240hoke Posted May 17, 2006 Author Share Posted May 17, 2006 That what I think jon. I cant think of a practical way to add a skirt around the front though. I would rather make a molded splitter that served both functions. from the side, picture something like this: | <- Airdam <- transition to lower spliter and "mold" into airdam -- <- splitter This would serve both purposes without using flimsy lawn edging which I see alot of people using. I personally dont find it too attractive and without a good deal of bracing it doesnt do much good. Particularly when we are talking this close to the ground longevity is an issue. Wish we had some aerospace engineers to chime in here, Im sure there have to be some on the board. Of course then we might all feel stupid. Synlubes -- I havent cut enough of the airflow from the engine compartment to matter at all. Im fact I believe that the 280z's came with a belly pan that went to the engine cross member. Prolly helps with engine cooling if i had to guess myself. I seriously doubt I will ever cut my hood, I have been thinking about cutting my fenderwells though to relieve pressure build up in the engine compartment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tube80z Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 Wish we had some aerospace engineers to chime in here, Im sure there have to be some on the board. Of course then we might all feel stupid. I just got a new book from Simon Mcbeath called competition car aerodynamics. You may want to get a copy before going too far. They did a number of CFD studies on a generic shape that's close to a Z on the front. It shows airdam, airdam with belly pan, splitter, and splitter with diffuser. They all work a little differently and change the flow around/under the car. Simon writes the aerobytes column in racecar engineering. This book is basically those columns expanded. Synlubes -- I havent cut enough of the airflow from the engine compartment to matter at all. Im fact I believe that the 280z's came with a belly pan that went to the engine cross member. I have been thinking about cutting my fenderwells though to relieve pressure build up in the engine compartment. I'm pretty sure all the Z's had a splash pan. I put holes in my inner fenders to help vent the engine compartment when I ran a belly pan. I then used gurneys on the front of the fenders to help create more of an extraction, which helped to lower the engine temp. I also created a simple diffuser in front of the radiator. That's another thing you can try to make things more efficient and make the entire openning smaller in the front. Cary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synlubes Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 I put holes in my inner fenders to help vent the engine compartment when I ran a belly pan. I then used gurneys on the front of the fenders to help create more of an extraction' date=' which helped to lower the engine temp. I also created a simple diffuser in front of the radiator. That's another thing you can try to make things more efficient and make the entire openning smaller in the front. Cary[/quote'] Any pics Cary? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehelix112 Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 Oh yes, pics please. Just ordered those two books. Just to stir the pot a little (read: threadjack), what are peoples opinions on the 280YZ kit's aerodynamics? Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tube80z Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 It would appear I lost most of my pics when I lost a hard drive last year. I do have some from when I started my experiments that would give you an idea of what I did. The u-shaped piece seen in the photo below had a top, which is in the second photo. Unfortunately I don't have anything close up or of the holes I put in the engine compartment. All I did there was put 3 inch holes in the inner fender in front of the strut (3 on each side) and flanged teh edges. Cary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 I just added a strip of aluminum to the bottom of my generic airdam after my splitter concept failed. I used 10/32 button head screws, nylocks, and large washers. Also, here are a couple shots of the failed splitter I had built. It made the front of the car fly because it wasn't close enough to the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehelix112 Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 I also created a simple diffuser in front of the radiator. Is a front diffuser a rising section behind the lowest bit at the front? As seen in this pic: http://www.mulsannescorner.com/diffuser5.jpg Does this function to slow the air down, reducing pressure, at the same time as a high pressure zone exists above/in front? Sorry if thats not too clear, I'm still coming to grips with the majority of these concepts. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 http://www.mulsannescorner.com/audir8-01-3.html http://www.mulsannescorner.com/couragec60-03-2.html http://www.mulsannescorner.com/dallaralmp03.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehelix112 Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 John, Thanks, sorry to appear lazy. With the first two series of pics, I can't really see whether the upwards diffusers leads into an open cavity above the flat underbelly that channels the air down the car? Is that the case? Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tube80z Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 Is a front diffuser a rising section behind the lowest bit at the front? As seen in this pic: http://www.mulsannescorner.com/diffuser5.jpg Does this function to slow the air down' date=' reducing pressure, at the same time as a high pressure zone exists above/in front[/quote'] Sorry, in diffuser it may have made more sense to say duct. What I'm talking about is really diffusing duct in front of the radiator. It's purpose to slow by expanding the air going into the radiator matrix. The next part of what I was going to do was block off a lot more of the front openning. Does that help? Cary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240hoke Posted May 18, 2006 Author Share Posted May 18, 2006 im reading and learning guys keep it coming. I would like to make a nice piece for z's out of carbon or something. I think I may order the book mentioned and do some studyin! Interesting stuff aerodynamics are! -Austin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehelix112 Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 Austin, I'm in the same boat. Books ordered. Cary, That is what I thought you were talking about, but I just wanted to check. Thanks. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BayAreaZT Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 Here's a fairly simple one using the 280z splash pan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlderThanMe Posted May 18, 2006 Share Posted May 18, 2006 cool! see you tomorrow Austin! I am just about to start my splitter project as soon as I get back from ZdayZ...I'll be taking plenty of pictures... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsun40146 Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 bump for more info, and new insight based on the wind tunnel tests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supertip Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Well now that somebody else posted on this old thread, 240hoke, could you post measurements for the splitter? maybe a diagram or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240Z2NV Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 Wanted to share some pics from the racetrack today to possibly inspire some of you. I'm not ready; but, always 'storing' ideas..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HB280ZT Posted September 3, 2008 Share Posted September 3, 2008 Ok guys and/or girls this is some great information. However does anyone have any new pictures and or insight into how to make splitters/belly pans for our Z cars? Inquiring minds want to know! HB280ZT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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