* * Spoliers - Make a difference in Perf * *
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
Likes: 58
From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
* * Spoliers - Make a difference in Perf * *
Guys,
Its a question that's been on my mind, and I think some others may wonder about the same too. I know there's guys who'll come up with funny answers to this, and some who just hate seeing spoilers on the Vette. But my question is - How does the rear spoiler (and chin spoiler) help in real driving, what does it really do, and which kind of designs help the most? We do know that C5-R's and C6-R's have spoilers on the back.
Lately, watching on TV Sunday Nascar racing they said something about the spoilers & air dams, that got me thinking...
Its a question that's been on my mind, and I think some others may wonder about the same too. I know there's guys who'll come up with funny answers to this, and some who just hate seeing spoilers on the Vette. But my question is - How does the rear spoiler (and chin spoiler) help in real driving, what does it really do, and which kind of designs help the most? We do know that C5-R's and C6-R's have spoilers on the back.
Lately, watching on TV Sunday Nascar racing they said something about the spoilers & air dams, that got me thinking...
Last edited by Vette_Fan; May 6, 2007 at 02:07 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,786
Likes: 4
From: Redsox, Pats, Celts & Bruins !!! Redsox Nation !!!
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
It works to keep down force on the car. They are useless on street cars unless you drive at highway speeds all the time. That is why when you see a 911's wing, it only comes up at highway speeds.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 132
From: Plano TX
Yep,, They really do good at high speeds over 100mph.. They actually slow your top speed down quite a bit because of aerodynamic drag.. I always laugh when I see these ricers with big spoilers because..
1. Most of these cars don't have the high end speed to take advantage of a spoiler .
2. Top end speed is reduced by 10mph from these iron boards
3. Looks really dumb to me (my opinion).
4. Complete waste of money.. Kinda like putting drag slicks on a bicycle...
1. Most of these cars don't have the high end speed to take advantage of a spoiler .
2. Top end speed is reduced by 10mph from these iron boards
3. Looks really dumb to me (my opinion).
4. Complete waste of money.. Kinda like putting drag slicks on a bicycle...
Last edited by David426; May 6, 2007 at 02:44 PM.
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Lexington Mass
Yep,, They really do good at high speeds over 100mph.. They actually slow your top speed down quite a bit because of aerodynamic drag.. I always laugh when I see these ricers with big spoilers because..
1. Most of these cars don't have the high end speed to take advantage of a spoiler .
2. Top end speed is reduced by 10mph from these iron boards
3. Looks really dumb to me (my opinion).
4. Complete waste of money.. Kinda like putting drag slicks on a bicycle...
1. Most of these cars don't have the high end speed to take advantage of a spoiler .
2. Top end speed is reduced by 10mph from these iron boards
3. Looks really dumb to me (my opinion).
4. Complete waste of money.. Kinda like putting drag slicks on a bicycle...
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 618
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Many designs reduce drag by smoothing the flow of air over the tail end of the vehicle and don't so much increase downforce as they just reduce lift. This can make the vehicle faster, more stable, and improve fuel economy at speed.
The thing with the Vette though, is that unlike many cars, the rear glass is SOOO dang flat with a big tall butt on it that you don't have big issues with air separation from the roof to the trunk.
IMO, it would only make sense if racing or maybe if you have a Z06. It'd probably need to be a wing at about the height of the roof to be useful. I prefer the clean lines without though personally.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 756
Likes: 22
From: OK/FL
There's really only one company that has the expertise for C5 downforce, and they've got it down pat.
Before any downforce, get rid of the underhood pressure.
Then get a proper front splitter & rear wing solution worked out.
Before any downforce, get rid of the underhood pressure.
Then get a proper front splitter & rear wing solution worked out.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 557
Likes: 1
From: 15 miles south from the Raisin Capitol of the World Caifornia
If you have a hard down force on the tail end of the car due to an after market wing, what happens up front. Do you get any lift or is the aerodynamics of the front shape enough to offset it. If you did get any lift up front, you would have air pushing up from under the car.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,325
Likes: 0
From: You can't get there from here NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Yep,, They really do good at high speeds over 100mph.. They actually slow your top speed down quite a bit because of aerodynamic drag.. I always laugh when I see these ricers with big spoilers because..
1. Most of these cars don't have the high end speed to take advantage of a spoiler .
2. Top end speed is reduced by 10mph from these iron boards
3. Looks really dumb to me (my opinion).
4. Complete waste of money.. Kinda like putting drag slicks on a bicycle...
1. Most of these cars don't have the high end speed to take advantage of a spoiler .
2. Top end speed is reduced by 10mph from these iron boards
3. Looks really dumb to me (my opinion).
4. Complete waste of money.. Kinda like putting drag slicks on a bicycle...
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
If you have a hard down force on the tail end of the car due to an after market wing, what happens up front. Do you get any lift or is the aerodynamics of the front shape enough to offset it. If you did get any lift up front, you would have air pushing up from under the car.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 15
From: Hurricane Alley
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
Likes: 58
From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
Well, that depends on what kind of rear spoiler/wing you are getting and how it is placed.
Many designs reduce drag by smoothing the flow of air over the tail end of the vehicle and don't so much increase downforce as they just reduce lift. This can make the vehicle faster, more stable, and improve fuel economy at speed.
Many designs reduce drag by smoothing the flow of air over the tail end of the vehicle and don't so much increase downforce as they just reduce lift. This can make the vehicle faster, more stable, and improve fuel economy at speed.
That's a positive note, something we'd be more interested in knowing about. 
Very cool info. Someone got links to these parts? Or pix that might help us understand better.
Last edited by Vette_Fan; May 6, 2007 at 07:03 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Look under the C5 World challange body parts. No pics just a list of parts.
These are not BLING parts so the web sit is not set up for bling.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 50,808
Likes: 9
From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
The set up I have made a huge difference. The first day I drove it they car felt strange. If I drove a stock body car I would be feeling a huge difference. Simply feels pressed to the ground. Top speed dropped a few miles per hour at Pocono where it hits 161 now I did hit 165 before. Faster laps times with it. Put you hand out a 70 miles per hour and see how it feels when you tilt it slightly or take a small board. More downforce = better braking also.
Last edited by John Shiels; May 6, 2007 at 09:22 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
Likes: 58
From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
The set up I have made a huge difference. The first day I drove it they car felt strange. If I drove a stock body car I would be feeling a huge difference. Simply feels pressed to the ground. Top speed dropped a few miles per hour at Pocono where it hits 161 now I did hit 165 before. Faster laps times with it. Put you hand out a 70 miles per hour and see how it feels when you tilt it slightly or take a small board. More downforce = better braking also.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 2
From: pawleys island sc
do you think that, maybe,just maybe, the guys in F1, World Rally, NASCAR, F3, etc know a little bit more about spoilers?? MY DD goes over 145 mph at least 2-3 times a week on a road course. It might be that the spoiler helps stabilize the car. I don't know. I do know I like the way the car feels at 145 and I love the way it looks. But, hey, what the hell do I know??