Show me your bottom....

[JumboBeef]

I'm trying to make sense of Wedge back ends.

Some have spoilers on top, some underneath, some neither.

I know about the SEAC tea tray, but is there any other rhyme or reason for how other Wedges are finished behind?

[matt-man]

I'm part of the no spoiler club!!

[jmorgan]

400 is cosmetic me thinks. Same as the boot spoiler, that latter I think is a design feature to keep the boot shut when the solenoid fails.


Edit. Am I right in thinking the SEAC actually had some proper testing for the snow shovel?

Edited by jmorgan on Friday 28th February 07:55

[Waynester]

Funnily enough, I was thinking about just this..after watching a vid on the McLaren P1. The spoiler fitted to that apparently generates 600kg of force at something like 160ish mph. Can't remember exactly, but sounded good.

How effective are the wings and spoilers on the SE & SEACs.. what force do they exert..if any?

Edited by Waynester on Friday 28th February 08:24

[jmorgan]

I expect mine is 9/10 drag. Unless someone knows it has any real benefit, apart from keeping the boot shut.

Do I need a hat?

[Waynester]

I think only the 390SE has a 'real' spoiler/wing beneath the rear bumper. The 400/450SE is just moulded?

[jmorgan]

390 have a more functional adjustable spoiler, full length, mine is just a big mould with two "wings" behind each wheel.

Sure a 390 owner will supply more info.


Edit. To be honest, I think the whole thing is a brick as far as aerodynamics go. You can get to 100 or thereabouts then you feel the drop off in acceleration though it is still pulling and more revs to go. Still got north of that but run out of runway.

Edited by jmorgan on Friday 28th February 08:21

[Waynester]

jmorgan said:

390 have a more functional adjustable spoiler, full length, mine is just a big mould with two "wings" behind each wheel.

Sure a 390 owner will supply more info.

That's what I thought too. I noticed on the 390 for sale at Track v Road, it definitely looks like a functional wing!

Edited by Waynester on Friday 28th February 08:22

[keatsie]

The 390 under boot inverted wing spoiler was meant to smooth air flow on air exiting the underneath of the car, and work in conjunction with the boot spoiler to increase rear end down force. But... To be honest I would imagine it is more cosmetic with a nice design story attached rather than functional.

Bernoulli's law - fluid dynamics was never a strong point

[adam quantrill]

jmorgan said:

Edit. To be honest, I think the whole thing is a brick as far as aerodynamics go. You can get to 100 or thereabouts then you feel the drop off in acceleration though it is still pulling and more revs to go. Still got north of that but run out of runway.

Agreed and top down is worse than top up too...

What we need is someone with a few different boot lids to evaluate each spoiler by swapping them over and doing some vmax runs. There's the SE one, the SEAC, the Zender and nowt. The downforce (upforce?) could be measured with a weighing scale on top of the spare propping the lid up slightly.

I know that the 350i boot - no spoiler - is prone to pop open at speed so presumably there is a slight vacuum that builds up in the area that can't help to press down the rear. Whether it's just the weight of the spoiler that fixes this - we should find out.

[wedggie]

mine doesnt look adjustable...

[Tasmindevil]

I would suggest that the spoilers are predominately cosmetic but the intent was to assist down force on the rear end, the SEAC may have had some research behind its spoiler for racing hence it being the size and shape compared to the other wedges. I have seen figures quoted that spoilers such as the type on the wedges only come into play at over 85 mph and above 160 mph they create drag hence modern cars have retractable spoilers. More modern air flow devices are an integral part of the cars design to aid airflow around the car but on a wedge that may look aero dynamic the spoiler is really an afterthought !!! although it may provide slight benefits aka bib spoiler in cross winds. I have always wondered why insurance companies allow the young Nova/Corsa brigade to add huge spoilers to cars as in my opinion this destabilises a car. In reality I find the most effect downforce in the wedge is Katie's suitcase in the boot, whether it is an overnight, a weekend or a week away it always weighs a ton !!!

[V8 Fettler]

SEAC racer was supposed to be a bit wobbly without the Harrier launch ramp

[hallsie]

My 350i FHC,

Its not original, fitted about 12 years ago, but it works for me!

Stu

[PHJayV8]

Hi, my 400SE appears to be all in one moulding with the rear bumper

Not sure about aerodynamics but it's a great rear mudflap, collects all the road crud flicked up by rear wheels

[adam quantrill]

I think on the SEAC racer, the spoiler is mounted on adjustable columns, whereas on the production car it's rather flat against the boot lid, so there will be little (or less) downforce effect.

You need to get it raised up and angled correctly.

[Wedg1e]

Only the S1 390SE has an aerofoil that's a component in its own right; on the later cars it was formed as part of the bumper and isn't a true 'foil shape - if you look through the gap between bumper and wing you can see the wing is a fake shell.
This assembly was then carried over to the 400SE so only the outer ends are a wing shape (I don't even think the gap is there any more).

Rumour has it that the wing was just emulating the Jaguar racers that were using them at the time: of course the Jags would have had a more complete aerodynamic profile in which the wing probably did play some part.
If you look at TVR's offering it has a hole through it for the exhaust on one side and a large depression as a mirror image (for a second tailpipe) on the other, so any pretensions to it being a true aerodynamic aid are compromised straight away.

Steve Heath always said that he ripped his off on a tyre wall, never replaced it and couldn't tell the difference other than it saved 25Kg. Whether that weight is accurate I don't know as I've never had my wing off... though it is on the cards.

[PHJayV8]

I love the looks of the SEs and SEACs, pure 80's

[ElvisWedgely]

Spoiler, I believe was optional on the 350SE, however my 350SE did have one but has been removed by a previous owner. I know, because in the massive history file I was given, there is a picture of it with a spoiler. Looking at it now, I am getting used to it, as it sort of makes it look more streamlined. I just hope my boot lid doesn't pop open when I hit 150 as was suggested by Adam.

Tony. TCB.

[gmw9666]

Old School Minimal