In search for more aero

[AnaheimE]

I downloaded the templates to see if they'll fit.
Could these actually help with front downforce?

air pressure moving over it at that angle will be forced to go somewhere, pushing against the fin, causing a downward force. How effective it is I cannot say outright, but they do work. It might be better to go a custom make one than to use a universal piece, but testing will say for sure.

 

[93SVTCobra]

How about pieces like this...

This is actually a pretty good piece. On a race car I'd make those air dams in front of the tires longer to shroud the tires.

I've yet to see a rear diffuser that even looks like it would work on a Mustang. I like the fact that none of the designs shown have done anything to really control the overall airflow but mearly throw some fins in the back and assume it works. I traded emails with the guy with the black car and he swore he could "feel" it working..... ah....ok......

After talking to an aero guy where I work he told me you are much better off spending time working on the front end of the car and reducing lift than you are working on a "functional" diffuser for the rear of a Mustang. If you want downforce on the rear just add a big ass wing and be done with it.

 

[racebronco2]

This is actually a pretty good piece. On a race car I'd make those air dams in front of the tires longer to shroud the tires.

I've yet to see a rear diffuser that even looks like it would work on a Mustang. I like the fact that none of the designs shown have done anything to really control the overall airflow but mearly throw some fins in the back and assume it works. I traded emails with the guy with the black car and he swore he could "feel" it working..... ah....ok......

After talking to an aero guy where I work he told me you are much better off spending time working on the front end of the car and reducing lift than you are working on a "functional" diffuser for the rear of a Mustang. If you want downforce on the rear just add a big ass wing and be done with it.

Our cars (03/04 cobra's) still need something added in the rear from the gas tank to the bumper cover to reduce drag. If i remember correctly our bumper covers are about 2 inches lower then most other mustangs.

 

[racebronco2]

Here is a link to the fox body that also has a rear diffuser.http://forums.corral.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1007474

 

[Snake Eyes]

Our cars (03/04 cobra's) still need something added in the rear from the gas tank to the bumper cover to reeduce drag. If i remember correctly our bumper covers are about 2 inches lower then most other mustangs.

No no no. The 03/04 rear bumper cover comes down less than an inch lower than a stock GT cover. Honestly the difference is negligible in regards to this conversation. Any rear splitter that is built for the GT bumper would be able to attach to the 03/04 cobra rear cover just fine. I cant speak to the effectiveness of a rear splitter on a mustang but it would fit just fine.

 

[SKMCOBRA]

No no no. The 03/04 rear bumper cover comes down less than an inch lower than a stock GT cover. Honestly the difference is negligible in regards to this conversation. Any rear splitter that is built for the GT bumper would be able to attach to the 03/04 cobra rear cover just fine. I cant speak to the effectiveness of a rear splitter on a mustang but it would fit just fine.

Maybe he is referring to an older Cobra's rear bumper? I believe the 03/04 rear bumpers are about 3 inches lower than the 94-98's.

 

[gcassidy]

Yes, when getting my trailer hitch, I went through the gaumet of "Fits Cobras/Dosen't Fit Cobras" because the rear valance on the '99 up comes down about 2 inches more than '98 and earlier. I lucked out.

Mark, how could you adapt a front air dam like in Dale's pic to a bottom breather like the '98? Would it need a vent in the bottom?

 

[RoadZOmbie]

nice! are you hitting buttonwillow again on the 26th and 27th of this month?

 

[racebronco2]

nice! are you hitting buttonwillow again on the 26th and 27th of this month?

Yes i'll be at buttonwillow with nasa. I'm picking up my "r" wing on saturday:banana: and should have most of the aero stuff on the car. Come by and say hi.

I am working on the rear of the car right now and trying to make mounts/brackets so that it will be minimal drilling.

 

[AnaheimE]

Yes i'll be at buttonwillow with nasa. I'm picking up my "r" wing on saturday:banana: and should have most of the aero stuff on the car. Come by and say hi.

I am working on the rear of the car right now and trying to make mounts/brackets so that it will be minimal drilling.

Let me know how you mount it and how effective your diffuser is. If it works then I might model mine after yours and try my own take on it.


Here's a report by Mitsubishi Engineers regarding the use of Vortex Generators.
http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/corporate/about_us/technology/review/e/pdf/2004/16E_03.pdf

 

[93SVTCobra]

Mark, how could you adapt a front air dam like in Dale's pic to a bottom breather like the '98? Would it need a vent in the bottom?

Just make sure that the opening in the front is big enough to supply enough air to the radiator. This was going to be one of my winter projects but I ran out of time.

