Front Downforce

SFerrari · April 10, 2015, 10:38

I did create a front vent in the hood, in order to generate downforce.
here is a link to the result, it works incredibly well :

m http://www.mrs-passion.com/forum/downlo ... &mode=view m

Eastsoutheast · April 10, 2015, 15:51

That front vent is an interesting and unique solution.

I will look at getting some pads as suggested and keep my stock discs as they are in decent condition.

Will be attending ding day so may well still get the alignment checked whilst there.

Wish I could change a set of pads in 20 minutes. Can they be changed without having to bleed the brakes as mine are close ish to needing replacement and I would prefer to do it myself.

Maybe we could arrange a track day at Bedford aerodrome and get as many members along as possible?

Anonymous · April 10, 2015, 16:20

Front pads really do only take 20mins to replace.

No bleeding required.

I'd be interested in a day at Bedford!

Jrichards20 · April 10, 2015, 16:50

front pads are dead easy. Wheels off, couple of bolts to undo calliper, pads out, new pads in, bit of grease, back in calliper. Calliper back over disc. Wheel back on. The most difficult bit is sometimes the calliper piston needs to be push back in, but a bit of flat wood and some sort of tool that can apply pressure like a clamp or even a large plier to move it in slightly. But all in all, a very very easy job to do.

SFerrari · April 13, 2015, 09:37

Quote from: "SFerrari"I did create a front vent in the hood, in order to generate downforce.
here is a link to the result, it works incredibly well :

m http://www.mrs-passion.com/forum/downlo ... &mode=view m

Some more pics about the air vent :

doodlepugg · April 13, 2015, 10:50

This vent... Is it sucking air out from the rad? I can't see the pictures well enough to figure it out. Matched with a splitter & venturi floor, that could be a decent idea.

shnazzle · April 13, 2015, 13:29

I don't get how that vent works assuming what's under the bonnet is stock. But as said, if the air was channeled smoothly to under the car and the bottom had a venturi of sorts... That'd be cool

SFerrari · April 13, 2015, 13:29

The incoming air is fully directed to the rad, going through it and exiting to the vent, creating downforce to the car front end.
Very efficient. The car now feels stuck to the road, no more floating feeling.

shnazzle · April 13, 2015, 13:33

Oh now I see it! Didn't see the panel behind the rad pushing the air up. That is brilliant!

Wabbitkilla · April 13, 2015, 13:42

Similar idea to the Elise then ..... if it works for Lotus then it should work for anyone.

SFerrari · April 13, 2015, 13:51

Quote from: "shnazzle"Oh now I see it! Didn't see the panel behind the rad pushing the air up. That is brilliant!

Thanks s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

I just tried to gather all the existing system into something I was able to setup with my hands (and no tools).
Pretty much happy with the result, at (almost) no cost.

shnazzle · April 13, 2015, 15:47

Really like this idea... This may need to be added to list of possible mods

Anonymous · April 13, 2015, 16:08

That looks pretty neat.

Interested in it myself.

I can't get the link to work; Does the link work for everyone else? Might be because I'm on tapatalk

shnazzle · April 13, 2015, 18:11

Link does nothing. Think it was just a link to the pics posted later.
This is right up your alley!

SFerrari · April 13, 2015, 18:20

yes, the link is the same as the pics posted after :-) :-) :-)

Anonymous · April 13, 2015, 18:22

Some more info / pics of what you did would be pretty good!

Eastsoutheast · April 13, 2015, 20:39

It does seem a really great mod with real benefits. How easy is it to replicate and if you could would you do it any differently having done it already?

Thanks

dan944 · April 13, 2015, 20:54

Rogue has a similar set up that seems pretty decent. Been looking at it myself. It's effectively a funnel running from behing the radiator up to the bonnet with a large meshed square in the middle of th bonnet for air to escape.

shnazzle · April 13, 2015, 20:59

I'd definitely grill the top and put water drain holes (small) in the bottom of the funnel,being a daily driver.

Anonymous · April 13, 2015, 21:25

As I have a large hole there I might now have to rethink in covering it. Oh well more work lol.

doodlepugg · April 14, 2015, 04:46

It's also extremely useful if you have a sealed off floor, to maintain good airflow to the rad.
Lotus are generally the best manufacturers to copy when it comes to aerodynamics & ground effect. Although the Exige rear diffuser is set up at too aggressive an angle stock, and creates flow separation s:D

s:D

All food for though, though!
s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

Mr X · April 14, 2015, 14:47

I've been keeping an eye on this to do the same thing:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-MR2-MRS-Roadster-CARBON-FIBER-00-05-Vented-Bonnet-inc-MESH-/251632146251?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a9671d74b

They made a non-carbon version but looking at your effort SFerrari, I may just have to get my angle grinder out instead! s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

doodlepugg · April 14, 2015, 15:14

Just make sure you make the shape of the vent right, so as to suck air out from the rad. Essentially a diffuser in the bay. Don't be tempted to duct it to the base of the windscreen either. That wouldn't work at all, and would probably restrict airflow to the rad!
Smack bang in the middle of the the bonnet is about best - though I like my little storage hole, so I might make ducts each side as & when.

mikey P · April 14, 2015, 18:05

Interesting idea cutting hole. Not sure it adds any aero effects on the Elise. Its done as the radiator is horizontal instead of vertical so needs this to get air flow through it. (Always used to be problem on the Elise in the rain as when the rain hit it you would get lots of steam coming up off it).

SFerrari · April 14, 2015, 20:16

As per the general interest, thanks for that, I'll try to post more pics of the whole setup, but it needs to get a fully empty front trunk (including removing steering pump in my case to have more room, but it could possibly stay in place but not ideal).

I have weighted the car today, at local MOT, and I've reached 840kg whitout hard top (considering it weights 30kg but not sure) and with full gas tank. s:mrgreen: :mrgreen: s:mrgreen:

Cheers