Aerodynamics Splitters, spoilers, and all the aero advice you can handle.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Post your DIY aero pics

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-02-2013, 04:32 PM
  #561  
Supporting Vendor
iTrader: (3)
 
ThePass's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Diego
Posts: 3,303
Total Cats: 1,216
Default

Needs to be slightly smaller than duct behind so that the air dam butts up against the edges of the duct. For the opening to be the exact same size as the aluminum duct and still have them seal properly, especially since the air dam shifts around a bit at speed, the duct would have to be mounted to the air dam. This I didn't want so that the air dam is still removable in the shortest amount of time.

The tubing running to the brakes is 2" diameter, so any opening larger than the surface area of a 2" circle isn't very necessary. The openings in the bumper skin are still a larger area than the area of a 2" circle, so no need in making them larger.

-Ryan
__________________
Ryan Passey
ThePass is offline  
Old 10-02-2013, 10:36 PM
  #562  
Elite Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Seefo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 1,961
Total Cats: 48
Default

Originally Posted by jpreston
I used those for my first undertray. They held up fine under aero loads but bent back/down and failed in an impact.

My second iteration (for a splitter) used a round bar bolted on with the front bolts of the steering rack bracket, then hooks attached to the splitter for a quick disconnect setup. The heaviest hooks I could find were still pretty light duty and bent when I dropped two tires on corner exit and the splitter caught dirt.

Current setup that I'm testing this weekend is what emilio alluded to a page or two ago with a "tongue" cut into the splitter that then gets wedged into the area between the steering rack mounting points and rests on that pinch weld on the subframe. It goes under the rack and over the pinch welds. It's a tight fit and has very little vertical play with the front hard mounted. (I'm not a fan of cables for the front.) All of the metal subframe/steering components in that region are pretty beefy, so the expectation/hope is that the wood will just splinter and buckle on impact. My only concern with this setup is that it could buckle upward enough to take out the radiator, but I'd probably have bigger problems than the radiator at that point.

Haven't taken any pics yet since I'm reusing my old cracked and splintered but still functional splitter to test this setup. I can snap a pic or two tonight if anyone can't picture what I'm talking about.
It's been a while since you posted this, but I would like pictures of your new airdam/splitter setup.
Seefo is offline  
Old 10-03-2013, 03:09 AM
  #563  
Senior Member
 
1993ka24det's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: The Race Track & St Pete FL
Posts: 638
Total Cats: 57
Default

Ryan that looks good, you did some good metal work with that aluminium
1993ka24det is offline  
Old 10-09-2013, 02:34 PM
  #564  
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
jpreston's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: KY
Posts: 940
Total Cats: 176
Default

Originally Posted by Track
It's been a while since you posted this, but I would like pictures of your new airdam/splitter setup.
Started with a bad sheet of plywood that started splitting as I was cutting it, didn't get time to paint it, then it rained the entire weekend. Fail. Worked well enough to smash the old TTE record, though.




Attached Thumbnails Post your DIY aero pics-20131009_101310_zps6645a183.jpg   Post your DIY aero pics-20131009_101534_zps0c4110ff.jpg   Post your DIY aero pics-20131009_101555_zps1b0108de.jpg   Post your DIY aero pics-img_12610273336972_zps97a04faf.jpg  
jpreston is offline  
Old 10-09-2013, 02:52 PM
  #565  
Supporting Vendor
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
emilio700's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 7,341
Total Cats: 2,379
Default

Originally Posted by jpreston
Started with a bad sheet of plywood that started splitting as I was cutting it, didn't get time to paint it, then it rained the entire weekend. Fail. Worked well enough to smash the old TTE record, though.
Pretty much what we do here except cables instead of rigid struts. I like the thing to be able to deflect upwards if it hits a kerb.

Thanks for posting the pics. It's hard for some guys that have never fabricated anything to grasp it when I explain it.
__________________


www.facebook.com/SuperMiata

949RACING.COM Home of the 6UL wheel

.31 SNR
emilio700 is offline  
Old 10-09-2013, 07:11 PM
  #566  
Supporting Vendor
iTrader: (3)
 
ThePass's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Diego
Posts: 3,303
Total Cats: 1,216
Default

Originally Posted by emilio700
Pretty much what we do here except cables instead of rigid struts. I like the thing to be able to deflect upwards if it hits a kerb.

Thanks for posting the pics. It's hard for some guys that have never fabricated anything to grasp it when I explain it.
So when it's fully mounted, you could just grab the front splitter edge and lift the splitter up if the airdam is removed?
__________________
Ryan Passey
ThePass is offline  
Old 10-09-2013, 07:19 PM
  #567  
Supporting Vendor
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
emilio700's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 7,341
Total Cats: 2,379
Default

Originally Posted by ThePass
So when it's fully mounted, you could just grab the front splitter edge and lift the splitter up if the airdam is removed?
Yup.
__________________


www.facebook.com/SuperMiata

949RACING.COM Home of the 6UL wheel

.31 SNR
emilio700 is offline  
Old 10-10-2013, 05:00 AM
  #568  
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
mr_hyde's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Seattle
Posts: 798
Total Cats: 24
Default

Is there any scenario where air gets under it and it takes an upward plane with the cable mounts?
mr_hyde is offline  
Old 10-10-2013, 08:28 AM
  #569  
Elite Member
iTrader: (3)
 
vehicular's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 1,855
Total Cats: 47
Default

