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-   -   M.Bonanni Project 370Z V3.0 | Clean Slate (http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-gallery/39120-m-bonanni-project-370z-v3-0-clean-slate.html)

M.Bonanni 03-08-2012 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPOHN (Post 1588464)
OSG FTW. I'll be putting mine to more use come Monday. First track day of the year.

So far as you splitter goes. Are you adding that to the exsisting lip kit you already have?

No, I sold the SEIBON lip a while ago. Adding a splitter to that would have hung way too low. It will just be its own thing. Chassis mounted, made out of birch plywood ghetto style.

ChrisSlicks 03-08-2012 05:39 PM

Why plywood instead of aluminum? Just because it is cheap and easy to come by?

I thought about making something out of aluminum but I'm guessing it would have to be 14 gauge minimum (1.5mm) to have enough stiffness.

M.Bonanni 03-08-2012 05:49 PM

Yeah price and availability mainly. Once I have a finalized aero package on this car I may opt to rebuild my splitter out of something better but I have a feeling I will go through a few of these in different lengths/designs before my car is "done" in the aero department.

JB-370z 03-08-2012 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M.Bonanni (Post 1353036)
Thanks! I'm trying. :) It's probably boring to some as its not a crazy $100k build, but I figured some might enjoy reading about something like this through a perspective you don't usually get to see. Just a regular guy without a bunch of money working hard to continue doing what he loves! Hopefully it will at least inspire someone to get out there and do the same thing.

I like this comment, true in every way.

Mike 03-08-2012 08:38 PM

hmm, plywood. I saw a plywood one online somewhere that caught fire and burned the car up.

Be careful.

travisjb 03-08-2012 08:38 PM

I started with plywood... then went to "boatboard" which is black plastic often used in boats... now with thick aluminum... there is signboard material that would work well - honeycomb structure plastic with thin alum sheet on both sides, that is probably a good compromise of weight, stiffness and price... I am planning to use this material for an undertray

I use a flat aluminum bar at the "rear" of the splitter and towards the front have a custom bracket where the splitter is attached on both sides to the bracket via quick release pins. Then in front of the car I have two threaded rods I can use to adjust the angle, those rods are welded to the alum bumper beam

There are pics somewhere in my journal

M.Bonanni 03-08-2012 08:48 PM

I've got me a solid plan fellas, have no fear. Wood splitters are not uncommon.

Travis - Alumilite is that sign material you're talking about but a sheet of it goes for around $100 as opposed to $30 for the wood at home depot.

travisjb 03-09-2012 12:20 AM

Yup, alumilite. Sometimes sign shops will part with scrap - maybe worth calling around? Use it once you get the design perfected

And of course, I knew plenty of ppl in AZ NASA that used plywood, so either way is fine I'm sure.. plywood has good mechanical properties for a splitter, and when prototyping, it is easy to work with and cheap!!

Boost_lee 03-09-2012 03:39 AM

DIY splitters and aero... :) me likey

sixpax 03-10-2012 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M.Bonanni (Post 1589070)
I've got me a solid plan fellas, have no fear. Wood splitters are not uncommon.

Travis - Alumilite is that sign material you're talking about but a sheet of it goes for around $100 as opposed to $30 for the wood at home depot.

Actually, last years national NASA champion in some class ran a plywood splitter all year ... I think it was an EVO-R. I think painted and everything it was about 65 pounds though ... fairly heavy. Didn't seem to slow him down any. Wish I could find the link (you may have seen it even already) it was a nice writeup by him that started from a 4 x 8 hunk of plywood all the way through mounting it on the car.

Mike 03-10-2012 05:29 PM

I remember where I saw one catch on fire, British Top Gear. I think the POS they were racing had an oil leak or something and hot oil ignited the wood.

M.Bonanni 03-11-2012 11:51 AM

The wood portion wont extend underneath the oil pan for that exact reason.

M.Bonanni 03-18-2012 06:52 PM

Been working on my custom splitter the last two days! Still a lot to do, but it's starting to look like a splitter! Have to figure out how to brace the sides of the splitter a bit better back toward the wheels, trim the back edge so the tires wont hit it, and figure out how to mount the air dam that's just taped up there in the photo. That, and a few other miscellaneous tweaks and it will be ready for water sealant and paint!

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...38718888_n.jpg

SPOHN 03-18-2012 07:01 PM

Looks good. Can't wait to see final product.

M.Bonanni 03-25-2012 11:56 AM

Some photos from the past few days. Took a little road trip down to Fast Intentions and Specialty Z for a new exhaust system and UpRev tune! Went with long tube headers, 18" resonators, carbon fiber mufflers, and a new little upgrade that will be offered from FI for those with a keen eye. :) Exhaust is AWESOME, well worth the wait...well worth the wait.

After the exhaust, Seb from Specialty Z did a quick UpRev tune, which also now comes with a sweet new feature that allows you to lower the temperature at which the cooling fans kick on which should help cooling efficiency a good deal. Details coming soon in a blog post I am working on for my website.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...V/IMG_4883.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...V/IMG_4885.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...V/IMG_4903.jpg

Back in Vegas now with a full day of working on the splitter ahead of me. Unless there are some unforseen problems, I should be able to get the splitter build done and start getting it water sealed and painted! Vinyl goes on Tuesday, new corner balance and alignment on Wednesday night, and then its on the road to Phoenix for the Modified Magazine Tuner Shootout!


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