Once again, although diffusers look cool there is so much bad stuff going on with the front end of a Mustang that your time is better of spent fixing that first. Seal up the radiator, vent air out of the engine compartment, direct it around the front tires, add some cheap rubber side rocker flaps that are low enough and self clearance (ala mid 80's Dodge Daytona Z's), nice big effective wing on the back THEN worry about the air exiting the rear of the vehicle. You could also add flatten the floor out (although I would dimple it like the Ford GT and many other super cars) to my list of things to do before a diffuser.

The pictures of that corral car diffuser is a classic example of how it looks right but probably doesn't do anything.

 

[sunburned]

So, I know the opening on the 03 cobra is huge, but for the 99-04 GT's and the SN95 cobras, is there enough of an opening in the front bumper and the grille to supply air to the radiator? If a big carbon fiber splitter or aluminum plate was added to the front end, would it reduce the cooling efficiency of the motor? That aluminum panel I showed is made by Beatrush for Evo's, but I'm sure something relatively simple can be created for Mustangs if you really wanted to. Wish I had a shop or garage with some decent room to fabricate.

Oh yeah, and personally, I don't think this looks too bad. I like it better than the 2000R wing, but thats just the ricer in me lol. If I only had a coupe.

 

[AnaheimE]

So, I know the opening on the 03 cobra is huge, but for the 99-04 GT's and the SN95 cobras, is there enough of an opening in the front bumper and the grille to supply air to the radiator? If a big carbon fiber splitter or aluminum plate was added to the front end, would it reduce the cooling efficiency of the motor? That aluminum panel I showed is made by Beatrush for Evo's, but I'm sure something relatively simple can be created for Mustangs if you really wanted to. Wish I had a shop or garage with some decent room to fabricate.

Oh yeah, and personally, I don't think this looks too bad. I like it better than the 2000R wing, but thats just the ricer in me lol. If I only had a coupe.

The cooling deficency can be fixed by "sealing" the radiator. Basically you have to duct the radiator's intake and exhaust. Channel air into the radiator from the front and then throw it back out through either the under the hood through a cowl, or as a better suggestion just run it through the hood, much like a V-mount. Take the C6-R for example.

I'm sick of everyone assuming anything that's not OEM on a domestic is Rice. Most of the wings made by Apexi and other reputable companies are actually wind tunnel tested. There is a reason they are so popular in Japan. They work.

 

[sleepless]

I doubt a rear diffuser will do anything on a Mustang unless you can smooth out the whole bottom. Otherwise, there is too much turbulance under the car for the diffuser to be effective; it needs a nice smooth undercar airflow.

 

[01Cobra896]

I think this is an interesting read. I do a lot of high speed driving in Germany so this really interests me. I will be following this thread very closely. BTW, I have a feeling that the wing I have on my Cobra is more looks than function, I have the Saleen S281 one piece wing. I know I am not adding to this thread, but is sure is good to learn.

 

[racebronco2]

I think this is an interesting read. I do a lot of high speed driving in Germany so this really interests me. I will be following this thread very closely. BTW, I have a feeling that the wing I have on my Cobra is more looks than function, I have the Saleen S281 one piece wing. I know I am not adding to this thread, but is sure is good to learn.

I remember reading a few years ago ( one of the monthly mustang magazines ) that tested the mustng gt's with a wing and without and with a wing it actually lower top speed by about 3mph.

 

[AnaheimE]

I remember reading a few years ago ( one of the monthly mustang magazines ) that tested the mustng gt's with a wing and without and with a wing it actually lower top speed by about 3mph.

Lamborghini Countachs with the "v-wing" were something like 20 mph slower in the top end. Now, if that was attributed to just drag or actual down force produced from the wing I do not know.

 

[steve121]

Quote from a test on the 2000 Cobra R


"Testing shows the splitter and wing are the good guys in the R's one-handed, high-speed stability. The combination produces a 10-fold reduction in front-end lift, along with a 3-fold increase in rear downforce. The drag penalty turned out to be about 5 mph--from approximately a 175-mph top speed down to 170. Even for racing, this is an excellent trade."

 

[racebronco2]

So far it's looking good.

Started fabbing up the rear yesterday but the piece of aluminum was cut incorrect by the material yard. I tried to make it work but it just didn't look correct. I then came up with another idea that worked out really good. I used the 4 small vent holes on the gas tank plastic cover to mount the front of the rear tray to, just had to make a bracket with 4 tabs that slide right into it.For mounting the rear i made one bracket for the center and actually used the bumper cover tabs to use the plastic push pins to secure the rear pans to it. The ends near the exhaust i made a couple more brackets the sandwich the bumper cover between them. I will use a screw at both these ends to tightly secure the rear pan. Below are the pictures of the finished product. You can click on image for a larger view.

 

[hookups333]

Are you going to make the vortex generators on that too. I know my teacher had said to make the vortex generators to about the middle of the car to straighten out the flow so I would guess that you would make them the whole lenght of the aluminum. You may correct me if I'm wrong in anyway.