How should I increase front end down force on my 348? | FerrariChat

How should I increase front end down force on my 348?

Discussion in '348/355' started by angelis, Dec 10, 2012.

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  1. angelis

    angelis F1 Veteran
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    #1 angelis, Dec 10, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    The car is going in for some paintwork soon and I thought it would be a good time to do some modding to the front bumper to try and increase the down force and make it more stable at high speed.

    Any suggestions?

    I've tried the front splitter but that doesn't seem to work that well.

    I'm no aerodynamicist, but I'm thinking that the problem is air getting underneath the front because of the design of the 348 front.

    See below.
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  2. angelis

    angelis F1 Veteran
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    #2 angelis, Dec 10, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Ferrari became aware of this problem soon after the cars launch and they made a front air dam for the car.

    I purchased this a few years ago but never fitted it and sold it to another 348 owner.
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  3. angelis

    angelis F1 Veteran
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    #3 angelis, Dec 10, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  4. angelis

    angelis F1 Veteran
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    #4 angelis, Dec 10, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  5. angelis

    angelis F1 Veteran
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    #5 angelis, Dec 10, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Only way to put a splitter on would be to create something like this where additional section is added to the top of the splitter.

    And yes, I may be sticking those canards on the front as well :D
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  6. angelis

    angelis F1 Veteran
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    #6 angelis, Dec 10, 2012
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  7. angelis

    angelis F1 Veteran
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    #7 angelis, Dec 10, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    So I'm thinking of getting another front bumper and doing this to it.

    What do you think?

    PS. The car will probably have a race car wrap stuck on it as well.
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  8. NeuroBeaker

    NeuroBeaker Advising Moderator
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    Would a design like that not reduce your front-end ground clearance to the point where it is very difficult to use the car on UK roads? Lots of potholes and speed bumps everywhere, so would you need to consider a front suspension lifter to combine with that mod?

    All the best,
    Andrew.
     
  9. angelis

    angelis F1 Veteran
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    Yep, I though about that, but I've had my car really low in the past and managed ok.
     
  10. angelis

    angelis F1 Veteran
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    #10 angelis, Dec 10, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
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  11. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ
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    Nice piece but it looks like it would scrape for sure anywhere but on a track.
     
  12. angelis

    angelis F1 Veteran
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    #12 angelis, Dec 10, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  13. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

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    Notice that the F355 has a duct that channels air under the car! Thus, your aerodynamic logic is faulty.

    No, the problem is that once under the car, the air is pulled along with the car instead of remaining stationary (as in the F355). The smooth bottom of the F355 allows the air to remain at road speed (stationary) rather than car speed (fast) and this allows the diffusers out back to generate downforce. The partially disturbed bottom on the 348 pulls on the air much more so than the F355.

    So, you could add a Diplane (A.K.A. nose spoiler). But this does nto prevent air from getting under the car, it simply applies some leverage on the front end of the car holding the front down.

    Or, you could add a flat bottom like found on the F355 (including the diffusers out back).

    But, all in all, its probably easier to throw on the diplane.
     
  14. angelis

    angelis F1 Veteran
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    Thanks Mitch.

    I did consider putting a 355 bottom on the car, but people I asked said it wouldn't make much of an improvement. Would that really reduce front end lift?
     
  15. angelis

    angelis F1 Veteran
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    #15 angelis, Dec 10, 2012
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  16. vvassallo

    vvassallo F1 Veteran

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    #16 vvassallo, Dec 10, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    How dedicated are you to this? I suggest a simple splitter, the canards and then punch out the grill area and fabricate into a duct upwards to exit out the bonnet top. Should be just a bit of fabrication... ;)

    Not as radical as this, but similar.
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  17. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
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  18. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    If you are at street speeds under 120mph downforce is not the problem. The car should be set up for max mechanical grip. The car is stable to about 150. Any splitter that works will be dangerous to have on the car without a wing to balance it. You want mechanical neutral to oversteer and aerodynamic understeer. The 348 doesn't have much power and the aero adds drag.

    When I raced my 348 I added to the length of the bumper dam area and added a 4" splitter. That you can totally feel. I made the lower dam splitter removable so I would not hit things
     
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  19. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

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    Precisely!

    You want the mechanical grip to tends towards oversteer in fast corners at the same rate the big wing out back tends toward understeer. The diplane is but a tuning device in this setup.
     
  20. 348Jeff

    348Jeff Formula 3

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  21. MRF40@yahoo.com

    [email protected] Formula Junior

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    like whut? Ralph??
    by getting really hot chicks to lay on the car with extremely aerodynamic bikinis.
     
  22. angelis

    angelis F1 Veteran
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    #22 angelis, Dec 13, 2012
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  23. mdsassaman

    mdsassaman Karting

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    #23 mdsassaman, Dec 13, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I have a similar splitter on my 348 and just made a new one when I repainted the front bumper last winter. Since then I have made and sold two to FChat members here. I bought an extra sheet of the HPDE materail and could make you one if you like. It comes precut, the edge rounded and predrilled and countersunk holes. You just need 1" long stainless steel screws that will go into holes you drill through the bottom lip of your spoiler. Yes it will lower your front by 1/2" but it saves scraping the fiberglass and provides the lip. I can not say how much it helps aerodynamically. If you want one PM me.
    Mike
    Reading, PA
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  24. NeuroBeaker

    NeuroBeaker Advising Moderator
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    Oh heck... this thread has taken a turn for the worse! :eek:

    My eyes, my eyes...
    Andrew.
     
  25. angelis

    angelis F1 Veteran
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    Thanks for the offer Mike.

    I'm going to get one made that's a bit wider.
     

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