818 DIY Front Splitter

[ben1272]

I want a splitter on my (primarily) street 818 but cannot see spending the $400+ to buy one from FFR, even though it is carbon fiber and very nice. I have to save those nickels for another purchase (hardtop kit...)

Anyway, I found this link under DIY splitter and needed to share. I will probably give this a try for both a front and rear. If I get anywhere with it I will post some pics.

http://www.specr53.com/blog/diy/mini-front-splitter-diy/

Anyone else found good info on DIY splitters?

[Canadian818]

Definitely the way to go. If I had my time back I wouldn't have bought the FFR one. It's a consumable piece, going to need replacing ever other year most likely. I would urge you to consider making a bigger one that ties into the floor though so you don't get lift in the front causing understeer. Not an issue for the street I guess. Also, if you want an easier method, just use wood and seal it with an epoxy resin. If you mix a little graphite into the resin it'll black everything out and adds abrasion resistance to the cured resin. Touch ups would be super easy too.

[SixStar]

The FFR front splitter is a vestigial cosmetic part, without some serious bracing and support it simply buckles at speed. You're much better off building your own and making something that will work and survive.

[Hindsight]

When I was going to build my own, I was going to use a 1/4" divinylcell foam that I would then laminate 2 layers of carbon fiber cloth over. The material cost for that would be pretty close to what FFR charges for their spoiler. You'd need a vacuum pump and vacuum bagging equipment.

On a race-car, plywood seems to be what most guys are doing since they get beat to hell on the track and need to be cheap and easy to replace.

[ben1272]

I am going to go plywood route (cheap and effective). I figure it is going to see its fair share of abuse, and I will definitely try to adequately tie it into the frame. Also planning to extend it back to the front floor.

I started drawing a template last night and may cut some wood today.

[Sgt.Gator]

Alumalite is great stuff. I got mine from the same folks that make my vinyl sponsor stickers. They make signs too and had a large piece of scrap left over from a project. They even cut it out to shape for me on their cnc router table. No charge.
Check with your local sign companies....

[Hindsight]

I looked into the Alumalite stuff but unless you can find a hook-up for it (IE scrap), it's very expensive to buy a sheet and you have to find it local since it's too big to ship cheaply. Phil from Element Tuning had a splitter and diffuser made out of it when I saw him last at Grid Life South.

[DSR-3]

If you opt for the fiberglass/resin over core route, consider building on a sheet of melamine with mold release wax. I have used 1/4" with a couple stiffener 2x4's on the back. Makes for a nice flat part and clean top surface without sanding.