Some interesting aerodynamic info

[cudabob496]

I took the car out today.  Did it seem to run smooth, steady,
and be a little more stable, and slippery through the air? Of course!
I think!

[Surfmichaels]

Anything on the front end yet or just the rear plate?

[cudabob496]

Anything on the front end yet or just the rear plate?

ya, I took a piece of sheetmetal, about 53 inch by 6 inches, and bolted it to the lip of the lower front valence, to create
a front spoiler.  Will post a picture. Made a noticable difference at high speed. Front end seemed to be more planted.
I assume because the spoiler does not let as much air under the car. 

Should be easy to attach a splitter to the bottom of the front spoiler, and have support rods going up into the valence.

also, one of the articles above mentions the benefits of a front undertray.  From my front spoiler to the oil pan is a big open area, and a large
piece of sheetmetal bolted in may cover it all.  Will look into that.  Maybe the front splitter and undertray can be one piece of sheetmetal or wood.

I think even at the drag strip, aerodynamics can play a big part.  In the sixties, I've read, to relieve the big buildup of positive pressure in front of the car, the racers would raise the back part of the hood, next to the windshield, 2 inches or so, to relieve some of that built up pressure, in front of the car and in the engine bay, and gain about 2 tenths in the quarter mile. A 2 tenth gain is the quarter mile is considered about a 20 hp gain in rear wheel horsepower.

[RCCDrew]

Also, covering any grille opening that's not directly in front of the radiator will help.

[RCCDrew]

Bob, can you take a few pics of your whole car? I haven't seen the whole thing yet.

[cudabob496]

Bob, can you take a few pics of your whole car? I haven't seen the whole thing yet.

[Surfmichaels]

Aero is as much art as science but I think the your rear plate could smooth air exiting the underside but that the front plate would provide a majority of the benefit by creating an air pocket that lowers the underbody pressure and reduces lift effects on the front... Similar to the pickup truck episode of mythbusters. Thoughts? although at the end of the day it looks cooler than a big whole and if you like it it's all that matters..

[cudabob496]

Aero is as much art as science but I think the your rear plate could smooth air exiting the underside but that the front plate would provide a majority of the benefit by creating an air pocket that lowers the underbody pressure and reduces lift effects on the front... Similar to the pickup truck episode of mythbusters. Thoughts? although at the end of the day it looks cooler than a big whole and if you like it it's all that matters..

Delicate balance between looks and performance.  Gonna look at a larger diffuser, splitter, and undertray. All of which should not stand
out to much, and detract from the Cuda look.

One source for undertray material might be those 2 ft x 4ft metal drip pans you can get at Walmart.

['Cuda Hunter]

That's one cool lookin ride you have there Bob!

[cudabob496]

That's one cool lookin ride you have there Bob!

thank you Sir! Been wrenchin on it for 23 years. The wheels are light weight Weld Prostars
that have been painted black.

Got a peace of plywood, about 53 inches wide and two feet deep. Gonna make a splitter out of it.
Will attach to the spoiler, and protrude about 5 inches out. Also, will be a belly pan (front undertray) almost to the oil pan.
There are bolt holes on the K frame that I can mount it too as well, as the spoiler will not be sufficient to support it.
Will see how it turns out.

[cudabob496]

ok, 2ft by 4ft piece of 7 layer plywood from Home Depot for $10.
Extends back to oil pan.
Splitter should give me at least 100 lbs downforce at speed.
Gotta smooth some corners and paint it all black.
Will hardly be noticed once black.
Beats spending $1000 on carbon fiber!!

Towards back of board, about 3 ft apart, used the below U bolts to loop over
front sway bar (the part of the bar that just turns, but does not move up or down)

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=u+bolt&go=Submit&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=u+bolt&sc=8-6&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&id=9C0D2022B7DF0EFA1780A1AAFA02674BB63C5BFA&selectedIndex=0

[RCCDrew]

What about lowering your car about 2" front and rear?

[Surfmichaels]

It does appear to have alot of rake. Whats your primary use? Cruising, Drag, Fun, Racing?

One piece of advice a fabricator told me about these custom trays was to use plastic nuts that will allow the whole thing to break away easily if there is an impact. Engineering in a weak spot can help avoid bigger issues an issue should an impact occur. 

[HP2]

Anything you could do to flush up those grill openings would be a benefit too.

[cudabob496]

Anything you could do to flush up those grill openings would be a benefit too.

Yep, those grill openings are large, but unfortunately behind them is either radiator, tranny cooler, or snorkle intakes to
air cleaner.  The hood is vented quite a bit, so that helps a little, as far as not letting the grill openings be big air brakes.

Car is just used for street racing and high speed stuff.

Car is about as low as I can get it, and still get out of my driveway.