Wings - do they actually do anything?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
Wings - do they actually do anything?
I was browsing through the Summit Sport Compact catalog (its good to know your enemies lol) and I came across the spoilers/wings section. They talk about maximizing downforce, reducing drag, etc. There are even wings with motors to adjust the wing angle from your drivers seat. Has anybody ever seen a wing on a vette? Do wings have any practical use or are they just for looks, which by the way I think look silly...
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Stockholm, Sweden
Re: Wings - do they actually do anything? (Boofers)
There is of course a positive effect with the wings, they change the aerodynamics and "pushes" the car to the ground wich gives better grip and/or steering and so on. To race cars the wings and spoilers can be absolutely neccesary. But to normal street cars I don't think there's any noticeable difference at all.
I have a wing on my vette, didn't mount it myself but I think it looks real good, compliments the look of my vette perfect.
And most important of course, the wing gives you atleast +50HP! :rolleyes:
Wings does look good on ricers, as long they're not too big. Take a look at the Subaru Impreza for example, that's beatiful.
I have a wing on my vette, didn't mount it myself but I think it looks real good, compliments the look of my vette perfect.
And most important of course, the wing gives you atleast +50HP! :rolleyes:
Wings does look good on ricers, as long they're not too big. Take a look at the Subaru Impreza for example, that's beatiful.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
Re: Wings - do they actually do anything? (Larsson)
Larsson your 'wing' looks really good, but that is what I call a spoiler, not a wing. The wings I am referring to are those flat hunks of aluminum or carbon fibre mounted to the rear deck by metal stands.
http://www.import-performance-parts...._spoilers.html
http://www.import-performance-parts...._spoilers.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,194
Likes: 0
From: Tempe AZ
Re: Wings - do they actually do anything? (Boofers)
Do wings have any practical use or are they just for looks
which by the way I think look silly...
The old Plymouth Road Runner Superbirds had the biggest spoilers I've ever seen placed on any car, but to this day I've never heard a negative thing said about them, or those huge spoilers they sport. All I hear is how much people wished they owned one.
Big factory spoiler on a classic super muscle car, okay. After market catalog spoiler on the back of an Accord, ghey. I don't think it's spoilers we hate as much as the goofy subculture we now mostly associate them with.
Cool:
Not cool:
Has anybody ever seen a wing on a vette?
but:
:nono: :nonod: :cuss :mad :banghead:
[Modified by Corvette_fetish, 1:43 PM 4/20/2004]
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Re: Wings - do they actually do anything? (Boofers)
There is a Black Mustang GT here in town that has been riced out with a "Wing". The car has yellow accents all over the place. :U The worst part about the whole car in my opinion, is the exhaust. I always thought the GT had a pretty good sound to it, but this kid has somehow managed to make it sound like a ricer. It has got to be the worst sounding GT ever. Its so funny. :lolg:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,194
Likes: 0
From: Tempe AZ
Re: Wings - do they actually do anything? (Eddie 70)
I always thought the GT had a pretty good sound to it, but this kid has somehow managed to make it sound like a ricer. It has got to be the worst sounding GT ever. Its so funny. :lolg:
:nonod: :nono:
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
Likes: 2
From: CO
Re: Wings - do they actually do anything? (robertmc48)
well the rear wing on my cessna 152 is smaller than alot I have seen on some ricer street cars and at 55kts (about 63mph) it has enough force to lift the front of the airplane up in the air. I would say it has a big difference at even hiway speeds.
More than likely they induce drag and some I have seen would actually produce lift because the moron that put it on doesn't know what they are doing. Wrong angle of attack.
My neighbor attached the wing to the body of his car and its actually bending the metal he attached it to and starting to rip it out... :lol:
Wings can produce alot of downforce or lift even at hiway speeds. It certainly doesn't do much for the MPG.
Again in racing applications it can be extremely helpful, just look at F1. They have enough force to stay on an upside down track at like 100mph. Just depends on what you want to accomplish. :cheers:
[Modified by flood, 2:19 PM 4/20/2004]
More than likely they induce drag and some I have seen would actually produce lift because the moron that put it on doesn't know what they are doing. Wrong angle of attack.
My neighbor attached the wing to the body of his car and its actually bending the metal he attached it to and starting to rip it out... :lol:
Wings can produce alot of downforce or lift even at hiway speeds. It certainly doesn't do much for the MPG.
