Aero Inspiration - splitters, wings, and more

[Arith2]

Here are some resources to help you guys get an idea of what works. Aero can be pretty useless or counter productive when done wrong, however, it's not that hard to avoid stupid aero. Perfecting a set up will require some R&D in a tunnel but having an idea of how air flows can put you in the ballpark of the educated. There are some real weird time attack cars out there simple because they didn't research how air flows around cars.

This guy worked for Mercedes F1 team as an aero engineer:

https://youtube.com/c/KYLEDRIVES

This guy is Australian:

https://youtube.com/channel/UCK9yRHfXmmNB9XEmuiCjxcQ

This guy is inactive but his channel was basically the means for him getting his degree through his project. It's very educational: https://youtube.com/user/RotaryRebuilder

[bigjae46]

Safe to assume the foamcore/carbon is stiff enough that is doesn't need anything to stop the front from bending down?

I could get by without support rods on the front but there would be some flex. Mostly because the mounts. You could add more bracing which adds more weight.

Easier and less weight to add the support rods.


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[CSLManual]

If you want some inspiration, my colleague is on Instagram as TimeAttackM3 and starting to do some proper mad things with his.

[SandeepM3]

Safe to assume the foamcore/carbon is stiff enough that is doesn't need anything to stop the front from bending down?

[bigjae46]

Front splitter mounting. Old mounts were aluminum which didn’t last. These mounts are steel. Steel plate with a turnbuckle to adjust the height.

Then I used some gas shocks from McMaster-Carr for the sides.










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[SandeepM3]

Oh interesting. I'll try that when I get the wing mounted, but just pulling up on that side of the trunk with the edge of my fingers did have some play. So would be much work with some leverage the wing would provide. Damn. I really didn't want to make a chassis mount for the rear. lol

[bigjae46]

Really eh? The chassis mount made that much of a difference? I always felt for trunk I hopefully wouldn't need it as much. Like when you push down on the trunk there isn't really any play I can feel. Seems to go straight to the suspension. Front 100% needed that bumper will rip right off lol.

Front lip looks great!

There are rubber stops which the hinges and bottom of the trunk lid sit on.

But I learned the hard way the front mount points on the trunk lid lift up, they do not push down. Pushing down is one thing...try pulling back on the wing. You’ll get some flex.


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[SandeepM3]

Great idea... I'm 50/50 if I'll make the drive down to Houston for the weekend but I'd like to since I haven't done MSR Houston yet. I'd like a closer look at your setup to get some ideas. I love what AJ does, but he does command a high premium!

Do you feel like the trunk mounted wing is solid enough or do you wish you tied it into the chassis?

I got the impression that AJ took the items off his product list that were not the best design aerodynamically. He just recently took off fender louvers after a windtunnel that showed the race louvers were better. That's my assumption for why he doesn't offer the front lip anymore.

He mentioned to me that his apex 8(8inch cord) produces more downforce then the nine lives 9.5 in cord wing (he didn't directly name them but from what he told me I could clearly assume it was that company). And by the look of the airfoil it looks like it will have minimal drag. Just a well designed airfoil.

[SandeepM3]

I’m running a wing I got from Amazon.com...bought with Hilton Honors points so it cost me $0.00. It’s probably not optimal but it makes a difference. It really made a difference when I chassis mounted the wing. I’m sure there’s a bunch of drag and it won’t impress anyone.




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Really eh? The chassis mount made that much of a difference? I always felt for trunk I hopefully wouldn't need it as much. Like when you push down on the trunk there isn't really any play I can feel. Seems to go straight to the suspension. Front 100% needed that bumper will rip right off lol.

Front lip looks great!

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

My car is a track car. so I might go with the GT4 style wing that PSdesigns sells. Or maybe the GTS style. With High mounts. I think the schirmer builds use these type of wings.
Well probably add canards from PSdesigns. And still have not decided on a splitter.

Anybody have experience with the quality of PSdesigns product?

Can’t say I’ve heard it seen them at the track.

Personally if the company doesn’t present some form of data of how well the wing operates then I’m not gonna buy from them.


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[Jevi Javi]

My car is a track car. so I might go with the GT4 style wing that PSdesigns sells. Or maybe the GTS style. With High mounts. I think the schirmer builds use these type of wings.
Well probably add canards from PSdesigns. And still have not decided on a splitter.

Anybody have experience with the quality of PSdesigns product?

[Sergmann]

Yeah I like the Buildjournal approach and when I do this, I'd like to do the quick disconnect bumper/splitter too for the easy access. I see you entirely removed the finder liners too? Did you remove all that plastic liners even within the wheel well?

What's the measurement from bumper to the edge of the splitter? I believe NASA TT rules is that it must be within 12". I'm trying to get a gauge between the Hard Motorsports splitter which doesn't appear to stick out of the bumper as much as a custom splitter potentially could.

Only the front portion of the fender liners have been removed. The section inside the fenders themselves are still there although they are mostly worn through at this point from tire rub and will likely get removed this winter for some fender venting if I get that far. which dimension are you looking for exactly? Mine is a very small splitter by most standards and only stick out from the front of the bumper by about 4"

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

Greg Smith, at GSR Motorsports in Ft. Worth (you should speak with him), "developed" my setup. The rear of the splitter slides into a bracket welded to the front subframe. I have four bumper mounted "supports" that basically push down on the splitter, then the four tension cables across the front as you can see in the photos. Very rigid. I wanted it removable for ingress/egress into my trailer which is nice.

Yeah I've heard of him, sucks he's all the way in Fort Worth. I'm on the Dallas side of DFW otherwise, I'd be going to him and Texas Track Works. I've been working with Andy at Clownshoe for the last year on general maintenance and upkeep of the car.

Do you have any pics handy of how you tapped into the subframe for the mounts? I haven't seen that approach yet.

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

I am using the buildjournal mounts on my front splitter. Along with their quick disconnect front bumper mounts it makes for a really nice setup that allows very good access to that area of the car if needed. For the splitter I used alumalite which isnt ($200 for a 4x8 sheet) the cheapest material but very light and stiff. ran this car last season with jut the front splitter and no wing. I installed the splitter to combat a n understeer issue I was having. It did help but ultimately I changed suspension setup to fully fix the problem. Buildjournal has been awesome and stands behind their product 100%.

I placed an order for a ninvelives racing wing last month and will be installing it for next season so I cannot comment yet but as said above it is a very affordable option with some real data behind its design. The two big downfalls are the weight vs carbon and the unfinished surface.

Yeah I like the Buildjournal approach and when I do this, I'd like to do the quick disconnect bumper/splitter too for the easy access. I see you entirely removed the finder liners too? Did you remove all that plastic liners even within the wheel well?

What's the measurement from bumper to the edge of the splitter? I believe NASA TT rules is that it must be within 12". I'm trying to get a gauge between the Hard Motorsports splitter which doesn't appear to stick out of the bumper as much as a custom splitter potentially could.

[BlAikenstein]

The stock underside of the m3 is relatively smooth with the plastic aero pieces but a true flat panel will smooth the airflow under the car creating downforce and efficiently. This is going to add cooling concerns. I think Lang has a flat panel and maybe uses a electric rear mounted radiator.

https://drivetribe.com/p/how-effective-is-a-flat-floor-on-LHZIQlJZSqm3Nh3YIbi8OQ

I also like those gurney flaps directly above the radiator. They direct air flow through the radiator and up over the car. Good for aero and cooling but your cutting your stock hood.