Wierd aero stuff

**Damn True** · 10-31-2005

In looking at a couple of panoz cars this weekend I got to thinking about how absolutely rubbish the aerodynamics are on some of our cars.

So, here are some of the things I have been rolling around in my head. Let me know if you have seen good examples of this sort of thing, or if I am pi$$ing up the proverbial rope.

Fender air extractors:
Something to get the hot, high pressure air out of the engine compartment rather than having it flow beneath the car. Because at this point it is turbulent and slow it will raise the pressure beneath the car and increase lift.
So I'm thinking something like perhaps getting a couple of M3 fenders and cutting the fender vent out and fitting into the f-body fender. Perhaps using the extractors off of a '69 Trans Am (though they look a bit wierd). Maybe some kind of subtle louver treatment on the aftmost part of the front fender.

Grille:
Wondering if the radiator needs that great big opening? Are the two openings on the lower valance ('68 Camaro) large enough to feed the radiator? Many modern cars certainly get by with smaller openings. I'm thinking if there was a sheet of aluminum behind the grille (painted flat black) to block off the opening?
Certainly sealing the opening between the core support and the front header panel would be helpful, as would sealing the area from beneath the front valance up to the core support creating a duct of sorts.

Alternate spoilers & wings:
The OE spoiler works, but can it be improved upon?
Vanzuuk's is certainly an option, but as a more aggresive treatment I have also been considering the VFN fiberglass Pro-mod air dam.

I'm kinda thinking it would be bad-ass to have that VFN front valance set up so it could be removed and installed using dzus fastners so you wouldn't have that thing on the car for the daily driver type stuff.

Or perhaps Tyler's front valance/air dam?

See what I mean about the grille opening? Do we need all of that?

And in the rear...stock works of course. But can it be improved upon?

Stevo's custom spoiler is one option.

Or, again something more agressive. What if one combined the stock spoiler with a wing of this type?

Probably a little to "rice" to drive on the street, but if you had a spare decklid with that attached that you could bolt on for a track-day.

Sponsored Links

**ProStreet R/T** · 10-31-2005

You need to look at each individual car before making any aero changes. 1st thing I would do to 95% of the cars I have seen here is drop them to the ground. You think your car is low, drop it another 1-1.5" and now we're talking. Look at Red and some of the other real race cars, they are down in the weeds.

Air going under the car is only bad if you can't control it. Throw a belly pan on the car and it will almost instantly handle MUCH better at high speeds. Yes a rear valance that directs air flow out the back would be a huge benefit here. Stacking rear spoilers is only, ONLY, ONLY!!!! beneficial if you need the rear downforce. It's not some magical piece that makes the car faster.

No you don't need 1/2 the grill opening the car has stock if your running high speed tracks. Getting a good fan shroud and directing all the air through the radiator is key.

I honestly wouldn't get too crazy with the front end, that custom aluminum air-dam would be right up my alley. If the car is low enough it will be more than adequate.

**MrQuick** · 10-31-2005

See what I mean about the grille opening? Do we need all of that?

Back when these cars were designed they did. Remember air was moved via engine driven fans that slowed down when the car was in traffic which would require more surface area and open air paths to cool.
Now we have cooling systems that are more efficient,fans that push more air and are electiclly modulated for different cooling needs.
This open area could now hinder aerodynamics. But here is the thing, is the car worthy of the effort? If your building an open road racer where the difference between 160 and 165mph is a 12" of frontal surface area,than a design change is warrented. I might look twice if this was a local raod coarse track car and speeds were lower.
Also the same efect can be made by moving weight around or increasing traction ratios.

**Damn True** · 10-31-2005

**vanzuuk1** · 11-01-2005

True , my spoiler isnt super efficient, just was the easiest for me to make and I wanted the "look". The spoilers in you photos are way more effective but if break them its off to the paint shop. I have dragged and damage mine a few times already.

My rear spoiler is coming along but I want to get a cheap decklid too drill and test it on. The rear has all kinds of challenges as steevo and I will tell you. A stock camaro spoiler with lexan or aluminum extensions might be cool.

I should have a photo of the rear spoiler this weekend.

**vanzuuk1** · 11-01-2005

Also, mr quick is right, the aero stuff wont matter enough on a lot of tight road courses. I see big wings at an autox and wonder if its worth it.

