Oh dear... Wouldn't it be fun to dodge speed-bumps in that

 

All points well taken. I've already got several ideas for v2 in my head, possibly including a switch from a single center cooler to dual side coolers like those above. Everything will be improved on the next version.

Regarding the polar moment, I agree. But these things also have shown to increase front downforce, so hopefully it shouldn't create too much trouble on turn-in. If anything, I hope it doesn't create too much downforce to unbalance the rear of the car. I don't expect it to based on what I've seen from other cars running a similar setup, but only testing will prove that out.

skatingsamurai, the wood will provide more strength than I believe a foam/resin version would. That may be a project for a different day and is worth considering. The question becomes, "How much strength do you give up in pursuit of weight-reduction?"

Time will tell.

Daily driver? I wonder if I would benefit from some radical camber like that on my Dodge pickup?

 

I think your dodge truck will tow more with that amount of camber.



What would to cost of aluminum in your area in order to make something like the splitter seen here:

 

Hes on airbags.. do research before coming to assumptions.

 

Oh, my bad.

Had I known he was running Airbags I would have most definitely kept my mouth shut.

so, how are the airbags supposed to change my POV??

 

Nice job on that. I've seen a lot of people using something made of plastic sheet or lexan. A couple I have seen are 2 piece items (left, right) with the logic being the full splitter doesn't always get damaged on an off track excursion.

 

Aluminum isn't the best, it can bend fairly easily or will be heavy. A nice sheet of Lexan or something similiar is a good way to do it.

 

That pic is a great illustration of my reluctance to use aluminum. I know it might be lighter, but the aluminum always seems to look "beat up", even if it's only from the stress of the mounting bolts. Keep the ideas coming guys, but remember, it's got to be CHEAP!

 

tell that to the people who have aluminum hoods.



to be honest, i think aluminum is a good solution, but the foam is probably the best, as its easier to be replaced and cheaper.

 

thickness accounted for, IIRC lexan is heavier than aluminum of the same thickness and size.

 

?What's that supposed to mean? You say thickness accounted for, then say of the same thickness.

Lexan is less than half as dense as aluminum, but on a strength per unit mass basis, high grade aluminum is better. Your typical sheet aluminum is probably low grade though, so then it's basically a draw.

 

*sigh* if only titanium was an easy material to aquire

 

i read in a recent magazine article... cant remember, but it was probably superstreet or modified, in the last few months... the staff made a front splitter for a honda or something. but they went throught the steps and explained every step to it. they made it from carbon fiber and kevlar. they detail how to use vacuum bags, release wax and no-stick paper. its very helpful. i had intended to do one this spring. the main shape was formed from half inch foam insulation sheets. they also detail functionality, where the splitter should be level with the ground because it isnt the lip the pushes down on the front of the car, but the inverted foil design sucks the car to the ground by creating an area of low pressure. if i can find it in my huge magazine stack, i will repost a reference to it. i also did some research and it looks like kevlar is pretty cheap compared to carbon fiber. its just as strong as cf and has the twill look. so thats the road im gonna take. but their piece was very professionally made. real clean. ithink it only weighed like 12 pounds or something. no quote tho

 

http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/chassis.htm

Click on the link at the bottom, theres some articles from Racecar Engineering in there on air dams, splitters and front diffusers, also on underbody aero, wings and all sorts of good stuff.

 

I've been very happy with my wood splitter. I've hit stuff with it and it's held up perfect, it's 100x more durable than the last fiberglass airdam/splitter I had that was purchased from a race shop (not homemade). I used 9 layer 1/2" ply (furniture quality) and covered it in 3 coats of fiberglass resin before painting. Lot's of compliments on it and no one knows it's wood. Mounts up with a couple quick release pins and is very solid. For the skeptics of using wood, my buddy just picked up a new $100k+ formula car and it came with a wood splitter.

 

Nice job, Mark. I hope mine turns out as well.

What did you end up using as the rear mounts? Steel, aluminum, or the rod end setup like in front?

 

Thanks! I'm sure yours will come out just as good.

I attached some 1" x 1" x 1/8" aluminum angle to the splitter as seen in the pictures. I then bolted (2) pieces of the same angle on each side of the car on the outer frame area. The angle on the car attached to the angle on the splitter with quick release pins (2 on each side). The angle on the car bent slightly a few times from some impact and finally broke from being hammered straight again, so I recently replaced it (yesterday). The splitter has not sustained any damage. I took a 7" x 8" piece of the splitter wood (1/4" aluminum plate would also work but had none handy) and bolted it to the frame rail on each side, it attaches to the aluminum on the splitter now with the same 2 quick release pins on each side. To tighten things even further, I added a turn-buckle and eye bolts with some cable in the wheel well area on each side. Takes 2 minutes to remove the splitter with no tools. Very, very solid.

I can get some pictures of the mounting if you'd like, don't have any on the computer at the moment, just ask. Also, you may find that you need something to cover the gap between the bottom of the bumper and the top of the splitter, you'll notice in the picture I used some 3/16" black plastic. The support rods in front definitely help, otherwise you will get the splitter to flex at high speeds in the middle from the down force (I've seen some pictures of mine with the rods more to the side).

Good luck with yours, this has been a great splitter so far!

 

ok, you convinced me, thats just plain dope. like, wow, that boggles my mind.
sooooooooo beautiful.
grade A+, you win, nuff said

peace

 

Yes, very baddass. That fits everything: works well, looks good, and its cheap!

 

haters turned lovers.

Home made splitters are the best.

 

Just thought I'd throw in a few pics of the progress (or lack of). Mark's splitter is my new goal!

 

And some more...

 

Final mock-up...

 

Off to the paint shop! The final step before painting it is to cut out a section just behind where the oil cooler will sit. The cooler will be shrouded to the opening so that the air rushing under the splitter will create negative pressure behind the cooler to make it more effective.

 

Why not extend the splitter further under the radiator to force more air through it? A few pictures up, it looks like there is a couple inch gap between the bottom of the rad and the edge of the splitter. Why not extend the splitter further under the radiator to force more air through it? Are you planning on making some sort of shroud to channel the air?