Again in racing applications it can be extremely helpful, just look at F1. They have enough force to stay on an upside down track at like 100mph. Just depends on what you want to accomplish. :cheers:
[Modified by flood, 2:19 PM 4/20/2004]
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 2
From: Castle Hills Texas
Re: Wings - do they actually do anything? (Boofers)
Boofer,
I actually saw a white C5 about two weeks ago, as I was coming into San Antonio on 281, with the biggest IRL/CART looking wing on the back. I couldn't believe a Vette owner would "rice" out his ride to that extent. Even my dad made comment of it. I know C5 guys like to over accessorize their cars, but this was just plain laughable. This has been the one and only time I have seen such a blatant display of such distasteful adornment....yea, right!
I actually saw a white C5 about two weeks ago, as I was coming into San Antonio on 281, with the biggest IRL/CART looking wing on the back. I couldn't believe a Vette owner would "rice" out his ride to that extent. Even my dad made comment of it. I know C5 guys like to over accessorize their cars, but this was just plain laughable. This has been the one and only time I have seen such a blatant display of such distasteful adornment....yea, right!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,891
Likes: 0
From: Warren MI
Re: Wings - do they actually do anything? (CVT4ME)
I'm going to gather a lot of hate with this. Most of the C5 guys I have met were not Corvette guys. Around here many of them are bought on leases. They walk into a showroom and point it out. I could have done that too. I took on out for a ride. It was fast but "empty". Wings on C5s don't surprise me at all.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,906
Likes: 0
From: Berlin
Re: Wings - do they actually do anything? (robertmc48)
I recall reading, a few years ago, that wings/spoilers, have no real effect below about 135-150 mph. I'm not a racer so I don't really know.
Considering that some people on this board have mentioned getting very light front ends at high speed, aerodynamics is important and useful for street cars (although those speeds are a bit illegal...).
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: Kaysville Utah
Re: Wings - do they actually do anything? (robertmc48)
I think that wings actually do quite a bit. They help add drag to a car. When a car rolls off of the assembly line, it comes from a design that has been wind tunnel tested for optimum fuel mileage. Less drag=better mileage. Especially on GM cars because GM has a policy that none of it's vehicles will pay the gas guzzler tax. Do you think that these aftermarket companies have more knowledge and technology than the Car manufacturer? I certainly don't and unless I am completely modifying the aerodynamics of the car, then I won't ever be bolting one of those tanning beds on the back of any of my cars.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Stockholm, Sweden
Re: Wings - do they actually do anything? (Boofers)
Larsson your 'wing' looks really good, but that is what I call a spoiler, not a wing. The wings I am referring to are those flat hunks of aluminum or carbon fibre mounted to the rear deck by metal stands.
I would be glad if someone could explain where the line between wing and spoiler goes? I've never understood what the real difference is. Until now I've always thought of the "thing" on my vette as a wing but it has of course another design than the real ricey wings!
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Re: Wings - do they actually do anything? (Larsson)
Rick Doria figures you need at least 500 horsepower to get a Corvette safely over 200 mph. Which is why I went for 550+ hp in my wind dragging modified 81 Daytona. His current car was built using the 630-horse, 430-cubic-inch splay-valve Chevy V-8 race engine from the wreckage of his last one, destroyed in 1999 when it blew a tire at 190 mph. He again crashed in 2002 around 200+ mph because the car went airborn over a 2 lane bridge.
Rick has continued to increase his speed to the 240 mph range. these cars need wings. I never leave home without it and my car is very stable at over 175+ mph.
I was starting to think that I couldn't post a picture anymore.
[Modified by gkull, 4:10 PM 4/20/2004]
Rick has continued to increase his speed to the 240 mph range. these cars need wings. I never leave home without it and my car is very stable at over 175+ mph.
I was starting to think that I couldn't post a picture anymore.
[Modified by gkull, 4:10 PM 4/20/2004]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '03,'11
Re: Wings - do they actually do anything? (Boofers)
not unless you road race going around curves at 100mph.....or want to go really fast like gkull
[Modified by turtlevette, 5:41 PM 4/20/2004]
[Modified by turtlevette, 5:41 PM 4/20/2004]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Re: Wings - do they actually do anything? (Corvette_fetish)
The way this wing is set up, it's inducing so much drag it's probably slowing the top speed down by 10 mph. So now it's an air brake, not a spoiler.
:lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg:
[Modified by page62, 4:23 PM 4/20/2004]
:lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg:
[Modified by page62, 4:23 PM 4/20/2004]
