Homemade front wicker/spoiler??

[AC Bill]

I am tempted to cut/shape a thin (perhaps 2-3") strip (of perhaps stiff alluminum) to match the body lower front contour, then use button head bolts/nuts/washers to attach it. I thought if it was angled forward and just ever so slightly downward, it may create just enough down force to stop the font end getting light at speed.

Do you think the body is strong enough to add a small lower lip wicker/spoiler like this, directly to it, without needing any reinforcing back to the frame? Curious if at higher speed this may cause the body to flex, and eventually start to crack. It would be nice to add just a little down force to the front end, without limiting road clearance, yet not have to design a whole support system for it.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/12GAGuy/wicker.jpg

Possible??

[Bob Cowan]

Liike this?

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a256/bobcowan/winglet2.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a256/bobcowan/winglet3.jpg

Yes, it works. The front end does feel better,but I'm not sure that lap times will demonstrate a true improvment. We'll see.

[riptide motorsport]

Ask and you shall recieve!

[AC Bill]

Ask and you shall recieve!

OK.. How about $5-6 grand to help with my paint costs?:p LOL

Thanks for the photo Bob, that is very much along the line of what I was thinking of. I might even try bending it more upwards slightly and forward, so it wraps under the body. That's why I wondered if I could use the body itself to fasten it to.
I like the simple outer brace set up you used, and it looks easy enough to make. Not sure what you have screwed/riveted the other end to though? Is that attached to a lower radiator support brace, or another brace you made?

[Chepsk8]

I run the aluminum FFR Spec series front spoiler, and over the years have added reinforcement for both just strength, and to make it resist street objects, such as animals, curbs, speed bumps, etc.... The spoiler DOES work, and holds the front end down. When I run the long high-speed tracks, such as Monticello, VIR, Watkins Glen, etc, I add a wicker to the front spoiler (see pic). It may slow me down a little, but the added stability is definitely worth it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v431/Chepsk8/WG2008SpoilerDetail.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v431/Chepsk8/LFviewatWG2008.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v431/Chepsk8/TCA1DanTimsMustang800.jpg

[Bob Cowan]

It's attached to a lower radiater support that I made. Just a simple 3/4" square bar with some brackets welded to the end. I drilled holes for the air dam, and used Riv-Nuts. I takes about 10 minutes to put them on and take them off.

Last year I tried a full width air dam. Made a huge differance in cornering. You could really feel how much faster the car was in the corners. But it created so much drag on the straights that it cost me 2-3 seconds per lap.

[AC Bill]

I could see how the full dam would add a lot of downforce..and drag as you mention. I'll stick to a smaller style dam for now.

What gauge aluminum is that you used Bob? I want something that will not flex under wind pressure.

[astglenn]

Jeez Bill! I am a native Hawaiian. When I saw "Wicker" I figured hey, some Hawaiian style! Aluminum is so caucasian!

[Bob Cowan]

I don't really know what gauge it is. It was some scraps I had lying around in the garage. But it's about the same thickness as the alum panels on the car, maybe a smidgen thicker. The strut braces are made from some alum straps that came out of ankle support brace.

[AC Bill]

Ankle Brace? Hmm I don't think I happen to have one of those kicking around at the moment..lol

I thinking I could use some aluminum tubing, and just flatten the ends, for the attachment points. I wonder if the aluminum flexes from wind pressure at the leading edge, being un-supported in that area? I could mount a bracket down lower to the outer leading edge, but if I hit something, I worry it may cause more damage. Bob, did you place the bracket on the upper spoiler edge on purpose, so that if you ran over something the aluminum would bend back under rather than the bracket?