Front Splitter on GTR
Discussion
I like the look of the additional front splitter that can be added to the Ultima.
Was just wondering how practical they are in use. Does it cause additional clearance issues over speed humps? I have also noticed that it reduces the amount that the front clip can open. Has anyone with the splitter changed the front hinging arrangement to compensate?
Was just wondering how practical they are in use. Does it cause additional clearance issues over speed humps? I have also noticed that it reduces the amount that the front clip can open. Has anyone with the splitter changed the front hinging arrangement to compensate?
luckyp said:
Anyone thought of a two piece detachable splitter that can be carried behind the seats to the track and fitted once there?
Pete
Pete
The splitter is under considerable load so a Quick release fixing design would be rather difficult to achieve.
I don't know of anyone who has fitted a cantilever style hinge to overcome the limited opening.
Those who use them do say they have advantages in being semi-sacrificial for those odd 'invisible' curb stones.
Steve
I have a large plywood splitter on my car and the front clip lifts on and off, no hinges. I didn't like the idea of plywood when it was first mentioned to me until the logic was explained. At some point, somehow, some when it WILL get damaged and although CF, Kevlar, Honeycomb or somesuch are trick materials and nice to have, they are not practical, at least for our cars.
steved said:
The splitter is under considerable load so a Quick release fixing design would be rather difficult to achieve.
Can someone explain to me what a splitter does. I was under the impression that it's primary function was to limit the airflow under the vehicle rather that act as an aerodymamic aid in it's own right.
The load you are talking about Steve, what is applying it?
I guess this is the reason why the splitter is sometime supported by a couple of bars?
Pete
If I may interject, the splitter is an aerodynamic aid for keeping the front of the car pinned to the ground and is often required when using a large rear wing. Without the splitter the air goes under the front of the car and creates lift casing woolieness at speed. It is an almost essential aid on an Ultima and the addition of an effective one strongly alters the cars handling characteristics.
GTWayne said:
It is an almost essential aid on an Ultima and the addition of an effective one strongly alters the cars handling characteristics.
Not be funny Wayne, but on what basis is that comment made?
Having had Ultimas with and without a splitter, in contrast to your comment, the one sans-splitter handles better.
That said, it's fair to say that the splitter isn't the sole reason for that.
Hate to say it, but until you've tried it - how can you tell?
- Please don't take this as anything other than a balanced view from someone who's tried both, but your post implies that the splitter is a 'must have'.
Edited by stig on Tuesday 22 August 20:22
stig said:
GTWayne said:
It is an almost essential aid on an Ultima and the addition of an effective one strongly alters the cars handling characteristics.
Not be funny Wayne, but on what basis is that comment made?
Having had Ultimas with and without a splitter, in contrast to your comment, the one sans-splitter handles better.
That said, it's fair to say that the splitter isn't the sole reason for that.
Hate to say it, but until you've tried it - how can you tell?
- Please don't take this as anything other than a balanced view from someone who's tried both.
No problem Stig, the comment was made on the basis of information gleaned on the Ultima's shortfalls gathered over the past few years from many owners that I have met and conversed with about the subject (after all, the Ultima is extremely good in most respects but far from perfect in any don't you agree?). The guy that has carried out the body mods and improvements on my car is a very well thought of and respected figure within the race car world and has been instrumental in race winning preparation on a Stealth B6 amongst others and has a wealth of practical and real world knowledge regarding aerodynamics, so what he says goes in my book.
You are indeed correct when you say I have not tried it but is it a rule that information that one believes to be so can not be passed on if one has had no practical experience in that particular field (as yet anyhow)?
Although I am fairly set in my beliefs with regards to most things Ultima, I am always keen to here more. Mostly I think 'what a load of old tosh' but sometimes I may read something and I think 'well I hadn't thought of that, what a good idea'. This is not because I think that I know best and no one else knows anything, far from it, it is just that I have tried to follow one school of thought and am not prepared to sway one way then the other, it is non productive (for me at least).
steved said:
As Wayne said it is acting in the same way as a wing.
Are you sure it acts as a wing does? I realise a front wing would act as a rear wing (flat upper, curved lower - inverted lift etc.) But surely the front splitter act like an air damn, reducing the air flow and hence, pressure under the car. So where does the load come from?
