Das Beast: My E30 track / street build

[dvallis]

Yeah, will be doing that. Intercooler and Rad need to breathe though : - ) The fog lights, vents under them and lowest vents on the center will get covered.

[Digitalwave]

You probably want to cover/close basically all the openings on the cow catcher, and those bumper cutouts too. There should be sufficient airflow to the radiator through just the grills. If you do end up needing to use the two large/center holes in the cow catcher for more air to the radiator, make sure the openings are ducted straight to the radiator, so the air can't bypass underneath or to the side.

You will also want to re-install a hood seal and make sure the hood is tight up against it, so airflow through the radiator is properly exiting underneath the engine bay. You don't want the airflow exiting out the edges/back of the hood.

[dvallis]

WTF Was I Thinking?

Lawn edging? Really? What in the actual fuck posessed me to use ugly ass LAWN EDGING for the splitter air damn? I mean, look at it! Did a pack of monkies do this?



Lawn edging delete. Replaced with 2" aluminum angle.















Frigging perfect. Ok, NOW I can move on to the dive planes and end plates.

[dvallis]

Time to fab the splitter tunnels

CAD




Fab with 16 gauge

[dvallis]

Rob had a good idea. The current version is fine for concept testing but ultimately we'd like a quick change splitter. Remove the two bumper bolts and pull the whole thing, bumper and all. I can do that using this complete aero front end and building an aluminum support frame inside it. That will be v2, once the new shop gets built. (Soon)

[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.

[dvallis]

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

[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 height splitter frame mount.



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

[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]

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

[dvallis]

CFD : Cardboard Fluid Dynamics

This is a splitter tunnel



4 bends, it's done

[dvallis]

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

[Digitalwave]

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

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

[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.