Originally Posted by mr_hyde
Is there any scenario where air gets under it and it takes an upward plane with the cable mounts?
Only if the nose of the car is at a positive angle of attack to the airstream... so, if you're in flight, maybe. Or a massive, catastrophic curb strike...
vehicular is offline  
Old 10-10-2013, 08:36 AM
  #570  
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Leafy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NH
Posts: 9,479
Total Cats: 104
Default

Originally Posted by mr_hyde
Is there any scenario where air gets under it and it takes an upward plane with the cable mounts?
It would still have to push up the air damn wouldnt it?
Leafy is offline  
Old 10-10-2013, 10:13 AM
  #571  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
NiklasFalk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Sweden
Posts: 1,391
Total Cats: 63
Default

Originally Posted by mr_hyde
Is there any scenario where air gets under it and it takes an upward plane with the cable mounts?
Gravel surfing maybe.
If it's has a splitter function worth the price of plywood it should be pulled down at any speed.

Would "safety" straps for the rear edge be a good idea to keep it hanging on when it gets trashed (rather than hanging loose and bounce around)?
Taking the checkered flag with lower risk of terminal damage has some value.
NiklasFalk is offline  
Old 10-10-2013, 01:47 PM
  #572  
Supporting Vendor
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
emilio700's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 7,341
Total Cats: 2,379
Default

Originally Posted by mr_hyde
Is there any scenario where air gets under it and it takes an upward plane with the cable mounts?
Not that I have experienced. We have been hanging them by cable since the beginning. That upward flexibility is nice when hitting kerbs and loading.
__________________


www.facebook.com/SuperMiata

949RACING.COM Home of the 6UL wheel

.31 SNR
emilio700 is offline  
Old 10-10-2013, 02:16 PM
  #573  
Junior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
cjsafski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Irvine, Ca
Posts: 277
Total Cats: 23
Default

Big fan of the cables as well. Mine will be cables and based off of the one I helped build on Sonny's car but with a few tweaks. Should be able to remove it in a few min which is nice.
cjsafski is offline  
Old 10-10-2013, 04:25 PM
  #574  
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
mr_hyde's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Seattle
Posts: 798
Total Cats: 24
Default

What is the preferred Home Depot Motorsports material and fasteners for the cables? I toyed around with it in my early design and didn't find anything I really liked. I ended up with a rigid aluminum rod threaded into LH and RH rod ends but I like the idea of upward deflection on curbs, loading and mowing the lawn.
mr_hyde is offline  
Old 10-10-2013, 04:26 PM
  #575  
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Leafy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NH
Posts: 9,479
Total Cats: 104
Default

Originally Posted by mr_hyde
What is the preferred Home Depot Motorsports material and fasteners for the cables? I toyed around with it in my early design and didn't find anything I really liked. I ended up with a rigid aluminum rod threaded into LH and RH rod ends but I like the idea of upward deflection on curbs, loading and mowing the lawn.
I'm thinking hooks, eyelets and cable knarps. I cant figure a good way to make a cable adjustable.
Leafy is offline  
Old 10-10-2013, 04:59 PM
  #576  
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
mr_hyde's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Seattle
Posts: 798
Total Cats: 24
Default

Originally Posted by Leafy
I'm thinking hooks, eyelets and cable knarps. I cant figure a good way to make a cable adjustable.
Turnbuckles start to add weight and complexity. I'd love to see details from guys who have liked the cable option.
mr_hyde is offline  
Old 10-10-2013, 05:04 PM
  #577  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Keith@FM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 754
Total Cats: 118
Default

Finding cable at Home Depot Race Supply is trivial. If you want to increase the strength of a small eye bolt, welding up the gap at the end of the loop does nicely.

Mine are adjustable from the eye bolts themselves. They're threaded, of course, so I simply run them in/out to the desired length and then use a jam nut to lock them. Obviously the cables need to be close to the correct length first.
Keith@FM is offline  
Old 10-10-2013, 05:53 PM
  #578  
Senior Member
 
Supe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 538
Total Cats: 64
Default

I used aluminum turnbuckles on the car side to take up cable tension, and I used cable and clevises from Harbor Freight, along with eye hooks on the splitter.

Fork Terminal for 3mm Wire
Supe is offline  
Old 10-10-2013, 08:32 PM
  #579  
Supporting Vendor
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
emilio700's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 7,341
Total Cats: 2,379
Default

Originally Posted by Supe
I used aluminum turnbuckles on the car side to take up cable tension, and I used cable and clevises from Harbor Freight, along with eye hooks on the splitter.

Fork Terminal for 3mm Wire
Never thought of that. Sweet.


Google "swageless terminal" and click images tab


Attached Thumbnails Post your DIY aero pics-511596340_797.jpg  
__________________


www.facebook.com/SuperMiata

949RACING.COM Home of the 6UL wheel

.31 SNR
emilio700 is offline  
Old 10-11-2013, 12:36 PM
  #580  
Senior Member
 
Supe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 538
Total Cats: 64
Default

They worked very well, were about $5 a piece (cheapest I could find anywhere), and easy to assemble. I just used some aluminum ferrules and a vice to crimp the other end in an eye loop that went to the turnbuckles. Bad pic, but this was the end result.
Attached Thumbnails Post your DIY aero pics-splitter-terminals.jpg  
Supe is offline  


Quick Reply: Post your DIY aero pics



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:15 PM.