HotRod Magazine Pontiac Performance Plus article on the IMSA whale tail spoiler (Page 1/2)
msweldon JAN 07, 12:11 PM
Does anyone have a scanned image or pdf document covering the development of the IMSA whale tail spoiler?

I'd be willing to purchase the magazine from you at a reasonable price but I'm more interested in the information, if anything technical, about the development and design of the spoiler rather than any nostalgia surrounding the magazine.

-M
hyperv6 JAN 07, 12:23 PM
Do you mean the special edition Pontiac Performance Plus? Not a regular Hot Rod issue?
msweldon JAN 07, 12:38 PM

quote
Originally posted by hyperv6:

Do you mean the special edition Pontiac Performance Plus? Not a regular Hot Rod issue?



Yes, that's it...
hyperv6 JAN 07, 01:57 PM
I should have it and will look it up. I can maker copies or scans of the spoiler section if I find it.

Not selling. I got mine right from Pontiac at an IMSA race.

Just a lot of stuff to dig through so give me some time.
msweldon JAN 07, 02:30 PM
Is this it?

http://www.fieronews.net/fu...o-HotrodSD4guide.pdf

It has 'some' info on the rear aero but not much depth at all on the premise of how it works in relation to the air on top of the decklid.
hyperv6 JAN 07, 03:12 PM

quote
Originally posted by msweldon:

Is this it?

http://www.fieronews.net/fu...o-HotrodSD4guide.pdf

It has 'some' info on the rear aero but not much depth at all on the premise of how it works in relation to the air on top of the decklid.



Yes and there was a second edition but the same spoiler.

There is not a lot of science to the spoiler. Aero was not as advanced then as today, They just tried to extend the spoiler out too catch more air and to gain leverage from it being farther out.

Not much air comes off the roof and it tends to flow over the car. Getting it back out out wider catches more air.

Is there something you are looking for specific?

The most critical part of the Fiero was the nose. The standard nose created lift and the air dam was needed like on the cover of this issue. The GT nose fixed that. They really needed the vent in the hood too but since it was not production like the deck scoop it was never permitted. Most of this aero really did not work much till over 100 MPH.

I adjust recalling this off the top of my mind as it has been years since I dug through this stuff.

I actually have the air dam like shown here on my car and it helped. I then did the Norman hood with a Ford GT like vent and it really helped the nose. Over 90 MPH the car got light in the front and if you went fast enough the head lights would rise to release air pressure.
msweldon JAN 07, 04:15 PM
Very likely going to enter my 88GT into the Optima Ultimate Street Car Challenge... it's partially through a swap and have incorporated a hood vent. The Optima series have strict rules on aero with the whale tail and a front splitter being the only 'effective' solution that fits within their parameters.

[This message has been edited by msweldon (edited 01-07-2021).]

hyperv6 JAN 07, 05:06 PM

quote
Originally posted by msweldon:

Very likely going to enter my 88GT into the Optima Ultimate Street Car Challenge... it's partially through a swap and have incorporated a hood vent. The Optima series have strict rules on aero with the whale tail and a front splitter being the only 'effective' solution that fits within their parameters.




What is missed on the whale tails is they often used a plexiglass gurney lip. The lip not only adds down force catching the air but makes it tunable. Might see if the rules permit this.

The whale tails need to be up at the back as this is where the air is coming off the roof. The gurney strip catches the air and helps load the spoiler. If you are making the tail extend it back more too for leverage. The short deck lit hurts.

I recall the winters I had to drive my car. The snow never blew off the wing in the center. It would melt off on the sides from the deck vent hear.

Not sure but I wonder of you scoop air under the car for cooling but let it out the top for more air on the spoiler would help?

The vents help even on a GT nose as it still lets the high pressure out. Makes a good bug deflector too.
msweldon JAN 07, 05:32 PM
yes... I can add a gurney lip or "wickerbill" but I'm limited to only 4" to 6" from the bottom of the windshield total height depending on class and the fiero flying butresses. I'll know more once the whale tail is received and test fit on how much if any of a gurney lip I 'can' add. If you go outside the aero rules they throw you into the unlimited / outlaw class.

You bring up a question I'm trying to answer by the investigating the whale tail development. Will venting scooped air from the quarter area/sides up and out the top of the decklid hurt, help, or have no effect on downforce? Especially since the whale tail prevents rear under body air from rolling back onto the decklid.
IMSA GT JAN 07, 07:58 PM
Did you end up buying the spoiler that was for sale in the mall?