Front clip pivot

[MarkWebb]

Has anybody invented a system for opening the front clip properly with a fixed splitter in place?
I would like to fit a front splitter and for proper opening of clip I see 2 options
1: splitter attached to clip and suspension lift kit fitted
2: Fixed splitter and pivot system.
I need to open front clip singlehandedly so oiling the front clip in place is not really an option.
I'm sure I have seen one somewhere on here but search engine still no good it seems.

[V8Dom]

yes seen a hindge system in the states on a car recently that was cool..
Either that or a Steve Smith front clip uses a nice setup..

Dom

[MarkWebb]

I thought that the SS system was just remove complete clip as per Rusti's old car.

[LuckyP]

Hi Mark.

Are you coming to Stoneleigh? The GTW has Steve's hinged system and you can see how it works. It hinged, or it can be removed in 15 seconds for total access. Very cool.

Please exuse the poor image and temp. pivot pins (bolts - ha!!)



The hinge support is a steel fabrication in an aero profile. The rear 'tail' end of the hinge support is bolted (Rivnut x 3) in place to the chassis upright and there is an integral captive nut welded into the lower face of the support where 2 of the fixed lower splitter's 10 fixing bolts are positioned.

You can just see the heads of the rose joints that are intergrated in the front clip and align with the holes in the hinge supports. Got pop pins in there now. Very racey!!

HTH.

Lucky

Edited by LuckyP on Thursday 19th April 08:54

[deadscoob]

It does require the front section being cut and modified though.

If I go to Stoneleigh I want to time you removing it in 15 seconds

Another option is to replicate Chris Julian's clever arrangement - cant remember of that was a bolt on or needed chassis mods too.

[LuckyP]

deadscoob said:

It does require the front section being cut and modified though.

If I go to Stoneleigh I want to time you removing it in 15 seconds ..

You are right of course - COMPLETELY different design to OE.

I could do 15secs! Might need two peeps though!!

Pull two pop pins, pull two T handles - lift away!! (assuming the lamp connect is already unattached!!)

LOL

[deadscoob]

Captive nut on each side?

[LuckyP]

deadscoob said:

Captive nut on each side?

Squeeze me. I didn't give you a clear explanation.

The captive nuts hold the aero hinge supports to the splitter (actually the supports are solid mounted to the chassis, so you could say the spitter is mounted to the hinge support) - The captive nuts are in the supports. To remove the front clip, just pull the quick release pins:

http://merlinmotorsport.co.uk/product_info.php?pro...

These go through the aero supports and the rose joint head (which is solid mounted in the front clip) and lift off!

Very neat indeed.

Love to have similar in the rear really.

[deadscoob]

If you get a chance, could you send pics? Sounds subtly different to mine yet more practical.

Cheers

[ultimichael]

Here the hinge system I made several years ago.
Needs some glass work.



A problem with this type of hinges is that they cannot fix the clip´s front as stiff as a single bolt. As the front clip and locks are rather flimsy the clip´s front can move up and down a bit what I absolutely don´t like. The only way to avoid this would be an additional lock near the front. Not sure if Chris Julian's solution has the same problem.
Will need to rework mine similar to the SS system.

Michael

[michalym]

I believe Chris Julian worked out a fixed splitter and pivot system.

[LuckyP]

deadscoob said:

If you get a chance, could you send pics? Sounds subtly different to mine yet more practical.

Cheers

That's the best pic I got. Just see the aero hinge supports rivnuted to the front vertical radiator rail surround.

[deadscoob]

Cheers - looks the same as mine but I have floating nuts at the side of the clip to stop the splitter and clip rattling. Thought yours did too?

[Captain Slog]

Dunno if this helps or not

[Strike1]

Looking good Pete...............Yip been a while since I joined topics on here.

As luck would have it , my race team manager has just completed a hinge system that allows the splitter to stay on the car and still allow the front clip to fully open , it sort of unclips and lifts up first then pivots away from the front chassis.
It still gets released by the T-bars in the side pod , you then put your hand under the front clip to release another catch that locks the whole mechanism in place when it’s in the closed position at the hinge. Very neat , and works really well.
Will send more pic's when the front clip is on.

[MarkWebb]

Looks good Strike 1. Do the clip mounting points need to be modified or does it fit direct to existing?

[Strike1]

No , the clip mounting points stay exactly the same.
Here's a few more pic's with the hinge and clip in place during fabrication.

[Strike1]

[Strike1]

[Strike1]