Poor Man's Aero Kit -- Initial Testing

[jluetjen]

I'd be careful trying to balance out an aero issue (high speed push) with the suspension. Since suspension changes generally affect all speed ranges, you might wind up with a car that is low speed loose and high speed neutral. You need to trim aero grip with aero changes and mechanical grip with mechanical changes -- otherwise the balance of the car will be screwed up.

If your aero package has caused you to pick up a push, add front downforce. Front downforce is generally pretty easy to find since you're dealing with clean air as it comes in contact with the car. It generally seems that improving rear end downforce (without adding a lot of drag) while working in the wake of the cabin is the more common challenge.

Why not try extending (or adding) a front splitter? Maybe something in the vein of this for example...

[Bill Verburg]

I am getting a kick out of this, I do hope it all does work, but Jack is the guy that didn't want a front cooler because the cooler snout would ruin the early cars pure looks

[Tooth911]

Jack a wind tunnel would be nice to have when your at speed. could there be a wind measure device like used in weather station mounted on the underside of the car to measure wind speed with various combinations of diffuser and wing?.This sounds crazy but you could get real time data.

[rjay]

Originally posted by Tooth911
Jack a wind tunnel would be nice to have when your at speed. could there be a wind measure device like used in weather station mounted on the underside of the car to measure wind speed with various combinations of diffuser and wing?.This sounds crazy but you could get real time data.

I think Jack already alluded to a possible testing solution. With a data logger, you can add some linear sensors to measure the downforce effects. I assume you would add shock sensors and try to factor the data some how to see how much load they are carrying at speed. Perhaps there's a better method, dunno.

[Jack Olsen]

Originally posted by Bill Verburg
I am getting a kick out of this, I do hope it all does work, but Jack is the guy that didn't want a front cooler because the cooler snout would ruin the early cars pure looks

That's exactly it, though. Driving around town, I want a nice, vintage-looking car. On the track, looks don't matter as much. BB2 was conceived of as a split-personality car.

I could spend a lot of time testing these pieces on the track, but there are so many variables. I think the better next step is to put together a way to monitor the ride height changes in front and back, and then use wool tufts and video to see where adjustments should be made.

The ride height measurement is really the key, IMO. Whether its strain gauges, slide potentiometers, sonar or laser distance measurement, I need a long stretch of flat pavement and a way to produce data my DL-1 logger will be able to process.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by Jack Olsen
I need a long stretch of flat pavement and a way to produce data my DL-1 logger will be able to process.

http://www.silverstateclassic.com/

[randywebb]

I definitely think that is the way to go -- it'll be a lot easier to do this today with digital cameras than when the factory had guys stand out on autobahn overpasses to look at the wool tufts as the car went by.

[kycarguy 935]

I found this aerodynamic wind tunnel simulator if anyone is interested.
I havent tried it and have no affiliations.

http://www.kineticart.co.uk/WindStudioSimulator.asp

[350HP930]

That is not a flow simulation program, its software for controlling and recording data from a real wind tunnel.

[rich22]

Originally posted by Jack Olsen
The ride height measurement is really the key, IMO. Whether its strain gauges, slide potentiometers, sonar or laser distance measurement, I need a long stretch of flat pavement and a way to produce data my DL-1 logger will be able to process.

You can duct tape a ruler to a strut and mount a lipstick camera in your wheelwell to record how much the spring compresses. The OTC Supra boys did something like this when they were suspension tuning.

Or maybe stick a carpenters laser tape measure on the side of the fender pointing at the ground and run a camera to record it. I don't know if those things will take a reading while you're moving though.

[BReyes]

Your work is excellent. By seeing what is on the track and what you have, it looks good. Look at Yellowbird's post-hmmm . Question: it seems that tire selection was not optimized?

Regards,

[Yellowbird RS]

Jack here are some pics. for the F430 underbodie and some wind tunnel pics. for the 360 CGT













the F430 have more downforce w/o spioler wing than the F360 GTC

[Jack Olsen]

Yellowbird, thanks! Some of the file names you gave the images were too long, causing the images not to display. I think I fixed them.