I did my front spoiler for the look, but you can feel the difference on the highway.You can feel the extra drag too!

**Rick Dorion** · 11-01-2005

Dirk, are you going to have your custom rear spoiler fasten to the deck lid or stock rear spoiler? Sonds very cool.

**Damn True** · 11-01-2005

To be clear, I probably wont do much if any of this stuff. Certainly the radical stuff is really more for ruminaton than anything else. Just opening the table for brainstorming.

**Damn True** · 11-01-2005

Originally Posted by vanzuuk1

True , my spoiler isnt super efficient, just was the easiest for me to make and I wanted the "look". The spoilers in you photos are way more effective but if break them its off to the paint shop. I have dragged and damage mine a few times already.

My rear spoiler is coming along but I want to get a cheap decklid too drill and test it on. The rear has all kinds of challenges as steevo and I will tell you. A stock camaro spoiler with lexan or aluminum extensions might be cool.

I should have a photo of the rear spoiler this weekend.

Good point. It certainly would make it a lot more expensive to get off track with something like that VFN unit or Tylers. Especially if you got into the kitty-litter at Sears Point, and now that I think about it, some of the run-off areas at Thunderhill, though big, are essentially plowed earth.

**Damn True** · 11-01-2005

Here is an interesting article on Cam-aerodynamics http://www.yearone.com/enthusiast/re...8-21camaro.pdf

**Travis B** · 11-01-2005

I agree w/ pro street r/t.....most cars could beneifit from a height adjustment.....

and IMO that VFN front airdam is horrible looking

**vanzuuk1** · 11-01-2005

My rear spoiler attaches to the deck lid, I want to get a spare decklid to play with until I have it all worked out.

By the way there is a ton of force on these things as the car goes through the air, so I overdid it a little with fasteners and supports. You can stand on my front spoiler and rock the car. If an aluminum spoiler ever came off at speed it could kill someone.

**Damn True** · 11-02-2005

The graphs in the article I linked above are particularly interesting. The stock stuff works, but it was dumbed down from the original design for asthetics. I can only assume that larger versions would be more effective.

If you look at the graphs, front end lift, even with the OE air dam is pretty bad. Certainly reducing the amount of air beneath the car (lower car and bigger air dam) would improve that as those tests were done at stock ride height.

I wonder how much of that could be alleviated by reducing the amount of air that gets into the engine compartment and providing a better exit path for that which does get in?

**airrj1** · 11-02-2005

Originally Posted by Damn True

Fender air extractors:
Something to get the hot, high pressure air out of the engine compartment rather than having it flow beneath the car.

Just a note about getting hot air out of the engine compartment. I don't have any inner fenders on my Chevelle right now and I have no cooling issues with a tiny radiator, no fan shroud, a stock four blade fan. Generally just a crappy cooling system. I am fairly certain that the open nature of the engine compartment is helping keeping things cool.

I also saw this before on my Street Stock circle track car. We were required to run inner fender wells for years. And finnally the track allowed us to run without them, and instantly any cooling problems that we had went away. It definately helps exchange the air and cool things down.

**Damn True** · 11-03-2005

I really like what this guy did with the front of this car!

**vanzuuk1** · 11-03-2005

I do like that car but the spoiler wouldnt last ten seconds, probably as far as the end of my driveway. Crunch.

Its probably air bagged.

**Damn True** · 11-03-2005

LOL, yeah it looks pretty dang low. It is on grass though. That can be decieving.

How's your rear spoiler coming along?

**vanzuuk1** · 11-03-2005

True

I have been meaning to get two yellow or red tow hooks and mount them to my car,think that looks cool,

**ProStreet R/T** · 11-03-2005

Is it me or does that whole setup look out of proportion? IMO it needs to be lowered another 2" and build the splitter and such to reflect that height.

And are those 360cs wheels on it?

**69Nova** · 11-03-2005

That cars looks so wrong. I hope that is a fiberglass front so he didnt ruin stock fenders. I know our cars are not aero friendly but didnt Big Red do over 200mph with basicly stock bodywork.

Andrew Petty

Enter your username:
Do you want to login or register?	I want to create an account To login, enter your password:
Enter your password:
Forgot your password?	Stay logged in

Login / Register Close Panel

Thread: Wierd aero stuff

Display

Wierd aero stuff

aero