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Author: Subject: aerodynamic improvements
carnut

posted on 8/5/03 at 02:16 PM Reply With Quote
aerodynamic improvements

ive been thinking of trying to improve the aerodynamics of my mk and ive come up with a few ideas and wonder if anyone had any opinions on them.

1) difuser to go under the diff and rear wishbones to let the air flow smoother under car.
2) extending the front wheel archs around further to cover more of the tread on the wheels.
3) mounting the number plate very low at the front and maybe on an angle to restrict air flow under the car.
4) putting a wing in the nose cone. By this i mean basically ducting all the air thru the rad and out of a hole in the front of bonnet. This should give some downforce.

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carnut

posted on 8/5/03 at 02:19 PM Reply With Quote
ive atached this pic of some of these on a 7

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DoctorFunky

posted on 8/5/03 at 06:22 PM Reply With Quote
Westfield already do a similar thing with one of their nosecones and it works well for them. Looks good to.





Glad I didn't build a Tiger

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kiwirex

posted on 8/5/03 at 10:10 PM Reply With Quote
Funny this should come up, just last night I was reading "Lotus Seven Super Profile" which appeared to be written by someone who had worked for Lotus.

Two things struck me:
a) the seven was only built to keep money coming in during the racing off season (and development was basically only done when previous donors ran out of production)

and b) one of the design pragmas appeared to be that it was built light with a not very powerful engine so aerodynamics wouldn't be an issue.
This was at a time when others were putting lots of effort into Aerodynamics and adding weight to the car with it.

- Greg H

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Fast Westie

posted on 9/5/03 at 09:24 AM Reply With Quote
carnut
1) A properly designed rear diffuser produces a small improvement
2) Extending the front arches produces a small improvement, so does closing the gap between the arch and tyre.
3) This doesn't do much. The number plate stops air going under the car and getting messed up.
4) This does nothing at all.

You could try:
Half tonneau over passenger space
Full panelling under car
and the bigest improvement - remove screen!





The car in front is a Westfield

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Jon Bradbury

posted on 9/5/03 at 11:30 AM Reply With Quote
Instead of removing the screen altogether, how abut a small "spoiler" screen as is fitted to the Radical track car?
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SteveO

posted on 23/5/03 at 11:07 AM Reply With Quote
Interesting topic on the MK Indy.
i also have been looking for ways to improve the dynamics. Have a look at attached images . Can anyone advise on how or who can make the boot cover?

Steve Rescued attachment 114-1408_IMG.jpg
Rescued attachment 114-1408_IMG.jpg

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Spyderman

posted on 23/5/03 at 11:56 AM Reply With Quote
I don't wish to disillusion you, but if aerodynamics is an issue with you you should not have built a seven style car.

The modifications mentioned above may give small improvements, but if you want to increase speed or stability with aerodynamics you will need a fully enclosed body, much like a Lotus eleven or Le Mans style car.

Smoothing the airflow around the car is the only way to get significant improvements.

Steps off soap box:

To answer your points;
1. May help, but will depend on airflow under car. How disturbed the airflow is can make this useless.
2.Might help if you can cover up about 3/4 of tyre tread circumference.
3.Would only redirect air around number plate and create more drag. Body needs side skirts to benefit from an air dam other wise air tumbles in from sides.
4.Utilising the dammed air at front for cooling the engine is good, but as the airflow is slowed and heated by the radiator it will do nothing for downforce and could even create more turbulence.

Sorry to seem so negative!

Terry






Spyderman

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dozracing

posted on 27/5/03 at 11:04 AM Reply With Quote
According to wind tunnel tests conducted on a racing Caterham at Mira the biggest improvement found pound for pound was fitting a streamlined cover to the roll over hoop.

Ferrari 645 F1 car had a diffuser angle of around 17 degrees if that helps the diffuser design at all. If its too big an angle it'll stall the air and give no downforce, also you'll need to use a side fendes that come as close to the floor as possible to stop the air spilling out of the diffuser.

