Well I finished remounting my prototype and it's held up well. This is a 2 layered polypropylene core, stapled, covered with wrap tech carbon sim, clear coated carefully and mounted with 3M auto moulding tape. I'm surprised how good it looks. After all this work, I might fab a real carbon one next time! All materials less than $50. Fitting was a challenge since my layers shifted on assembly. I had to trim a quarter inch off each end. Cord is 1.25 inches. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Last one. It's fine up over 60 mph. Actually a hairdryer on the tape and heated garage overnight helped it set firmly. You have to trim the wrap off the mounting area because the downforce is stronger than the wrap adhesive. Moulding tape is nice and firm. Prep well. Image Unavailable, Please Login
That looks great. Almost exactly the same (maybe a smidge larger) as the Ferrari version on the 348 GTC. Yours looks better as the Ferrari version wasn't carbon look. Well done.
Excellent I love home made stuff !!! I run too low on my cars for a spoiler but I'm in therapy for that
It looks good, but considering how the 348 is prone to scraping the standard front spoiler on the slightest of slopes, even with standard suspension heights, how resilient is it? I'd hate to spend all that time and effort on making a splitter only to rip it off on the first driveway or speed bump that I encountered.
If you only used 3m mounting tape to hold it on, you're in for a big surprise when it tears free on a high speed run. The strongest 3M double sided mounting tape is only rated at around 50lbs, and that's pushing it big time. That lip is going to get blown off and run over if you go down the highway at high speeds unless you screw it in... trust me.
It looks very nice John! And for a really low cost. I am considering making one for my 348 too. Bolting it would be a good idea just for save. Thanks for sharing.
OK on the bolting. I used nylon bolts on my Miata "splitter-ettes." The mutton chop style that Track Dog made, and I copied. They are so popular that Bimmers and the new ND Miata have them from the factory. I used the same 2 layer polypropylene but no wrap. Looks great with just Armor-all and some truck door edge guard on the front edge. I am also learning how to plastic weld. My new Togue Run spoiler for the Miata (fiberglass) is attached with 3M molding tape. And half width at that! This stuff is very strong. I wrapped that and put it on last night! The Heavy duty black mounting tape has worked well for my rear view mirror once I got a large enough mounting area. look at the kits in the auto stores and you will see they are bigger now too. Not enough for or vibration happy spider windshields but getting there. Maybe I will drill through and mount nylon bolts on the lip? I guess the bumper has to come off for that. Ugh. But hey, these are flexible and can be recovered if scraped up. It actually acts as a skid plate too. The tape went right over the gouges underneath and is holding fine. I am planning on making a subtle rear lip spoiler now too. I will weld the poly sheets into an airfoil-wedge with ribs. [Just like my balsa wood models as a kid. I made a 1/48 scale sail plane from scratch and plans in RC Modeler magazine!. It flies .] I have a trash can left over that I didn't use! You should be able to weld the sections too and then tool down smooth. The clear actually looks pretty good but you have to go slow and not do too much. 2 to 4 light coats so the texture doesn't get lost. Oh yeah, if it's 50 psi, the tape covers the entire width of the car one inch (7/8) wide. About 5 feet or 60 inches. That would need 3000 pounds of total down force? I was at 60 mph on the highway. I was worried and didn't go any faster. I think the heavy duty is rated at about that but not including heat and vibration. And that was one square inch that needed more. Anyway I'm rambling and need to get some sleep. Measure the width of the engine cover and then go to bed and dream about it. Thanks guys. p.s. Awe crap, I did trim the tape since the lip ridge is narrower in the middle. We'll see but 3/4 inch is 75%, 75% of 3000 is 2250. Goodnight!
John, if you want to augment the tape you could use the plastic rivets that are popular on German cars-- the ones with the center pin that expands the tabs on the back side to keep them in place. That might be enough to help it withstand minor impacts but still not tear up the bumper itself if it does get torn off.
Cool. They are used on the Miata fender liners and I have bought many types to mount my diy mudflaps. Used the same material #5 PP trash cans Now I have aftermarkets but use the same fasteners. Those will be easier to mount without a nut.
Updates. Rear spoiler plastic welded, wrapped, clear coated and mounted. Added plastic rivets to splitter. Front air dam is over 1/4 inch think so it's hard to set them. You have to break them in or back bore the top of the hole in the fiberglass. I will get a small round file to finish the job. I have 5 mounted but will probably do 2 or 3 more and maybe replace some. These were the smallest I could find at 1/4 inch dia. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
More spoiler pics. Under shot of rivets at the end. Notice the peeling black paint. That's after 21 years and a full respray after that crazy artist paint job back in Hawaii. The tabs aren't tucked in properly under the bumper either Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Man, all that you did looks great. I need to repair my front spoiler first, but I was considering adding one that did not protrude from Ricambi, ( used for grounding protection) except now I think I might add one similar to yours. Great pictures and thanks for sharing. How fast have you had it since installation? Did you notice any handling changes?
I was up to 60 without the rivets but more than that the past two days. 65 - 70 on the open highway but with the top down. Tonight at least 60 top up but not sustained. I think the front end is a little more planted. I used to drive with my fleece lined cover, tool kit and extra towel in the trunk. Then I took them out this summer and left the cover in the garage when I was out in the car. It started to feel a little more light with more under steer BEFORE I added the splitter. NOW it feels a little more planted even with the reduced weight up front. Not sure about the rear but my wider OZ wheels and tires have been great back there anyway. I am pretty happy with the spoiler except the joints are visible from below and behind, especially at big angles to the side. You can see it was made in sections. Some of the wrap buckled and shrank after clear coating on the curved edged but it is very slight. At this rate I can make molds for fiber glass and real carbon fiber. I have a friend who is a carbon fiber fabricator but he's been away for a few months. He made my subwoofer boxes for my 6 inch JL Audios but I haven't received them yet.
