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I was debating between posting this on HT or here... but I know we have some physics inclined individuals on this site... and some that actually track their cars.

This is really a "track-only" question, as I don't care too much as to how your carbon fiber canards performed on the on-ramp on your way to work.

So... who has experimented with aerodynamic changes of any kind in respect to our cars? Im talking about under panels, diffusers, wings, lips, whatever you have changed from stock.

Ive been hanging out on crsx.com for a bit now, and I know there are plenty of people who are tracking their RSXs/EP3s... but it seems far fewer EM2s/ES1s.

 
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That's because it takes 15 minutes to get to 60MPH

 
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I dont know... the car's pretty stable at 135... I know from experience. They did a fairly decent job with it from the get go.
I've ditched the front splash guard (more or less a trip through the gravel destroyed it), But I do not forsee picking up a hell of a lot by shielding off the bottom of the car. You'd have something to gain from a front splitter if you spent the time to dial it in and change it for every track, and you might accomplish something with an actual functioning wing. I know some of the guys running H1 actually use the wing because it... and this is their description not mine "reduces lift, it doesnt make downforce".

 
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ive heard that by blocking OFF your grill opening, you can increase your aerodynamic effienciency by 10%. idk how true this is, but this is from those hardcore MPG saving sites.

 
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I am not really referring to drag racing either... more so track - as in road course stuff.

Ive beaten the D17 to death on the track, and Ill tell you... people are quite surprised what 127bhp can do.

That being said, next season will be my first with a K20. Hence, my increased interest in aerodynamics.

 
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Ive only been up to 120... give or take a few mph for the speedo being a bit off. And yeah, the car seems relatively stable. But there is a bit of lift and that nerve-racking floating feeling.

On smaller tracks, the car feels quite planted. On some of the larger I have been on, when coming off the front straighaway at 115-120 the car gets light... combined with trail-braking into the first turn at 95mph... well... the pucker factor increases a bit.


I have also ditched the front splash guard... also due to an off track excursion. The fender liners are now out due to rolling the fenders. I just foresee increased drag/turbulence on the front end that could be reduced with some proper choices in aerodynamics.

I am not sure how my car will fair with the K20, but I assume it will magnify some of the weaknesses that were not experienced before... simply due to lack of power and overall speed.

 
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Build an air dam for the front.... as low to the ground as you can make it, and yes it will hit things and get worn down so you may want to make it out of something cheep and flexible.

Then re-balance the car as the vacuum under the nose that the air dam can create may very well make the rear end have less traction.

Look at old IT cars fro what I'm talking about.


Oh and remember, "Aerodynamic down force" is a fancy term for increasing drag.

 
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Here's a link from my DSM-ing days...

http://www.communities.ninemsn.com.a...ontairdam.msnw

It might take some more support on the front bumper to attach it, but nonetheless...cheap

 
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are you talking about high speed, reduced drag type aerodynamics or "track day" kind of aerodynamics?

 
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most modern economy cars are usually aerodynamically optimized from the factory to maximize mpg numbers.

You'll probably see more of a benefit from just lightening the car rather then added aerodynamic enhancing mods.

 
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This is common sense....

If you block the opening, you get less air into your engine.
If you get less air into your engine, you decrease combustion.
If you decrease combustion, you decrease fuel usage.

It's the same reason you burn more fuel with any type of forced induction or modified air intake setup.

 
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doesnt that cause the engine to not cool properly?

 
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i have a front splitter, 2 lvl canards, rear diffuser and low mount spoiler on my car, when i take it to the track. i found it cut 4 sec of my lap times when i did have them on.

but i take the canards and spoiler off when i drive on the streets as i modified them with a quick release system for easy mounting.

but yes i recon they do have benifits when doin circut racing. as i have proved them to my self. at 1st i didnt think they would but they actually do.

 
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if your car depens on ari cooling to cool....
idk about our cars, but most can just be watercooled anymore.

but dex, it also has something to do with aerodynamics too. if all that air comes in, it hasto have a place to go out. itll all come out under the engine bay,making the air under the car turbulent and therefore increasing rear lift and increasing your drag coefficient. by blocking it off and mounting a CAI in the bumber/fnder/somewhere low, youll let the air flow more smoothly (lower coefficeint) and get the same amount of coumbustion.

prime example: C5 corvette base model had a .28ccd.
C6 Corvette had a .34. If you look at the fascias, the C5 has , MUCH fewer openings (on the sides where the fender wells reach in a little) versus the C6 which has an open bottom grille.

for a civic, i think youd benefit greatly by sealing the bottom of the engine bay. but then youd have to find a way to cool it properly. cause all in all, Air takes the path of least resistance...

 
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I am referring to benefits in regards to lap times on the track, not mpg.

A la:



Good to know... have any pictures of your setup?

 
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drag coefficient still effects track time...