FWD-GT TOP SPEED CAR

[andymac0035]

It's amazing what a little bump in the road will do...

You very much want to vent the rear panel. Air pressure will build as speed increases, and if you don't give it some place to go, you will stand there in disbelief as your car lifts-off and goes flipping through the air.

Ask me how I know....

Vented rear panel, a rear wing with VERY little angle on it, and vertical stabilizers are good things to have IMHO.
Too much rear spoiler though..... will push the rear down (excessivly) and lift the nose.......and then bad things will happen.

GPS is 10x better that a radar gun if you have the means and the room on the car.
It royally blows when you make a killer pass.... and the gun doesn't pick it up.

Again.... ask me how I know....

Nice build BTW.
My speed-run days are behind me, but I haven't forgotten all the fun I had along the way.

[PlastiZapCA+]

Very cool project! I've been wanting to do something like this for a while. I'll be following this one.

[romulus22]

Started mounting the Lumina.





I think the nose of the Lumina is going to be an improvement over the Civic. If you push on the flat nose of the Civic it actually creates a back cut that could technically create lift.



And opened up the rear pretty good. When I cover the bottom in lexan I will make a tunnel that should help pull the rear down.

Anyone have links to sheets of lexan at descent prices. Ebay the best place?




And technically I am staying with the FWD theme. Luminas are FWD. This is no longer a NASCAR lumina. It's a standing mile lumina

[Diamond Dave]

You beat me to it Jeff, I was going to mention Andy's build on Clodtalk.

It is worth a look, might get some ideas for your FWD build Rom22.

[SFC K]

This might be what your looking for lexan sheet.

https://www.ckrccrawlers.com/rj-speed-lexan-sheet-8x12-040-p-1233.html

[SFC K]

I found it cheaper at Tower hobbies.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0001P?&I=LXSUG5


Love the new body and I think it will work better with the wedge front end.

[romulus22]

Just took a min to browse through. The problem there is that's a whole different animal.
Much bigger, much heavier, complete different drivetrain, different motor, different suspension. When I get to work tomorrow ill look through the lexan pile. We usually use 3/16" stuff but I'm sure I can find some 1/8". This will add some more weight than the very thin lexan for RC stuff but will be very rigid and remain its shape better. We'll see though.

[romulus22]

Thanks for those links Jeff. I was typing as you were posting.

After I thought about it I think I'm going to try the thicker stuff I have at work before I go for the thinner stuff. I would have to secure those much more than I will with the thick stuff just to keep it solid.

[Diamond Dave]

Just took a min to browse through. The problem there is that's a whole different animal.

Is it ever, Just thought you might get a few ideas from it.

[romulus22]

Forgot this body had a spoiler

[justinspeed79]

Embedded video is not showing up on my phone.

Do you have a link?

New body looks good. Definitely doesn't jive with the FWD vibe, though.

[romulus22]

Update time!!!! Turned out pretty nice so far


Start with a big enough piece of lexan,



Draw out a template





Make sure its all squared up and cut it out and check the fit.





Once that's good transfer to the lexan.



And I skipped a couple picture steps before the bend but here's the almost finished pan.







When I run the car the sides will tape flush to the sides of the pan







I forgot to bring any glue home. I plan on boxing in the tunnel in the rear. Ill notch the lexan in a way it resembles a tongue and groove joint. It's already solid. Once the tunnel sides are on it will aid in the straight tracking.

[SFC K]

That looks like it will do the trick. I like how it kicks up in the back. I hope it works out for you on the first test run.


BTW it looks like you lost some ground clearance. You will definitely need to find that smooth run strip now or else you will hear some constant scrapping noise...

[RC10resto]

You will really need to do some test runs to see if your aero package is going to work. That rear spoiler looks like it will just give you front end lift that may turn your flat bottom into a wing.

[youtube]ZXZaAuyuYmQ[/youtube]

[romulus22]

BTW it looks like you lost some ground clearance. You will definitely need to find that smooth run strip now or else you will hear some constant scrapping noise...

It's definitely gonna scrape. Just hope that doesn't hold it back.

You will really need to do some test runs to see if your aero package is going to work. That rear spoiler looks like it will just give you front end lift that may turn your flat bottom into a wing.

I remember watching that race on TV as it happened. Was crazy to watch. I hope this doesn't turn into a big wing. But it's always removable and it would be hard to be any worse than the civic body. Out of the 10 full on passes I've made it's taken off maybe 4 times.

And last update for the night. Had to put some paint on her quick. Radar gun came today. Going to try and get some testing in if I get off work at a decent hour tomorrow. This is about as far as my painting skills go. Of course I would hurry and forget to mask the rear wheel area