My Custom Undertray
09-21-07, 04:46 PM
#1
www.silverbulletrx7.com
Thread Starter
My Custom Undertray
Some time ago there was a long thread about a custom undertray...
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=333609
Lots of interest and I always meant to post up some info regarding what I did. Well here is finall a link to what I did: http://www.silverbulletrx7.com/Undertray/
I may add something under the oilcoolers too once I put on my 99 lip.
Enjoy
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=333609
Lots of interest and I always meant to post up some info regarding what I did. Well here is finall a link to what I did: http://www.silverbulletrx7.com/Undertray/
I may add something under the oilcoolers too once I put on my 99 lip.
Enjoy
09-22-07, 12:23 PM
#2
IMO, the stock undertray is well engineered and well made. The plastic is more resilient than sheet metal and offers as good or better protection against debris.
Slapping a piece of flat sheet metal on the bottom of the car does not come close to replacing the factory tray. If you've ever had one off, you can see there is more to it.
I was considering replacing mine with a sheet metal replica, but it was very time consuming to do it right. I ended up just using the sheet metal and some rivets w/washers to repair mine where it had cracked.
Slapping a piece of flat sheet metal on the bottom of the car does not come close to replacing the factory tray. If you've ever had one off, you can see there is more to it.
I was considering replacing mine with a sheet metal replica, but it was very time consuming to do it right. I ended up just using the sheet metal and some rivets w/washers to repair mine where it had cracked.
Ramy's going to be extatic..
09-22-07, 02:56 PM
#5
www.silverbulletrx7.com
Thread Starter
Ah the classic nay-sayer that undoes his own nay-saying within his own nay-saying.
Example: "IMO, the stock undertray is well engineered and well made. The plastic is more resilient than sheet metal and offers as good or better protection against debris. "
Then he goes on to say: "I ended up just using the sheet metal and some rivets w/washers to repair mine where it had cracked."
So you are saying you used sheet metal which is not as good as the stock one to repair the stock one because it broke?
Anyway I'm just messin with ya. Your are entitled to your opinion. However I really don't think this was too time consuming compared to many of the other projects I have undertaken. I would also argue that you need much "protection" under there. Would I have done this if I had the original factory undertray? Maybe not. However I would at least make an effort to find a way to prevent air from escaping around the radiator as it does with the factory deal. This might mean foam, additional sheet metal or a new design as I have done.
Example: "IMO, the stock undertray is well engineered and well made. The plastic is more resilient than sheet metal and offers as good or better protection against debris. "
Then he goes on to say: "I ended up just using the sheet metal and some rivets w/washers to repair mine where it had cracked."
So you are saying you used sheet metal which is not as good as the stock one to repair the stock one because it broke?
Anyway I'm just messin with ya. Your are entitled to your opinion. However I really don't think this was too time consuming compared to many of the other projects I have undertaken. I would also argue that you need much "protection" under there. Would I have done this if I had the original factory undertray? Maybe not. However I would at least make an effort to find a way to prevent air from escaping around the radiator as it does with the factory deal. This might mean foam, additional sheet metal or a new design as I have done.
09-23-07, 01:16 PM
#6
I'm not out to criticize anyone's efforts and handiwork; in fact I praise dis1 for his efforts. But that's not exactly what I'm looking for.
1) The undertray should be expansive of the width of the front bumper, and cover the oil pan. This provides two functions:
- It protects the lines and oil pan, limiting the likelihood that they'd be damaged if you run over something like a large rock (search the forum; it's happened) or bottom out hard in a pothole
- It enables the air entering the nose to continue out the back, past the oil pan, providing additional cooling to the oil
2) The undertray needs to be made of a sturdy material such as the very tough plastic that the OEM one is made of. It will actually deform and absorb damage and force much better than metal, carbon fiber, etc, which would simply be punctured or break from considerable force at a defined point.
3) The undertray needs appropriate mounting points (definitely not zip ties) throughout the bumper edge and along other points of the subframe that it will cover. Several. Which also means it will need appropriate holes for things such as the oil pan drain plug, etc.
4) The undertray should extend past the front bumper to act as a lip as well, limiting air entering under the front nose.
That's just what I want; everyone's entitled to their own standards/aims, etc.
Oh and I personally already ran a custom undertray much likes dis1's, and it didn't last very long...(lost it within 10 hours of driving actually...on the way up to Rotary Revolution a few years back)
~Ramy
1) The undertray should be expansive of the width of the front bumper, and cover the oil pan. This provides two functions:
- It protects the lines and oil pan, limiting the likelihood that they'd be damaged if you run over something like a large rock (search the forum; it's happened) or bottom out hard in a pothole
- It enables the air entering the nose to continue out the back, past the oil pan, providing additional cooling to the oil
2) The undertray needs to be made of a sturdy material such as the very tough plastic that the OEM one is made of. It will actually deform and absorb damage and force much better than metal, carbon fiber, etc, which would simply be punctured or break from considerable force at a defined point.
