C6 rear diffuser update
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,582
Likes: 46
From: va
C6 rear diffuser update
It's been a year and I have finally gotten around to finishing off my diffuser design. It is all carbon and Kevlar, 7deg angle, light camber, 41" long and 40" wide. I have attached some photos of the rough mock up using boards to hold it somewhat in place (still needs sanding and cleanup before mounting). The plan is to eventually seal off the central tunnel with 1/8" aluminum (yes it would include naca ducts for cooling) and smooth out the floorpan cutouts with honeycomb/ carbon panels. Heat control will be the heavy duty (as opposed to the gold stuff) 17oz/yd silver adhesive backed heat shield foil.
Im planning on using 4 of the same turnbuckles found on splitters for
the mounting at the rear of the diffuser, but am still trying to figure out how to best mount the front facing part to the subframe. Any ideas?
Im planning on using 4 of the same turnbuckles found on splitters for
the mounting at the rear of the diffuser, but am still trying to figure out how to best mount the front facing part to the subframe. Any ideas?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,956
Likes: 520
From: Da U.P.
Will it stand up to the heat of the exhaust? Or will that tin foil stuff go between it? I've melted a bumper cover with an exhaust tip before, enough prolonged WOT will do that. Curious to see how this develops.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,153
Likes: 114
Looks a nice piece! How come you haven't run a steeper angle on the side sections? It looks like you could run a fairly steep angle on them as the exhaust isn't in the way.
Also have you done anything at the front to smooth out airflow (flat floor)?
Also have you done anything at the front to smooth out airflow (flat floor)?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,582
Likes: 46
From: va
Thanks for the comments!
Once the part is finished up Im going to get the car on a lift and see if I can use those points to mount it.
The heat of the exhaust would warp the panel so Im planning on using this stuff: http://www.hrpworld.com/store/defaul...-ft-13863.html
Using a steeper angle risks flow separation which reduces downforce. The optimum range of angles for a rear diffuser are between 7 and 10 degrees. I just went with 7 to be conservative. If I could eventually get ahold of a copy of solidworks Id like to test a few different configurations to see how much downforce could be achieved.
The rest of the car isnt flattened out yet, but thats in the plan. Once everything is sealed up on the exhaust/driveshaft tunnel and front subframe, Ill feel comfortable enough to remove the front valence and get some more front grip (this will also help feed more air to the rear diffuser). The front subframe is a getting a carbon/kevlar panel with heat shield backing, and the current plan for the tunnel is to have a panel made from 1/8" aluminum.
Once the part is finished up Im going to get the car on a lift and see if I can use those points to mount it.
The heat of the exhaust would warp the panel so Im planning on using this stuff: http://www.hrpworld.com/store/defaul...-ft-13863.html
Using a steeper angle risks flow separation which reduces downforce. The optimum range of angles for a rear diffuser are between 7 and 10 degrees. I just went with 7 to be conservative. If I could eventually get ahold of a copy of solidworks Id like to test a few different configurations to see how much downforce could be achieved.
The rest of the car isnt flattened out yet, but thats in the plan. Once everything is sealed up on the exhaust/driveshaft tunnel and front subframe, Ill feel comfortable enough to remove the front valence and get some more front grip (this will also help feed more air to the rear diffuser). The front subframe is a getting a carbon/kevlar panel with heat shield backing, and the current plan for the tunnel is to have a panel made from 1/8" aluminum.
Last edited by el es tu; Nov 3, 2013 at 06:44 PM.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,582
Likes: 46
From: va
There should be a thread with pictures from a few years ago if you want to see the process, but started with foam board, cut out the parts and got the basic shape to test on the car. Then smoothed out the corners, did a few adjustments and made a fiberglass piece from that, then turned it into a mold. The current diffuser is extremely modular in order to be able to replace broken parts, but was so labor intense, that any future ones are going to be two piece or one piece redesigned with a foam core.
This company makes universal parts for diffusers, however its kind of expensive:
http://www.reverie.ltd.uk/product_li...roup=A%20RDIFF
Also there's a company called Difflow - they make aluminum diffusers for various cars and will build custom ones to your specs:
http://www.difflow.com/
Looking back, I would just have had an aluminum one made by Difflow rather than go through the cost and labor of R&Ding the cf one...
This company makes universal parts for diffusers, however its kind of expensive:
http://www.reverie.ltd.uk/product_li...roup=A%20RDIFF
Also there's a company called Difflow - they make aluminum diffusers for various cars and will build custom ones to your specs:
http://www.difflow.com/
Looking back, I would just have had an aluminum one made by Difflow rather than go through the cost and labor of R&Ding the cf one...
Last edited by el es tu; Apr 8, 2014 at 11:25 AM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,582
Likes: 46
From: va
Thanks! Photos of the finished part are on this thread: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-diffuser.html
Last edited by el es tu; Apr 22, 2016 at 01:07 PM.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 24
Likes: 5
Also there's a company called Difflow - they make aluminum diffusers for various cars and will build custom ones to your specs:
http://www.difflow.com/
Looking back, I would just have had an aluminum one made by Difflow rather than go through the cost and labor of R&Ding the cf one...
Former Vendor
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 185
Likes: 6
Our C7 diffuser is being released May 7th.
http://www.difflow.com
Pro
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 500
Likes: 17
From: Houston TX
The diffuser body should stick out beyond the rear to reduce air swirl directly beyond the rear of the car. An ideal diffuser body angle is 12-14 degrees. Fins help channel the air from front to back.
Our C7 diffuser is being released May 7th.
http://www.difflow.com
Our C7 diffuser is being released May 7th.
http://www.difflow.com
I assume that like a front splitter, the further it extends under the car the better?
I don't have over axle exhaust on my car, so I would assume building the splitter into the area that the exhaust normally sits would be ideal. I'm just trying to confirm that.
Former Vendor
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 185
Likes: 6
Interesting...
I assume that like a front splitter, the further it extends under the car the better?
I don't have over axle exhaust on my car, so I would assume building the splitter into the area that the exhaust normally sits would be ideal. I'm just trying to confirm that.
I assume that like a front splitter, the further it extends under the car the better?
I don't have over axle exhaust on my car, so I would assume building the splitter into the area that the exhaust normally sits would be ideal. I'm just trying to confirm that.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 500
Likes: 17
From: Houston TX
Ideally, a flat underbody on the entire car would be best. Objects like the exhaust disturb the air underneath the car, causing drag. We want the air to reach the diffuser so it can be properly channeled between the fins and shot out the back. Our diffuser will seal up the exhaust area.