not tested yet to prove it, but along with brake cooling this may even help with extra front downforce.
I designed the ducts myself in Fuision360, and sort of 'winged' the shape (pun intended) so I cannot know for sure if it will work.
If you're interested, plenty more details on the car here: www.youtube.com/bbeavis
Dollars spent: ~$10 for the ducts
Hours spent: 2hrs to design duct, 1.5days to 3d print, ~4hrs to cut/glue into the splitter and attach hoses.
How effective: testing next weekend...
Materials used: PLA plastic ducts, 3" hose, zip ties to secure hose to car.
Not tested yet to prove it, but along with brake cooling this may even help with extra front downforce.
I designed the ducts myself in Fuision360, and sort of 'winged' the shape (pun intended) so I cannot know for sure if it will work.
If you're interested, plenty more details on the car here: www.youtube.com/bbeavis
Dollars spent: ~$10 for the ducts
Hours spent: 2hrs to design duct, 1.5days to 3d print, ~4hrs to cut/glue into the splitter and attach hoses.
How effective: testing next weekend...
Materials used: PLA plastic ducts, 3" hose, zip ties to secure hose to car.
#1817
Haha, thanks for noticing. I don't think there's anything I can say here that this video wouldn't say better: youtu.be/corFGE1c7Oo
Last edited by BEAVIS; 05-27-2019 at 04:54 AM. Reason: fix link
#1818
Didn't DIY much, but for whoever that wants to see how a nb2 or msm can use of the shelf parts for aero. Some basically the parts used are Nine Lives Racing Big Swan with the new profile wing mount, BMspec Splitter, Garage Vary Canards, Singular Hood Vents. pictures are from my latest time attack.