Kind regards,

Darren

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SteveO

posted on 9/6/03 at 11:02 AM Reply With Quote
another pic

Hi,

As i got a few interested requests for the pic i posted, here is the other i saved. unfortunately i didn't save the url as i was just browsing through.
Sorry guys. Rescued attachment lotus31small.jpg
Rescued attachment lotus31small.jpg

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MikeRJ

posted on 9/6/03 at 04:58 PM Reply With Quote
That's one godamn ugly nosecone!
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ned

posted on 10/6/03 at 09:51 AM Reply With Quote
MikeRJ,

I think the 'looks' (or lack of) has been previously discussed for this car!

Ned.





beware, I've got yellow skin

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blackie

posted on 11/6/03 at 09:45 PM Reply With Quote
Does anyone know where to get those front cycle wings that go all the way round the wheel (except underneath of course)? I've seen them on a car at a race meeting recently - like the ones on carnuts picture above, but they cover even more of the wheel. I'm thinking "I gotta get me some o' these!!"





*

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stephen_gusterson

posted on 11/6/03 at 09:56 PM Reply With Quote
if you really really want em, make em. its a hassle, but not impossible.

see my web shyte.






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Stu16v

posted on 12/6/03 at 06:45 PM Reply With Quote
quote:

Does anyone know where to get those front cycle wings that go all the way round the wheel (except underneath of course)? I've seen them on a car at a race meeting recently - like the ones on carnuts picture above, but they cover even more of the wheel. I'm thinking "I gotta get me some o' these!!"



Try Formula27 ones (YKC).

HTH Stu.





Dont just build it.....make it!

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blackie

posted on 13/6/03 at 09:39 PM Reply With Quote
The nice chaps at YKC offer a wing covering about 170 degrees of the wheel - are there any wings out there with more than 170 degrees of wheel coverage?





*

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SteveO

posted on 17/6/03 at 01:26 PM Reply With Quote
ok ..here's a nice pretty front

Rescued attachment Donk_02small.jpg
Rescued attachment Donk_02small.jpg

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MikeRJ

posted on 18/6/03 at 10:52 AM Reply With Quote
That's not too bad at all. Not sure if I really prefer it over the original shape, but it's not in the fugly category
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DaveFJ

posted on 18/6/03 at 11:45 AM Reply With Quote
I like the screen mounts/surround

any idea where/who this is from ?

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dozracing

posted on 18/6/03 at 01:06 PM Reply With Quote
We are making cycle wings that cover the tyre fully at the moment. Should be ready in a few weeks.

Kind regards,

Darren
www.gtstuning.co.uk

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blueshift

posted on 3/11/03 at 11:40 PM Reply With Quote
sounds like that would have a nasty adverse effect on traction.. arf arf..
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gsand

posted on 4/1/04 at 12:39 PM Reply With Quote
Has anyone seen this!!! Rescued attachment 01J0A455008967B.jpg
Rescued attachment 01J0A455008967B.jpg






4st Insanity


Maybee i should start wearing a Welding mask.....

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Hugh Paterson

posted on 4/1/04 at 01:03 PM Reply With Quote
Oz the home of mad max shows too
Shug.

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andyps

posted on 4/1/04 at 08:32 PM Reply With Quote
Caterham have apparently spent a lot of time looking at aerodynamics recently - the magazine articles about the new version they plan to race during 2004 have included a lot of information about what they are doing.

Basically it seems despite lots of time in the wind tunnel they haven't come up with any conclusions about the best way to go for aerodynamic effect and stability.





Andy

An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less

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Peteff

posted on 5/1/04 at 12:23 AM Reply With Quote
Shave your head, have your ears pinned back, keep your gob shut tight, your elbows in and wear some wrap around specs. If you want to go faster press the pedal harder.

yours, Pete.





yours, Pete

I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.

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