3) The undertray needs appropriate mounting points (definitely not zip ties) throughout the bumper edge and along other points of the subframe that it will cover. Several. Which also means it will need appropriate holes for things such as the oil pan drain plug, etc.
4) The undertray should extend past the front bumper to act as a lip as well, limiting air entering under the front nose.
That's just what I want; everyone's entitled to their own standards/aims, etc.
Oh and I personally already ran a custom undertray much likes dis1's, and it didn't last very long...(lost it within 10 hours of driving actually...on the way up to Rotary Revolution a few years back)
~Ramy
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09-23-07, 05:08 PM
#8
Ah the classic nay-sayer that undoes his own nay-saying within his own nay-saying.
Example: "IMO, the stock undertray is well engineered and well made. The plastic is more resilient than sheet metal and offers as good or better protection against debris. "
Then he goes on to say: "I ended up just using the sheet metal and some rivets w/washers to repair mine where it had cracked."
So you are saying you used sheet metal which is not as good as the stock one to repair the stock one because it broke?
Anyway I'm just messin with ya. Your are entitled to your opinion. However I really don't think this was too time consuming compared to many of the other projects I have undertaken. I would also argue that you need much "protection" under there. Would I have done this if I had the original factory undertray? Maybe not. However I would at least make an effort to find a way to prevent air from escaping around the radiator as it does with the factory deal. This might mean foam, additional sheet metal or a new design as I have done.
Example: "IMO, the stock undertray is well engineered and well made. The plastic is more resilient than sheet metal and offers as good or better protection against debris. "
Then he goes on to say: "I ended up just using the sheet metal and some rivets w/washers to repair mine where it had cracked."
So you are saying you used sheet metal which is not as good as the stock one to repair the stock one because it broke?
Anyway I'm just messin with ya. Your are entitled to your opinion. However I really don't think this was too time consuming compared to many of the other projects I have undertaken. I would also argue that you need much "protection" under there. Would I have done this if I had the original factory undertray? Maybe not. However I would at least make an effort to find a way to prevent air from escaping around the radiator as it does with the factory deal. This might mean foam, additional sheet metal or a new design as I have done.
Anyways, what I was saying is you've wasted your time making something that is a piece of ****. Is that a little clearer?
09-23-07, 05:41 PM
#9
www.silverbulletrx7.com
Thread Starter
Good points Ramy. There are certainly more than one way to do this and different goals to consider. Something that is a combo with a front lip would be ideal. Mine has lasted more than 10 hours though. In fact I just got back from a race today.
Alexdimen - I'm not sure how to respond to you. You are very rude but I admit I must have embarrassed you a little with my post so I'm sure you were just lashing out. However please don't post here again. Thanks.
Alexdimen - I'm not sure how to respond to you. You are very rude but I admit I must have embarrassed you a little with my post so I'm sure you were just lashing out. However please don't post here again. Thanks.
09-23-07, 05:43 PM
#10
www.silverbulletrx7.com
Thread Starter
09-23-07, 06:03 PM
#11
Thanks 
Absolutely. There's a big difference between an undertray and a radiator duct. The two are often confused with one another, despite the OEM design incorporating the two different functions into the design of a single part. So you don't necessarily have to be aiming for both.
Yep, which is why I've been hassling Damian to finish up his. At this rate, I'll have my own custom one finished before he will LOL.
Man I'm glad you fared better than I did. I spent a pretty penny on mine (it was made from CF) and I was *PISSED* lol.
Oh and SAQ, that looks great man Looks like a wee bit more work than I was looking to do though haha (unless that center vent piece was premade for something else and you simply adapted it into your setup?)
~Ramy
PS: Why do we have 2 locals at each other's throats? C'mon now...
There are certainly more than one way to do this and different goals to consider.
Something that is a combo with a front lip would be ideal.
Mine has lasted more than 10 hours though. In fact I just got back from a race today.
Oh and SAQ, that looks great man
Looks like a wee bit more work than I was looking to do though haha (unless that center vent piece was premade for something else and you simply adapted it into your setup?)~Ramy
PS: Why do we have 2 locals at each other's throats? C'mon now...
09-23-07, 06:22 PM
#12
www.silverbulletrx7.com
Thread Starter
Reminds me of my shogun bumper. I had that thing for less than a month and then hit an animal. In hindsight though I'm glad the insurance company paid for my lack of good taste. :-)
09-23-07, 07:40 PM
#13
- Before...OEM undertray w/ stock bumper
- After...C-west bumper w/ C-west looking CF undertray
- After the after (lol), bumper with no undertray haha
Reminds me of my shogun bumper. I had that thing for less than a month and then hit an animal. In hindsight though I'm glad the insurance company paid for my lack of good taste. :-)
