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I noticed a front spoiler for midyears in a Eckler catalog and was wondering about the performance aspects of it in regards to high speed handling? Also if there are any cooling changes to the brakes or motor?
I can't answer your question, but could you point me to the page number or web address....I want to check this out....always thought they looked good, never saw one advertised figured they were custom...
I can't answer your question, but could you point me to the page number or web address....I want to check this out....always thought they looked good, never saw one advertised figured they were custom...
I too think they have a nice look but then I used to run with flares and no front bumper. Now that I am "flareless" and do have a bumper I would like to see one on if any have a picture of one.
However for me performance is a first and if they mess up the cooling it wont fly. On the other hand if it would help to keep that inherit front end liftoff feeling at speed it would be a good thing.
The air dam pictured on Rosita Grande was needed to keep the front end on the ground above 150mph. "IF" you plan to go that fast you need 5 degrees nose down and the air dam. I think I purchased this dam from Mid America but it certainly could have been Ecklers. There was a bit of cutting and grinding involved but a little time and fiberglass dust can produce a good tight fit. We also built a small bracket in the center to keep everything in place. There is an air scoop on each side, the red looking opening just inside the parking lights, that I ducted to the brake rotors. It all worked and seemed to help the brakes a bunch. Questions, let me know.
Great reply with outstanding info. That is the type of reply that I have become accustomed to here at the forum. I do plan to go that fast and appreciate all of the input.
BTW were those the tires you used to go that fast? They sure look good and I was wondering about the wheel / tire size and offset.
I like you car a lot and although mine is 1 yr older it too is a BB coupe that is getting massaged as fast as I can afford to spend (Not as fast as I would like to be able to spend though LOL)
The wheels are Centerlines and the current tires are Good Years. Although the Good Years are rated for the speed I was using Yokohama Road Racing tires back then. The wheels were custom fit to get the right offset to fill out the wheelwell and not rub. The tires will rub the fiberglass if straight, no camber, and with luggage in back, ie: Hot Rod Power Tour type. With the rear raised a little and the spring stiffer they will not, which is what you will need to do to help keep the nose down.
I will get the wheel and tire info and let you know.
If you do not plan to modify the body, the tire height restrictions may cause you to go to 3.08 butt gear to get the 165-170mph speeds. The mid years become real bricks at speed. It takes a lot of horsepower to push them thru the air. We were on a 3.7 mile road course with a 1 mile straightaway and 13 turns.
We figured we had to turn the engine around 7400 to 7700 RPM to reach the speed with those tires and the original transmission. We had to go to a HOLLEY HP950 to get enough air into the engine to turn those RPM's and get past the 155 barrier. The 2 1/4" to 4" exhaust with no mufflers got the exhaust out. How are your brakes? They WILL need help when you start going that fast.
My '64 is in the shop now for custom body-work/paint and I gave the painter a '69 Z28 spoiler to put on the front. Current plans are to make a fiberglass mold that would attach to the body that the spoiler would then attach to. The mold would be contoured to retain the use of the front bumper with no need to modify the factory-issue spoiler.
The beauty is that while the initial cost of fabrication is high, the Z28 spoilers are cheap and easy to replace when you whack a parking stop or speed bump. The mold will be body color and the spoiler black for easy replacement.
The outcome may be that if this turns out nice, the painter makes a "plug" of the mold and offer these for sale to anyone else who wants to go this route. Your savings on my dime.
The air dam pictured on Rosita Grande was needed to keep the front end on the ground above 150mph. "IF" you plan to go that fast you need 5 degrees nose down and the air dam. I think I purchased this dam from Mid America but it certainly could have been Ecklers. There was a bit of cutting and grinding involved but a little time and fiberglass dust can produce a good tight fit. We also built a small bracket in the center to keep everything in place. There is an air scoop on each side, the red looking opening just inside the parking lights, that I ducted to the brake rotors. It all worked and seemed to help the brakes a bunch. Questions, let me know.
I tried one of these years ago to see if they'd help with wind resistance to help the car mph better at the drags. Did nothing. No detectable improvement in high speed stability either. I've always run my car nose down since the first time the speedo needle got pointed at the floorboards (way scary).
I use this one made by a forum member. he sells them on ebay. It mad a noticable difference in cooloing and I've had the car up to about 140 MPH indicated with no noticiable lightness or handling problems.if you want I have an ecklers spoiler still in the box you can have for $50 shipping included.
Greg
The tires on Rosita are P245/50/ZR16 Good Years. I have not found the info on the wheels, purchased in early 90's, but I will pull one off this weekend and measure it. There is a bit of tire rub on the frame when the front wheels are turned to full lock. Of course when you are running at speed on a road course there "should" not be any full lock steering input.
93RUBYAN,
Getting a bit off the original topic but I'm curious to see a side shot of your car with that tire size (P245/50/ZR16). I'm thinking to go to this size but have no pics, eveyone seems to go with the 17" or even 18".
Thanks,
Stoly
I have one that Pan Chop has for sale, paid $200 yours for $100. plus shipping. If interested send me an email and I will send some pics. I got it for Mid America Jeff Leech for my Grand Sport I built but decided to not use it.
Of course when you are running at speed on a road course there "should" not be any full lock steering input.
Ha Ha or should I just say amen.
Remembering back when I used to run as fast as possible I never did go quite as fast as you but as C64 Bob said it was "way scary". Gary R has rebuilt my steering Box since then so things should be better but I still get a shift to the right when I let off on the gas at speed.
Just the same this has been a informative thread for me and I am going to give the spoiler a try at speed before I spend to have it painted to match.
I too think they have a nice look but then I used to run with flares and no front bumper. Now that I am "flareless" and do have a bumper I would like to see one on if any have a picture of one.
However for me performance is a first and if they mess up the cooling it wont fly. On the other hand if it would help to keep that inherit front end liftoff feeling at speed it would be a good thing.
Doug
It improves the cooling, the gas mileage, and the time it takes to clean the bugs off the suspension. I have run triple digits in MT by the hour, with no front lift. My car also has the "c2 recommended" (can't remember where I read it) 3-5degree tail high attitude for high speed running with an air dam.
Mine is a custom. Midvalley Autobody in Moline IL made a mold and can repop it.
STOYL...I emailed a couple of websites to photobucket. Here are a couple of side views from those sites. See if these help, if not let me know and I will get some others for you.
93RUBYAN,
The last picture was perfect. Confirms what I thought, in my opinion
16" is the best compromise on tire size, just the right sidewall and overall height. Great looking car, BTW stock trailing arms or any suspension mods?
THANKS,
Stoly
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