Spoilers are pretty much useless on factory cars and do nothing but add weight and drag. They are ornamental only. A true spoiler will increase downforce and give better grip in corners but will also cause lots of drag at high speed and cause your top speed to take a big hit. A spoiler on a Fiero is a waste of time because there really is not a lot of horsepower and getting that power to the wheels while cornering does not generally tend to break the back end loose. If you had 600 HP, there might be a need for one.
A true spoiler does not produce downforce. That would be a wing. As I said a spoiler effects airflow to reduce turblence. This may increase grip in a corner or it may smooth airflow over the car to allow for better fuel economy and reduce drag. To blanket that no factory car needs a wing or spoiler is pretty naive. You do not need 600 Hp to get a car going fast enough to need aero help. There are a lot of race cars running around with a lot less than 600 HP. To say the spoiler/wing on the fiero does nothing by only using a "seat of the pants" test is ridiculous. Even the "I ran it in a 1/4 mile with and with out" does very little to tell you about the effects of an aero system. I have seen no one who has even tried a redneck wind tunnel and model test of the fiero yet to give us any data. What you really need is some one with a LOT of money to rig a fiero up with a system to measure weight on each wheel and measure the fuel flow. Then take this car out and drive it with a wing, with out a wing, and the same with and with out a luggage rack. Then we can tell if they have any effect. Till then it is all he said she said.. there is no way or I swear it drove better.
Originally posted by Easy8: A true spoiler does not produce downforce. That would be a wing. As I said a spoiler effects airflow to reduce turblence. This may increase grip in a corner or it may smooth airflow over the car to allow for better fuel economy and reduce drag. To blanket that no factory car needs a wing or spoiler is pretty naive. You do not need 600 Hp to get a car going fast enough to need aero help. There are a lot of race cars running around with a lot less than 600 HP. .
Yeah there are a lot of generic terms thrown around these days. Even the airdam by the radiator is technically a spoiler I would think.
That is even better than a redneck wind tunnel set up.. So did you do any testing on a stock set up while there. And what kind of down force is that thing making?
If you want spoilers and wings.... have I got a wing for you
Active Aero
I hope your not trying to convince anyone that you couldnt take any of those turns at 25 mph without the wing...My minivan can handle those curves...with my riding mower in the back. Id guess my motorhome probably could too.
It was a prototype, proof of concept project that I did years ago for an engineering class. This was right before most of the recent super cars started seeing active aero elements.
If I remember correctly, at 5-10 degrees AOA it made somewhere between 130 - 170 lbs of downforce @ 140kmh .... but also 170 lbs of drag. I can't remember what would be an acceptable ratio but it works great for a shooting air brake. At stall angle it could produce over 225lbs of drag at 140kmh !
I do remember your thread Double4c. You put a lot of actual work and research into your engineering project. Thank you for all the hard labor and for sharing it with us. Most Fiero folk cannot afford a wind tunnel to test out ideas, but through dedication and desire you were able to get a Fiero into a wind tunnel. Kudos.
This sight has so much information. We should never forget that.
Interesting how far back on that wing the air flow hits. Looks Ike the first half of that is not used at all. I so need a wind tunnel to play with.
This is making me wonder, how can a poverty version of a wind tunnel be implemented in order to visualize streamlines?
If you could mount a smoke canister to the front of a Fiero, perhaps 15' ahead, it may be possible to observe the flow with a chase car. Fiero under test in the right lane of a 3-lane (each direction) freeway, chase car in the left lane of said 3-lane freeway, at the 8 o'clock of the Fiero under test.
Chase car to be equipped with a go-pro, walkie-talkies for communication between both cars.
Originally posted by Threedog: I always noticed my 4th gen Camaro had a "cone" of water directed under the spoiler after rain/snow, I'll have to look at that on the Fiero..
What do you mean a "cone?" I've had two 4th gens, and I don't remember ever seeing a "cone."
What do you mean a "cone?" I've had two 4th gens, and I don't remember ever seeing a "cone."
When ever there was a light snow, I'd notice an upside down cone on the rear window. The cone came to a point just before the spoiler at the center. The snow in the cone would be undistrubed, whereas the snow outside the cone was blown away.
This is making me wonder, how can a poverty version of a wind tunnel be implemented in order to visualize streamlines?
If you could mount a smoke canister to the front of a Fiero, perhaps 15' ahead, it may be possible to observe the flow with a chase car. Fiero under test in the right lane of a 3-lane (each direction) freeway, chase car in the left lane of said 3-lane freeway, at the 8 o'clock of the Fiero under test.
Chase car to be equipped with a go-pro, walkie-talkies for communication between both cars.
You engineering types are a hoot.
We love you guys around here but really, you think the cops will be totally OK with a smoke generator on a 15ft pole hanging from the front of the car and a pace car two lanes over taking pictures?
I'd like to be a fly on the wall at the end of the cop's shift when he's relaying the story of a couple of egghead dudes riding around the countryside with this contraption hanging off a 30 year old sports car. I mean, it sound like a scene out of some screwball comedy movie.
BTW, with a smoke generator blowing straight into your line of vision you might even make the Darwin Awards.
Disclaimer - in no way do I mean this as a criticism or to start a battle. It's just funny in the mind's eye, that's all.
I have strapped a lot of crap to luggage racks on Fieros, I have luggage rack deck lids for both notchbacks and my GT for just such a thing, BTW if I find a free dryer I would definitely strap it to the back and haul it back. (I want to toss in a brick and watch it destroy itself)
quote
Originally posted by doublec4:
If you want spoilers and wings.... have I got a wing for you
Active Aero
Wind tunnel:
I would not even park next to that car, even with a dryer strapped to the back, too much rice.