ouch! Boo hoo!
Discussion
Done it 3 times, on the same damp speed hump in Cookham Dean.
You know the type with raised cobble blocks.. Argh..
Tempted to leave it off next time.
Not sure whether it's required for engine cooling, or high speed stability (or both)
Part was about 20 quid last time.
B
Part cost about
Mine is sans spoiler, and has been since I bought it, although it looks as though one has been fitted in the past.
There is alot of discussion as to what this actually does, and whether its worth the effort to keep replacing it. Apparently it does help keep the engine temp down as it forces more air to flow through the engine compartment (while the car is moving obviously). So I guess it depends on the sort of driving you do as to how much benefit you get!
Thanks Chaps, I feel a bit better knowing I'm not the only one 
I've heard also that it helps keep the engine cool so I'll ask my dealer to put it back. By the sound of it they'll probably have had a lot of practice!
Looking under the car, it's pretty impressive exactly how little ground clearance there is though. Not very heartening with the current state of the roads.
Driller
Ice Blue Griff500
I've heard also that it helps keep the engine cool so I'll ask my dealer to put it back. By the sound of it they'll probably have had a lot of practice!
Looking under the car, it's pretty impressive exactly how little ground clearance there is though. Not very heartening with the current state of the roads.
Driller
Ice Blue Griff500Mine's had a new one every 6000 miles since new, according to Fernies service records. Since I bought my car a year ago I've lost the spoiler twice. First time was on a speed bump in Eton; second time was last Friday in a Le Mans camp site.
It's easy to put back yourself - just Isopon the holes, then put it back with the self tappers once the filler has set.
Cheerio,
Pete
quote:Been there, done that, same day, Houx Annexxe. Temperature went up from 80 degrees when cruising on the way down to 90 degrees when cruising on the way back. I had to have the fan override switch turned on for a fair way just to keep it under 90 degrees. Had mine replaced 3 days before Le Mans - 15 quid for the splitter and 15 quid fitted (although I will replace it myself). Ian A Griff 500
second time was last Friday in a Le Mans camp site.
Does the fan override switch make any difference at cruising speeds? I would have thought the ram air speed was faster than the fan was blowing anyway? When I turn the fan on I certainly don't get an 80 mph blast of air off it!
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)
quote:Been there, done that, same day, Houx Annexxe. Temperature went up from 80 degrees when cruising on the way down to 90 degrees when cruising on the way back. I had to have the fan override switch turned on for a fair way just to keep it under 90 degrees. Had mine replaced 3 days before Le Mans - 15 quid for the splitter and 15 quid fitted (although I will replace it myself). Ian A Griff 500
[quote]second time was last Friday in a Le Mans camp site.
quote:Oddly enough yes! It takes a few minutes to bring it down from 90 to 80 while cruising at 75mph. The twin fans in the Griff are quite strong - you can be sat in traffic in hot weather and if you forget to turn the switch off, they will drag the temp down to about 70. I'm not sure why the air at 70mph is not enough to cool the engine. Presumably, it is an aerodynamics thing. I have got a full size numberplate so the only flow is from below the car. Ian A Griff 500
Does the fan override switch make any difference at cruising speeds? I would have thought the ram air speed was faster than the fan was blowing anyway? When I turn the fan on I certainly don't get an 80 mph blast of air off it!
quote:It certainly is - it's a brand of body filler. There are a few flavours, the main differences being how hard they set and the quality of the surface finish. Top tip: when you fill the holes, put match sticks coated in vaseline in the holes while the filler sets. The vaseline stops the filler from sticking to the matchsticks, and you won't have to re-drill pilot holes for the screws. Cheerio, Pete
Sounds handy Pete-is Isopon a Halfords job?
Aha! I had discussions with a Jaguar designer (who works on cooling systems) about how I could improve the cooling on my Chimp. He head a good look at it, and (without knowing anything about the Griff) he recommended fitting a small spoiler underneath the chin.
The theory on hows it works is this: the spoiler disrupts the otherwise smooth flow of air underneath the engine bay, and the resultant change in air pressure causes more air to be sucked through the radiator. Think aircraft wing; the air flowing over the top has further to go, so lift is generated. Same principle.
The theory on hows it works is this: the spoiler disrupts the otherwise smooth flow of air underneath the engine bay, and the resultant change in air pressure causes more air to be sucked through the radiator. Think aircraft wing; the air flowing over the top has further to go, so lift is generated. Same principle.
quote:<flameMode> AAAARRRGHHHH!!!! The myth of "the air over the top of the wing has to catch up with the air beneath the wing" is perpetuated. NOOOO. Why would this be so? Would the air beneath get lonely without its friend??? </flameMode> Aircraft wings generate lift due to the air above having a lower pressure than that beneath, which is because it's moving faster. It moves faster due to VORTICITY, not because it's got further to travel - basically air moving in a curved path has a higher velocity, but I'm not going to dredge up the proof here ;-) The spoiler will cause separation of the flow beneath the car, creating a local negative pressure region under the engine. That improves the flow through the radiator, improving the cooling. Like you said, Phil ;-) Pete p.s. Sorry about the rant - you triggered the pet hate of all aircraft aerodynamicists.
Think aircraft wing; the air flowing over the top has further to go, so lift is generated. Same principle.
Pete,
I've had it on good authority that these spoilers have come fitted either way round, bearing in mind your pressure zone theory would a spoiler fitted facing rear provide more of a negative zone. Same authority also tells me that a Griff produces 150lbs lift at the rear at very high speeds
Apache,
Without empirical testing, I've absolutely no idea. All I can say is that every Griff I've seen has the spoiler facing forward. On the Griff it initially looks like it would help to channel air in through the intake (which is primarily under the car, not the bit covered by the numberplate), but closer inspection shows the spoiler to be mounted much further back.
On the Chimaera or Cerbie, I've mostly seen them facing rearwards. Regardless of aerodynamic effects, they're less likely to be torn off facing that way!
Cheerio,
Pete
quote:On the Griff 500, most of the airflow through the radiator is via an intake under the nose, not through the "mouth". However,at a recent hot track day people were removing their front plates to get more airflow, so using a smaller plate may be a solution. I've seen cars with 3/4 size front number plates and they don't look too bad - definitely better than a sticker on the bonnet. Cheerio, Pete
Does having the numberplate in the mouth of the bonnett cause problems? It looks like it should, but has anyone found a way of relocating it without it looking tacky?
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