Pete
P, if you can imagine, the air is like syrup being poured over the car and the splitter stops the air from following the curve of the body and going underneath the car. It acts like a shelf I guess is the best way to put it and that is how the air pushes the car down on to the road, it rolls down the side and front of the car and pushes down on the shelf. Try driving down the road and putting your hand out of the window (don't do it in the Ultima, you will only get three fingers out up to the knuckle, stupid helicopter vents!) and moving it about a bit, open and close your hand etc. you will get some idea, it really is that simple.
The reduced pressure created by stopping the air from getting under the front is what causes the loading. It acts over the whole area of the underside but the load is greatest where the pressure is lowest...which is right under the splitter attached to the front clip.
GT racing cars usually have a full blown wing shape for their splitter these days. You can see the details of this on the Mulsanne Corner website.
GT racing cars usually have a full blown wing shape for their splitter these days. You can see the details of this on the Mulsanne Corner website.
luckyp said:
steved said:
As Wayne said it is acting in the same way as a wing.
Are you sure it acts as a wing does? I realise a front wing would act as a rear wing (flat upper, curved lower - inverted lift etc.) But surely the front splitter act like an air damn, reducing the air flow and hence, pressure under the car. So where does the load come from?
Pete
to add to GTWaynes comments, due to the frontal area on a car, there is a large volume of very slow moving air sitting immediately preceeding it, which is trying to join the flows over and around the front) this is known as the stagnation point. Slow air is high pressure. The splitter sticks out into this region of high pressure stagnant air which in turn bears down on the splitter, giving downforce. Underneath the splitter there is no "frontage" so the air passes at high speed straight underneath, this causes low pressure which also sucks down on the splitter.
The only problem I have with seeing a splitter on an Ultima is that they are known to be least effective on cars with very heavily sloped and low-pointed fronts, which the ultima has, so there is only a small stagnation point for the splitter to work in - there is a bit of frontage so it will probably have some effect, but I doubt it would be huge personally.
Thanks for the detailed explanation Davi, you are indeed correct with regards to the shape of the front clip and the marginal affect that a splitter may have but in my case, the front of the grill and vent area has been enlarged and opened up to reduce the frontal area and create more down force over a greater flat surface as the splitter covers the whole underfloor of the front of the car.
GTWayne said:
Thanks for the detailed explanation Davi, you are indeed correct with regards to the shape of the front clip and the marginal affect that a splitter may have but in my case, the front of the grill and vent area has been enlarged and opened up to reduce the frontal area and create more down force over a greater flat surface as the splitter covers the whole underfloor of the front of the car.
no probs. I would think that as you say increase in splitter size could be seen to be effective, as it enlarges the underbody area at the front, therefore the high speed flow underneath the car has more surface to act on. I'm by no means an expert on this, my project car has lead me to do massive amounts of reading and to have numerous discussions with those who most definitely are experts and this was mentioned by more than one of them as a possibility.
Edited by davi on Tuesday 22 August 22:51
Has anyone thought about fitting a front wing infront of the air intake of the Ultima? If go to www.grasser-racing.com , they have fitted a front wing. I'm not sure how much downforce the front wing makes. But on top of the splitter, it should aid more downforce. With sticky tires, more cornering downforce?
Edited by d3vine on Tuesday 22 August 22:52
Who are you calling an Ahhso P? But seriously, you would probably get more of a noticeable result by lowering the car for a track but it will depend on the track, long and fast: splitter, short and twisty: lowered. I have side splitters on the GTW and am looking forward, with some trepidation I might add, to seeing how the overall package will perform.
By the way P, I tried to call you tonight but could not get hold of you, Ive arranged with John to go over and see him next Wednesday evening at about 7.30, I will try calling you later in the week to tie up loose ends, TTFN.
Just looked again and saw the dual wing thingy on the Grasser Ultima. I can't see that it would make that much difference and if it did, I don't think you would notice it anywhere but the track with slicks and maybe a very fast driving Dutch fella at the wheel.
By the way P, I tried to call you tonight but could not get hold of you, Ive arranged with John to go over and see him next Wednesday evening at about 7.30, I will try calling you later in the week to tie up loose ends, TTFN.
Just looked again and saw the dual wing thingy on the Grasser Ultima. I can't see that it would make that much difference and if it did, I don't think you would notice it anywhere but the track with slicks and maybe a very fast driving Dutch fella at the wheel.
Edited by GTWayne on Tuesday 22 August 23:01
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