Front Splitter

[debaron]

Looking to improve the non-existent aerodynamics on my Chimaera - especially high speed stability.

Pretty sure TVR did no proper testing and the 'bit of half drainpipe' bolted under the nose is a complete compromise so,

Anyone running a splitter and if so what are they like?


Thanks

[Yex 450]

I didn't realise my front splitter was missing until I had one fitted. The difference was noticeable above 70mph (track day obviously) and the car immediately felt more stable when changing lanes on a DC or M'way. I also noticed engine temperature was lower than previous so perhaps the splitter helps cold airflow around the engine bay as well ?

I'm having a new one fitted at the service MOT session in early March as I didn't see the pothole the other side of a speed bump a few weeks ago and the thing was ripped off

[debaron]

Yex 450 said:

I didn't see the pothole the other side of a speed bump a few weeks ago and the thing was ripped off

Yep I think this is common, hence it being a massive compromise. You're never sure if it's still attached or not!

[Chimp871]

What do people use for materials?

Modified gutter, ally strip etc..

[debaron]

Chimp871 said:

What do people use for materials?

Modified gutter, ally strip etc..

Both of those I think!

Keen on something like on this Tuscan - proper solution!

[bobfather]

You don't need to worry about technology here, on the road the effects of wind direction, other cars disturbing air flow, road surface and the varying hight of the front of the car means it is impossible to design the perfect solution. All you need is an air dam to force air to stall in front of the underbody. This produces a pressure wave that pushes oncoming air to the sides. The effect is to reduce underbody air pressure and as an added bonus it reduces bonnet bounce too.

Just be sure to mount it facing forward. I've seen some the other way round and I believe that would create front end lift

[bobfather]

Also....make sure you don't attach it too well, It's a sacrificial part. Better to have it fall off than to have it rip the underside of your car off

[debaron]

bobfather said:

You don't need to worry about technology here

Thanks bob father - I do appreciate that the ally strip method would work - but my car is a little lower than most so it just wouldn't last!

Also do like the look of a tasteful 'proper' splitter

[pb450]

Yex 450 said:

I'm having a new one fitted at the service MOT session in early March as I didn't see the pothole the other side of a speed bump a few weeks ago and the thing was ripped off

Hi Ian, how's life? Is Dan fitting that for you? What exactly does it look like? Do you have a photo please?
Sorry, that's a lot of questions in a single line!

[bobfather]

debaron said:

Thanks bob father - I do appreciate that the ally strip method would work - but my car is a little lower than most so it just wouldn't last!

Also do like the look of a tasteful 'proper' splitter

Okay so now there's a new element to this. The wishbones are unequal length so that the camber angle alters as the suspension is loaded and unloaded. This ensures the tyres maximise contact patch regardless of loading when cornering. The basic alignment has the wishbones horizontal at rest allowing the camber to change one way in compression and the other when unloaded. If your car is lowered then your wishbones will not be horizontal at rest and this will have changed your front and rear camber angles. Assuming you've had your alignment adjusted to compensate for lowering this means that your suspension camber angle is not acting in the right direction when unloaded.

I'd advise you get your camber working right by correctly aligning your wishbones before worrying about a splitter

[TwinKam]

bobfather said:

You don't need to worry about technology here, on the road the effects of wind direction, other cars disturbing air flow, road surface and the varying hight of the front of the car means it is impossible to design the perfect solution. All you need is an air dam to force air to stall in front of the underbody. This produces a pressure wave that pushes oncoming air to the sides. The effect is to reduce underbody air pressure and as an added bonus it reduces bonnet bounce too.

Just be sure to mount it facing forward. I've seen some the other way round and I believe that would create front end lift

Interestingly, Cerb ones face the other way, but achieve exactly the same... it's not an 'aerofoil' in the true sense that would create lift or otherwise, it is merely a 'spoiler' that stalls (spoils) the airflow. Angle, direction and section are all unimportant, a 2"x2" block of pine would work just as well

[Chimp871]

Need a gutter solution, not that I'm tight just thinking of the sacrificial technology :smile:

[QBee]

Not sure you can see it well on this photo, but these are available I think

[Engineer1949]

i have 2 front mouldings with splitters one has ducts for piped venting to brakes the other is basically standard front but with a splitter they where made for the front of a cerb would need to check if they would fit the later chims.


john

[N7GTX]

I just used an air deflector from a Ford C Max. Made of plastic so when you hit speed bumps it doesn't get torn off or damage the car. Its about the right length and I fitted it using the socket headed screws and anchors that Ford use to fit the engine undertrays with. Line it up, mark the holes then drill a hole big enough to just accept the anchors (like Rawlplugs). Cost about £18 all in.

The air dam:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Ford-C-Max-MK-I...

The fixings are shown here but I just ordered mine at the Ford dealer. You will have enough here for 5 or 6 dams!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20x-Engine-Undertray-Co...

[phazed]

[bobfather]

phazed said:

Perfect, I wish someone would market this one

[Engineer1949]

one of the moulds i have is very similar just need to check it fits the chim.


joihn

[phazed]

My carbon fibre splitter was designed for a cerb but was adapted quite easily for my chim.

Unfortunately the guy only made 2 so there probably is a cerb with one on somewhere.

[Yex 450]

pb450 said:

Yex 450 said:

I'm having a new one fitted at the service MOT session in early March as I didn't see the pothole the other side of a speed bump a few weeks ago and the thing was ripped off

Hi Ian, how's life? Is Dan fitting that for you? What exactly does it look like? Do you have a photo please?
Sorry, that's a lot of questions in a single line!

Hello Peter, all good here apart from being sill busy at work - hope you are fairing well also

The splitter on my car will look exactly like the one posted by Bobfather a little way up the thread. As stated it does not have to look good, just create the required air effect. Also as stated Dan only held mine on with 4 or 5 self tapping screws I believe so it could come off as it did with minimal damage to the body it was attached to. Only down side to mine being ripped off was I then went over it with the nearside rear wheel and pressed it neatly into the pothole rendering it utterly useless.

I really like the look of the solutions that Peter and others have with a nice lip form at the front that looks blended with the bodywork but I have too many speed bumps where I live and I doubt a nice piece like that would last too long.