VJD2

I'm about to install my C5R carbon splitter I bought from Quik Z06 and I had a thought. In my area my car already scraps with most drive ways/parking lots so I'm a little scared what's going to happen with the new splitter on.

I was thinking of getting some diamond plate or other durable metal plate and bolting it to the bottom of the splitter. This way the metal gets messed up when I scrape instead of the carbon fiber.

Good idea? YaY or nay? thoughts?

Fat Finger

Great idea! Seems to always be the score though. We buy something to make something else look cool(er), then we have to buy something else to protect the something, then we buy insurance to protect the something that protects the something else!


I remember someone on the forum doing something like this. From the pics he posted of the plate he installed under the splitter, it's a worthwhile effort. Good luck!

MSG C5

I know guys who have sprayed the truck bed-liner material on the bottom side of the splitter/spoiler to help prevent damage and to take the minor scrapes.

Silverbullet00

Add a Curb Alert system to your car. JW Motoring sold me one! Great product. Will help protect your splitter in unfamiliar places!

StuzVette

Never had a problem in StuzVette... lowered... watch way ahead and take dips and dunks in diagonal approach...

JETninja

If the Rubber springy air dam hits, is that lip going to hit? Here in Seattle, nasty mini hills all over that my stock air dam lightly contacts on a daily basis...

LoneStarLizzard

I took a similar route: masked off a straight line across the bottom 1/2 of my MY-colored splitter, then painted everything below that line with (flat black) bed-liner. This way, if/when I scrape the splitter, I can simly open the can of paint, touch up the scraped area and no one will ever know the difference.

You can get creative with the line, too. In any event it makes the splitter's bottom half look like it is rubberized (which is what I originally thought about doing, but couldn't find the right materials).

The Lizzard

Shirl

No, not even close. You'd have to ram it straight into a curb or hit a real steep pot hole. The C5R lip is very narrow and flush with the front bumper.

Vetteman Jack

That is a great idea. And should it scrape, easy to touch back up.

VJD2

Hmmm, thanks for the feedback everyone. The bed liner is a good idea but I can't see it protecting the lip that well from major scraps. How durable is that stuff?

skydiven4fun

I just installed the same splitter on my car and would also like to try a protect it the best I can. I wish there was a way to attach something like a rubber cushion over the front edge. I know that would not stop any major damage but it would prevent chipping and such.

stormrider

I made a "chin guard" out of 1/4" aluminum that protects my splitter from bumps, inclines and pot holes. If anyone is interested I will take and post some pics tomorrow.

skydiven4fun

I would like to it.

stormrider

Mike - I found the pictures I took of my fabrication of the "chin guard".

First I made a template out of wood which I took to a machine/fabrication shop for them to make me a duplicate out of 1/4" aluminum.


Then I ordered rubber blocks that jewelers use to hammer precious metals on. It is dense enough to hold a bolt but soft enough to absorb minor impacts.


I drilled a hole in the rubber blocks to insert these which are held in place with epoxy



I strategically placed the rubber blocks on the underside of my splitter and used a flexible epoxy to keep the blocks in place.



Now for the really tricky part, measuring the location of the holes in the rubber blocks to drill matching holes in the aluminum


The splitter and "chin guard" installed on my Vette


I recently upgraded my chin guard by making three strike plates to take the majority of impacts from underneath as I found out the I was wearing out the heads of the bolts which attach the guard to the splitter. Not only does this protect my splitter from damage from scrapping, it also helps keep the splitter free from rock chips.

skydiven4fun

Man, that rocks, I am blown away that is sweet, mine is a little different cause mine is solid, so I might be able to get away without the blocks, but man that rocks I mean it really is sweet. Nice job man really nice.

stormrider

Wow, thanks Mike :o

skydiven4fun

Yea man, nice job, when anyone takes the time to do that nice a job with something that 99% of everyone else can't see.
That deserves a little recognition.

TheRadioFlyer

Stock ride height car here with the Vortex splitter.

I hardly hit anything with it here in Texas. I do make sure to take steep driveways at an angle and am really careful on speed bumps....and especially on those stupid speed humps (the giant ones)

The aluminum reinforcement idea would work to protect against scratches and small impacts, but would itself dent and bend under force. Granted carbon fiber is less durable to impacts than the dura-flex version I have and would probably be a better candidate for additional protection.

For stronger protection, I would probably recommend a high density polymer similar to what's used in the new frame rail protectors or the "fangs" by SAC corvette. It would be able to absorb impacts without being as susceptible to dents or scratching.

VJD2

Stormrider - That is sick! Very nice work! Thank you for sharing.


That is a great idea as well! Instead of an entire sheet of metal just use "sliders" like the fangs! I have a sent on the car already. Were would one be able to find that type of material?

TheRadioFlyer

Assuming you were going to do a few points of reinforcement, You could mail order them from places like:

http://www.interstateplastics.com/

http://www.usplastic.com/

http://www.regalplastic.com/

http://www.tapplastics.com/

http://www.eplastics.com/



If you were going to do an entire sheet for the front, it would kill you in shipping prices, but it could be done.