GT lower valance, is this a good choice for the track? Options

[vincesix]

I am making my winter project plans and will add Gt flares to the front fenders. I have a fiberglass lower front valance that works with the GT flares. How does this valance compare in regard to lift and down force compared to airdams? Their are so many choices but I like the look of the GT unit. Vince

[Brad Roberts]

Use the GT valance but install a "splitter" This will be a flat piece of black plastic attached to the lip of the valance.

I dont have pics.. but maybe someone will post one.

It is what we do on the 911's with the similar nose for the oil cooler.

The splitter should run back somewhat under the car (at least to the front of the control arm mounts)

This will give you some downforce that isnt achieved with the valance you like.

We use this same setup on late model factory Porsche race cars.


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[race914]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) with Brad regarding adding a splitter.

Here is a front view showing the splitter protruding on the bottom of the air dam



Here is a rear shot showing how far back the splitter extends

[DanT]

is this the type of valence you are referring to?

It worked very well as it is. If I had kept the car longer I would have added a rear spoiler of some sort....Probably a 914 "duck tail" because it did cause some rear lightness at high speeds with no rear spoiler.

[race914]

Dan, good question!

After I posted I wondered if maybe the 'GT Valence' mentioned is this one?

[vincesix]

Dan, good question!

After I posted I wondered if maybe the 'GT Valence' mentioned is this one?

Yes the facory style is the one i am refering to. Is it possible to build the splitter for this valance?

[Brad Roberts]

I envisioned the one above this post.

That version REALLY responds well to a splitter.

Great pic Dan!!



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[groot]

What rules are you working to?

There's always my favorite..... shameless plug..... shown here with an SCCA-legal splitter. This splitter also has a flat bottom that extends to the back of the air dam.

[Brad Roberts]

Flip this valance over onto a long piece of paper and trace the top edge onto the paper. This will become the leading edge of the splitter. Just go straight across where the opening is for the oil cooler.

Take the paper and transfer to a piece of black poly/plastic. Make TWO of them, so you have a replacement when you drag off the first one..LOL


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[Brad Roberts]

Kevin,

the ONLY drawback to that type of setup??

I have to remove/replace the whole thing if it is damaged.

I had the same problem with Roger Sheridans one piece front ends. He finally changed it a few years back and made the lower airdam/splitter seperate from the nose piece so we could easily carry spares and replace on the fly if need be.


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[vincesix]

Will 3/16" ABS work and I will guess it will Install independently from the valance?

[Brad Roberts]

3/16 will work fine. You want to attach it to the valance. Try to make it one piece.

Make one fully extended out to the leading edge of the bumper and one half the distance. The more extended the more downforce you will have on the front end. You'll need to experiment to determine what YOU need. I say start aggressive and trim back if need be.

Dont use a lot of screw to hold it on. Use something like 5 total so you can change them out easily. Two out on the ends just below the factory valance screws and one dead center.. then place the remaining 2 equal distance from the center.


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[Brad Roberts]

I just hope that valance has some decent material on the bottom to screw too.


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[Trekkor]

Where do you find the plastic to build this splitter? TAP?


KT

[Aaron Cox]

vince... i got a GT valence too...

its gonna be pretty hard to attach a flat piece to the bottom...

maybe bust out the fiberglass... and reshape the bottom.... so you have some meat to screw the splitter onto it

[Brad Roberts]

You nailed it Trek..TAP.

I would imagine the GT valance is thin at the lip like the stocker?

I'll look at a stocker tonight and see if I can figure something out quickly.

We are going to do this same thing in the Boxster spec series with the stocker Boxster noses.


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[drew365]

Here's my version of a splitter for those of the Chalom persuasion. (Scott where are you?) I added a couple of winglets on the sides to be fancy. It extends under the car to the front of the torsion bars. This forces the air exiting the oil cooler to the sides and out the wheel wells instead of being dumped under the car. It's all aluminum, my favorite medium.

[DanT]

I envisioned the one above this post.

That version REALLY responds well to a splitter.

Great pic Dan!!



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Thanks Brad....that was a few years back (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chairfall.gif)

I always worried about hitting a curb or going off into the weeds with that air dam since it was sooooo low. 19 row oil cooler was mounted to it behind the center screening.
As I remember the bottom edge of mine was pretty beefy...took some abuse on drive ways and such with no damage (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
I thought a splitter could mount to that one pretty easy....but then again that was 8 or so years ago and they may manufacture (lay up) the FG differently now than back then (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[grantsfo]

You could be like me and go super cheap used Rich B spoiler for $89 and cut it to fit your cooler. LOL! I do let a lot of air under the car however!

[groot]

Brad,

Not exactly true about having to remove the entire setup, the splitter is a seperate piece, bolted on from the bottom (bolt heads act like rub blocks through the pits). Certainly the air dam is not seperate.