Das Beast: My E30 track / street build

[moatilliatta]

Are you building your own splitter tunnels?

[dvallis]

Yes. Going to fab them from 0.060" aluminum. We're out of sheet stock though. Metal shop opens Monday : - / Lowes only has 0.025" which is like tinfoil.

[dvallis]

I like the overall shape so we're going with it



At the proper height. Needs a 2" air dam. Will fab it from lawn edging or something



This is bad. Splitter hitting oil pan



3.7 degree up angle, i.e. lift generator. Definitely don't want that.



Slight surgery to remove the offending piece



Good clearance now



0.28 down angle, same as garage floor



Frame is starting to shape up like this. Not totally sure what the final product will be, but it's getting there





There's room to make the tunnels 6" wider on each side. Would need different mounting points. I'm considering doing it.

[Digitalwave]

Is the outer profile just roughed out for now or is it really going to be that large? It looks much too large for the wing you're running.

Professional Awesome makes some preformed plastic splitter tunnels if you want to save some effort, they are relatively inexpensive.

[dvallis]

I started larger so we can cut it down as required. Might end up smaller. I'm still researching.

Professional Awesome distributes Racebred splitters. They look fairly decorative. No tunnels or front supports from what I found. Anyway, I like building things : - )

[dvallis]

These links are pretty good. Suggestions for splitter length follow each:

NASA 4" -6"
Professional Awesome 4" - 8"
GRM 4" - 6"
MOTOIQ ~4"
Introduction to Aero 4" - 8"
G-Stream < 3"

So? As DigitalWave noted I have WAY too much splitter Probably only need ~4" to balance the 500 lb wing.

Will get out the saws-all next time.

[Digitalwave]

Here are the tunnels, $150 for the plastic regular size:

https://professionalawesome.com/product-category/aerodynamics/front-diffusers/

[dvallis]

OK, that's better. Too late for the saws-all so next time.

[dvallis]

CFD : Cardboard Fluid Dynamics

This is a splitter tunnel



4 bends, it's done

[dvallis]

Looking better. I like it. Will use this to study if I can make the tunnels bigger. Next time ....

[dvallis]

New shape looks good



Tunnels fit



Frame mounts are good & strong



Pro tip. Level the car with driver weight in seat. #facepalm



Contemplating the mounting frame. I have lots of aluminum drop to work with

[dvallis]

Adjustable height splitter frame mount.



U-Channel gets here from Dallas tomorrow so I can finish off the pivoting splitter attachment.

[dvallis]

More fab. Simpler is better. I eliminated the height adjustment. Just using a straight mount to the splitter.



u-channel for the mounting point



Carriage bolts with washers to spread the load



After lots of bolting it on, measuring, taking it off, repeat. Coming together.



Mounts are really solid. Pivots to adjust the angle



Perfect fit





Now I have to design the rest of the mounting points, so down angle on the splitter doesn't become up angle and start generating lift. This will be harder as there is more crawling around under the car involved.

To be continued ...

[dvallis]

Adjustable splitter supports. Whole thing is very sturdy. Valence next

[dvallis]

Day off today. Created the air dam ... from lawn edging. Will block the lower valence holes with aluminum later











End plates and ramps are next.