I would like to make something like this for myself. I think it looks really badass and want one for my car. I would like to make it myself and am curious if anyone has any suggestions for where I can get something strong yet lightweight that I can simply cut out the pattern I want.

FD ex: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MESE%3AIT&rd=1

I have no experience with making stuff with carbon fiber or fiberglass so I really would like something to just cut my pattern out of. Any ideas?

 

How cheap do you want to go? Considering that the stock undertray is just plastic, anything should hold up well enough under there. Strength shouldn't be a huge problem.

If you want rigidity you need to use a light weight material, so you can make it thicker.

 

go to your local hardware store and pick up some sheet metal.

 

fiberglass is good for this need

 

aluminum should be pleant strond enough for this.
plus its light weight and easy to work with.

 

Make a template with cardboard first. Then lay it on the sheet metal, cut it out, screw it on.

Chris

 

yah thats actualy pretty easy to make

 

Ya, aluminum is easy. You can cut it with scissors if you try hard enough (but metal shears are better).

 

1/8" plywood. Much cheaper than metal, won't bend, easy to make and replace. Many racers use plywood splitters/undertrays. Be sure to get good quality plywood though.

 

/\ ROFL, that's like telling me to use duct tape to fix a 25psi turbo leak...

but, on the other hand, aluminum sounds ok.

 

Do not underestimate the power of duct tape.

 

I went by Lowe's today and took a quick look around and didn't see anything that stuck out.

Aluminum sounds like it would work great. Any ideas on a good place to buy it at?

I would plan on painting it black of course.
Lots of racer's may use plywood but I'm not gonna. I am shooting for a clean install. Plywood seems too... Not clean.

 

Lowes does have sheets of pre sized metal. Ask them at the counter. Thats where I got the metal for my radiator panel.

 

Alright cool. I just randomly walked around and tried to find something. I didn't spend too much time looking cause I was there for work.

I will try them again. Thanks.

 

Man that tray was JDM yo!

 

I wonder if there would be any point in making DIY rear diffuser as well.

 

no rear defusers need to be well designed to reduce lift on the rear end. just buy one one that shine auto makes

 

That's what I'm planning for the rear end since nobody makes a bumper I like.

 

The problem with an aluminum panel is that as soon as you hit anything with it it'll bend. If your car is low, if you've got a low front end or the roads are rough then pretty soon it'll be all bent out of shape and looking bad, and it'll loose much of it's funtionality when it's banged up. If you don't want plywood, which is an excellent material choice for the application by the way, then try some plexiglass, lexan or something similiar. A big sheet of plastic is much less likely to deform, it'll probably just wear.

On race cars the splitter often contacts the ground, so the plywood just wears a bit and it's fine, as it retains its shape. Anyway, don't use it if you don't want to, but it's an excellent material for the job, it's not like using duct tape to fix a 25psi leak (although you probably could).

Be sure to have it well supported, because if it's working porperly there's going to be a bunch of force on it, trying to suck it off the car.

There's some articles on aero in the link below, including discussions on airdams, splitters, front diffusers, smooth underfloors and rear diffusers.

http://www.advantage-cfd.co.uk/News/...-Releases.html

 

Did you mean many ricers or racers? I have been racing for years and can't recall seeing anything made of wood on the outside of a race car (I have seen a wooden gauge panel and battery box though). Good thing it is cheap and easy to replace because even if it is painted or stained water from a wet road will destory it quickly.

Sheet aluminum is probaly the best but if you don't want to do the metal work. You can locate sheets of lexan or plexiglass at race shops. It is popular to use as a rear spoiler on dirt track cars.

 

Well I suppose ricers might use it too. I've heard of it used on race cars a bunch of times, but yes, lexan or something like that is probably more common (also more expensive and harder to get a hold of).

Here's a pic of the downside of metal panels.

 

Don't buy metal at the home improvement store...Pick up the Yellow Pages, look under "metal" and look at the ads until you find a place that sells small quantities and offcuts. Around here we have stores called "Metal Supermarkets" where you can just walk in and buy off the shelf...Much better selection, and cheaper too...

 

Hmm, metal supermarkets. I'll have to remember those next time I have a project.

If that fails www.onlinemetals.com will ship pieces to you, but shipping is $10 or more. Probably more for such a large piece.

 

It isn't gonna stick out past the front bumper...