Was thinking last night - modern cars have as much aerodynamic work done underneath the car as on top. Spoilers, shaped exhausts etc.

So, would there be a worthwhile benefit to geting a manufactures of plastic / rubber / whatever, to make a front to back underpan / skin for the C3 range ? Even to the extent of having rubber sections that could move up and down with the suspension.........

Do I think too hard in the evenings....

 

You think too hard... lol

I used to buy into that whole aero dynamics crap especially in the 80's when all the cars were being shaped like bullets. Now most cars are going towards the shape of boxes (Chrysler 300M, Some of the Mercedes and BMW's etc etc) and they scoot. I dont see as much validity in it as I once did.

Would be very cool though!

 

Yes, smoothing out the underside would help a lot, especially if you don't create any lift, smooth out turbulance &, ideally, create low pressure. The faster you go, the more important the aerodynamics become, but it's a **** load of work &, without a wind tunnel, how do you know if you're getting it right? I reckon a good start would be to somehow smooth out the area from the diff to the rear bumper cover. Getting a nice wedge shape (ground to new pan with leading edge at front) would help create low pressure to pull the rear end down to the ground, but then that could help lift the (already flighty) front end. One thing it'd do is seal off that whopping great parachute called the bumper cover.
According to a mate that recently worked at McLaren, the F1 car aerodynamics create downforce at high speed of, er, a number I've forgotten It's the equivalent of placing a very heavy car on the top of it.
I was figuring on getting some sheets of ABS & moulding them to shape but it's a risky business. You could create some bad effects that you won't know about until the car lifts off at high speed in a crosswind, etc. Was it a Merc Le Mans car that took off a few years back? It was something that a factory had thrown a bunch of money at in development costs, no doubt including wind tunnel testing, so if they can't get it right then I'd be a bit wary of trying it myself. Am I being paranoid? Many years back a mate modified a bike to give better straight line stability at speed. Various suspension mods, along with some aerodynamic work, that all made sense on paper (and down the pub!). It vastly improved handling over 100mph, up until just over 120mph. At that point it literally threw him off without any warning.
If you do attempt it then good luck! It looks like a major job, esp if you want the finished result to look good & not like some bodge that Darren & Wayne did to their clapped out 205!
Is Windy Bottom anywhere near Brown *****?

 

Not as far as I know, I'm almost embarrassed to admit it but I was brought up near Brown *****.
You may also be amused to know that Brown ***** is near *****, and last time I was there, someone had stolen the road sign from both ends of the village Bloody Students

 

Not as far as I know, I'm almost embarrassed to admit it but I was brought up near Brown *****.
You may also be amused to know that Brown ***** is near *****, and last time I was there, someone had stolen the road sign from both ends of the village Bloody Students

 

Hmm, dupe. How did that happen?

 

does somettime's

 

It might not have been students, it could have been someone from Cocking wot done it Or maybe Middle Wallop? Possibly even Upper Wallop (which would make more sense ).
See you on Sunday?

 

Hmm, no, unfortunately!
Even though the vette is now up and running, I'm just too damn short of both time and money to make it down this year. I'm off to Thailand for two weeks next friday, and also having a visit from a mate I haven't seen for months, this weekend. So have to save the pennies (ie not spend £100 plus on petrol) and also be close to home for the nationals weekend.
I guess I could go in the Golf as last time, but it just ain't no substitute really!
I *will* come and have a chinwag with you at some point, but it looks like it will be next year now!
Have a great time.


Theo

 

back on topic...

this is what I want to make for my windy-bottom issues, first I have to get rid of the spare tire and install side exhaust (and well, tons of other stuff to do first anyway...). There's someone here on the forum that has a similar diffuser installed, he roadraces and claims he gets better rear traction and high-speed stability.

 

That's what I'm thinking of. Have you got any pics of the front of it, showing how/if it seals that gaps against the underside?

Theo,
Pity you can't make it, but have a great time in Thailand If you're in Bangkok grap a ride in one of the boats (you can't miss them, they look like long canoes with a big V8 on the back). Also slip a Tuk-tuk driver a few baht to go flat out late at night. Never again will you complain about the handling of your Vette (assuming you survive)

 

ummm, yeah, that's a photochopped Ferrari undertray pasted onto some Vette picture I found on the forum :o

sooo, anyways... if/when I do make it (out of aluminum frame + fiberglass) it will roll upwards towards the diff and spring to avoid being a wind-grabbing parachute.