Who has made a RACING air dam for the protege third gen???
- Thread starter iracemine
- Start date
I made mine by mounting a piece of plywood to the bottom of the bumper (MSP lip and bumper cover actually) with spacers and then riveting angle aluminum to the plywood.b then I riveted the harder fiberglass edging to the aluminum. I'll post up pics later if you are interested. I remove my bumper to go on the trailer though, so it may not work for you.
Hey Bill, thanks for commenting. I guess the "taking off the bumper" theme is wide spread. I am sure its cheaper than the $700 72" ramp extensions. I guess I will just need to drill out my pop rivets and put in racing fasteners like you for the front bumper. Maybe next off season.
I would like to see a pic or two up close but would love even more of someone saying YES I lost X.XX amount of time from it. And is it the dam or the splitter that really helps???
I would like to see a pic or two up close but would love even more of someone saying YES I lost X.XX amount of time from it. And is it the dam or the splitter that really helps???
rolled plastic riveted to my neons bumper from midway down. was shooting for 3" ground clearance front, came out a little lower
bumper had 2 bolts holding it on with support from foam/bumper support
i also made a fiberglass radiator duct
and solid fiberglass splitter (6 layers of 18 ounce matt) - think it was 3.5" lip and extended back - this weighed a bunch and has survived a 130mph rip off + 20' plus aerial (but bumper shredded into lots of pieces)
i didnt do the diffusers pictured - this is layout for splitter mold
mold
used alum L brackets from rolled plastic to splitter and rivets - back of splitter: i had brackets come down from car and used a zip tie from splitter to bracket.
good for faster exit speeds/straight speeds and made car oversteer - didnt use it much on the Neon, but splitter moved to BMW with a rear wing to balance out.
bumper had 2 bolts holding it on with support from foam/bumper support
i also made a fiberglass radiator duct
and solid fiberglass splitter (6 layers of 18 ounce matt) - think it was 3.5" lip and extended back - this weighed a bunch and has survived a 130mph rip off + 20' plus aerial (but bumper shredded into lots of pieces)
i didnt do the diffusers pictured - this is layout for splitter mold
mold
used alum L brackets from rolled plastic to splitter and rivets - back of splitter: i had brackets come down from car and used a zip tie from splitter to bracket.
good for faster exit speeds/straight speeds and made car oversteer - didnt use it much on the Neon, but splitter moved to BMW with a rear wing to balance out.
Ah cool! Thanks man. I am not looking for down force in the front, but more wind efficiency (less drag). So It looks like I just need to make a diffuser. That way I can keep the air flow going into the radiator and not have to take on and off my bumper and hopefully get some more speed. And no unfortunately I am in street tuner class so anything goes. (normally money)
I found that the bottom lip of the font of the P5 aims up. So I still need to make some sort of damn that will be parallel to the ground. Hopefully I can make it easy to attach and remove since ramps are really a nuisance. Bill was wondering where you got that fiberglass piece?
CR3 Motorsports
Member
I have to find the company, but there is one that sells used carbon fiber front air dams used in NASCAR.
Looks like this. May help in your design and it's less than $40 shipped
http://www.driftninjaz.com/jason/photos/240sx/COT Parts/IMG_0092.JPG
Looks like this. May help in your design and it's less than $40 shipped
http://www.driftninjaz.com/jason/photos/240sx/COT Parts/IMG_0092.JPG
Protege2886
Member
- :
- '99 Protege
Subbing.
I'm in the same boat. I'm not looking for more downforce but more aerodynamic efficiency.
I'm in the same boat. I'm not looking for more downforce but more aerodynamic efficiency.
Then you *don't* want an air-dam.
Protege2886
Member
- :
- '99 Protege
I figured iracemine would post more updates on his adventures in diffusers etc.
why not? a decently configured air dam with a similarly configured undertray will help with the frontal air flow efficiency of the car. pair that with a modest rear under bumper tray, and they will help with overall fuel consumption at modest highway speeds. you actually lose efficiency from poor underbody flow dynamics.
Protege2886
Member
- :
- '99 Protege
What he said. Nice to hear from you again Nik! (been a while)
The original comment made me go back and have to read some quick google searches all over again.
For clarification, it's not so much fuel consumption that is motivating me, as much as, on-track performance.
The next trick will be making it SCCA legal.
You guys are correct, downforce increases and overall drag decreases with an air dam because it limits the air flow under the car. Here is a good paper on the subject: http://www.nptec.com/imgsti/aerobytes.pdf
great link!
Cool to know that there is some down force that comes with the damn. I thought the splitter was the one that made the down force.
I thought this was retarded. However I need to keep the balance in the car as its polering perfectly. My rear sway bar is cranked up as much as it will go so I don't want any more traction in the front (or do I have this wrong?). But I guess I will find out how much.
Also I am really hoping to have this come on and of and not the bumper. The bumper is on with lots o help. The front end of my car is not exactly in good shape or even level. So there is many washers and pop rivets holding on stuff. But hard plastic or fiberglass dam with same materiel for the diffuser should be easy to come on and off with 1/4 turn fasteners.
I thought this was retarded. However I need to keep the balance in the car as its polering perfectly. My rear sway bar is cranked up as much as it will go so I don't want any more traction in the front (or do I have this wrong?). But I guess I will find out how much.
Also I am really hoping to have this come on and of and not the bumper. The bumper is on with lots o help. The front end of my car is not exactly in good shape or even level. So there is many washers and pop rivets holding on stuff. But hard plastic or fiberglass dam with same materiel for the diffuser should be easy to come on and off with 1/4 turn fasteners.
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CR3 Motorsports
Member
Shoot these guys an email about their splitters.
http://www.racingmetal.com/sheetmetal.htm
the nascar splitters were crazy cheap, they are composite material as well.
http://www.racingmetal.com/sheetmetal.htm
the nascar splitters were crazy cheap, they are composite material as well.
