Splitter, they sell these at Home Depot now... Options

[grantsfo]

You need some titanium skid blocks under the splitter. (Call alpha for titanium.)The Formula 1 teams used to use them in the old days to reduce wear on the under-bodies. The make big sprays of sparks when they drag on the pavement. Very intertaining. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Sparks and a 914. ....Now that sounds like a good combo. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blowup.gif)

[Rough_Rider]

To save weight why not make it out of foam board and a little thicker glass?

Yep that'll work for lightness. but you loose out in strength.

Wrapping FG around any core increases its strength upto 6 fold. However the core material is prone to taking damage.
If the core material fails the entire structure is more likely to break apart.

Wood is a great core just heavy. A great solution is aluminium honeycomb sheet available through various places or www.mcmaster.com

Have fun (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

[URY914]

My front spoiler has a fiberglass splinter that is about 1 1/2" at the center to about 2 1/2" at the ends. It's all fiberglass maybe 3/16" thick. It will rub the ground when I really hit the brakes and there is a bump in the surface of the track.

I like it because its not build like a cast iron cow catcher. When I hit something it cracks and I can fix it easily. It doesn't transfer that energy to the car and crack the bodywork and paint.

You also need to think about when you go off track and that thing digs into the ground at 50-80 mph and rips off and takes half your front end with it.

[Trekkor]

Good posts.

The "device" is secured with 7 Dzus fasteners.
If I go off, it should tear away cleanly.
If it were bolted directly to the chassis, now that would be trouble.


KT

[Randal]

Good posts.

The "device" is secured with 7 Dzus fasteners.
If I go off, it should tear away cleanly.
If it were bolted directly to the chassis, now that would be trouble.


KT

Don't take this wrong, but if it ever did come loose, for whatever reason, 20lbs is a huge amount of weight to be flying around. Especially with sharp edges.

If you don't want to intimidate other drivers on the track I'd find a way to make it lighter. Isn't that the Trekkor way? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sawzall-smiley.gif)

[Trekkor]

Don't take this wrong

I don't and I thank you. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif)

After near 2 hrs of lapping with three sections coming up to 100 mph-plus.
Not to mention uphill, downhill, off camber and curb surfing not one Dzus fastener came loose.

If I had an "off", I would hope the speeds would be greatly reduced and the splitter would tuck under the car or only partly come off if at all.


KT

[Randal]

Don't take this wrong

I don't and I thank you. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif)

After near 2 hrs of lapping with three sections coming up to 100 mph-plus.
Not to mention uphill, downhill, off camber and curb surfing not one Dzus fastener came loose.

If I had an "off", I would hope the speeds would be greatly reduced and the splitter would tuck under the car or only partly come off if at all.


KT

You've got to apply Murphy's law to the splitter configuration, otherwise your argument isn't valid. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[Trekkor]

I don't understand... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)


KT

[Randal]

I don't understand... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)


KT

You’re adding a lot of weight in an area where there is a strong possibility it could be knocked off. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Murphy's law says when something can go wrong it will. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

So the exercise we all have to mentally noodle, in order to be totally safe in building any modification, is thinking about what is the worst thing that can happen.

In other words you could hit a curb hard and the entire splitter goes flying off onto the track and hits the car following you, or another car looses a wheel and you hit the wheel square-on at high speed and it knocks the splitter totally off.

Now you can argue that this will never happen, but again you have to go through the mental exercise that it could - and then make adjustments to your plans.

So, in the end analysis 20lbs flying through the air with sharp edges is not a good thing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

So what do we do to eliminate the risk? Figure out a way to build it lighter. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[Rough_Rider]

I respectfully may have to retract my earlier statement on foam cores.

I just popped into the local home despot they've a ping foam material which is solid enough to make interior walls. Equates to a 15lb per sq ft crush force. Laminate some of that up with 3 layers FG i'm sure it'd be in the 5-8 lb range.

[URY914]

I don't understand... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)


KT

You’re adding a lot of weight in an area where there is a strong possibility it could be knocked off. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Murphy's law says when something can go wrong it will. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

So the exercise we all have to mentally noodle, in order to be totally safe in building any modification, is thinking about what is the worst thing that can happen.

In other words you could hit a curb hard and the entire splitter goes flying off onto the track and hits the car following you, or another car looses a wheel and you hit the wheel square-on at high speed and it knocks the splitter totally off.

Now you can argue that this will never happen, but again you have to go through the mental exercise that it could - and then make adjustments to your plans.

So, in the end analysis 20lbs flying through the air with sharp edges is not a good thing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

So what do we do to eliminate the risk? Figure out a way to build it lighter. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Well said. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

[grantsfo]

Trekkor, ....shhhh dont tell anyone about my killer rocker panel. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[Trekkor]

I'll have to look around at that foam material.


KT

[McMark]

Trekkor, ....shhhh dont tell anyone about my killer rocker panel. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

I saw it too Grant. You're going to have to pay both of us off to keep it quiet. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

But it is a great example of how the unexpected happens and rocker panels go shooting across the course like javelins. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif) Whooops, did I let the cat out of the bag? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pinch.gif)

[Trekkor]

When he dropped a wheel off course and the rocker shot straight up in the air, it looked like he had hit a 2x6 sending it skyward. :helicopter:

I forgot about that day.


KT

[Randal]

I wonder how much flex there would be in a thin Styrofoam sheet covered with fiberglass on both sides.

You’d need to do one side at a time, or use mold release (?) on the table.

Sure wouldn’t weight much and the FG would be strong, but light. My only question is the amount of flex.

If there ended up being more flex than you wanted you could use a thin alumimum sheet (as suggested) but that stuff is expensive.

That Steel place in Redwood City (at Whipple exit) has all kinds of foam sheets or aluminum and such. Lots of surplus aircraft stuff as well. Might we worth a look.

[Trekkor]

I made a foam core skimboard that is thicker and smaller than my splitter about 17 years ago. I still have it. It weighs just a fraction of the wooden part of my splitter and does not flex at all.

You may be on to something.

I wish I had a wind tunnel.


KT

[Randal]

I made a foam core skimboard that is thicker and smaller than my splitter about 17 years ago. I still have it. It weighs just a fraction of the wooden part of my splitter and does not flex at all.

You may be on to something.

I wish I had a wind tunnel.


KT

I also like the way Paul built his.

I don't know how he did it, but you'd think you could use the same fiberglass process as was previously outlined in the front oil cooler post?

Glue a big foam block to the front of your car. Shape it until you're happy with the design, including the lower lip.

Add aluminum reinforcing where ever needed (to the block) and tie these reinforcements to your existing mounting points.

Remove the shaped block from the car.

Glass it and when cured remove the foam.

You'd then need to attach the reinforcing aluminum bits (rivets) to the spoiler and attach the splitter to the car.

There must be an easy way to include the aluminum reinforcing bits as part of the fiberglass splitter....one of the fiberglass experts here will likely know.

[nine14cats]

Hi Trekkor,

You're a resourceful soul. I'm sure you'll figure a way to make a homemade splitter that is both light and strong, as well as fun to fabricate. And of course....you will document it online!

I'd paint it yellow....yellow is faster...or red...yeah, that's it...red

hmmm....who has a red and yellow car?

Bill P.

[grantsfo]

I wish I had a wind tunnel.


KT

If you go to Home Depot they have those big industrial ventilation fans (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)