Light up front, Heavy in the pants

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

skyshadow07

On a mission to get below 4000lbs
Joined
Nov 15, 2019
Messages
959
Reaction score
925
Location
Oklahoma
So I was on I35 the other day. Long, straight, empty road ahead of me. I decide, I'm punching it. Everything was fine until around 145-150mph (gps speed), things got scary. My front end got so light my steering got twitchy and jumpy. I let off, loaded the brakes lightly but it wasn't until maybe 125-130mph that the front end felt like it was not being lifted. Have any of the other high speed guys dealt with this? I'm wondering how much the front splitter (like 802SHO) would help. Or, a functioning front fender vent possibly.
 

GotGrip?

Conversation Ruiner
Joined
Jan 21, 2019
Messages
887
Reaction score
1,454
Location
Minnesota
Probably need a splitter and/or canards to keep the front down at those kind of speeds. If you can't get either of those, your only option would be to lower it further and make a better air dam on the bottom of the bumper to stop air from going under the car and creating lift.
 

Jordan_R

Stock Block Ready To Knock...er..Rock
Joined
Sep 20, 2017
Messages
1,775
Reaction score
4,455
Location
Missouri
Rolled a CTS-V to over 160. (they said 170+) and the car felt fine. I don't have the splash guard on the car so you might have had some air pressure being funneled into the engine bay?
 

skyshadow07

On a mission to get below 4000lbs
Joined
Nov 15, 2019
Messages
959
Reaction score
925
Location
Oklahoma
I don't have the splash guard either. I do have the speed holes in the bumper and the massive vents in my hood. My hood was shaking like a 4yr old scared kid at anything above 140.
 

Jordan_R

Stock Block Ready To Knock...er..Rock
Joined
Sep 20, 2017
Messages
1,775
Reaction score
4,455
Location
Missouri
I still have the stock hood. Something between the other modifications you've made maybe?
 

SM105K

Streetlight Grand Prix Champ/ IG @fafomotorsports
Joined
May 3, 2018
Messages
7,405
Reaction score
9,701
Location
Arizona
I don't have the splash guard either. I do have the speed holes in the bumper and the massive vents in my hood. My hood was shaking like a 4yr old scared kid at anything above 140.

I have been 157 on a GPS in mine. My SHO was stable and it was smooth. I did have the stock chin spoiler, H&R's, and my splash guard on at the time.

I would order a Ford Flex splash guard and see if that makes a difference.
 

Zpak

Es Aich Oh!
Joined
Jun 1, 2017
Messages
1,975
Reaction score
2,529
Location
The region, Indiana
I haven’t experienced that either. Outside of the troubling speed at which things are moving past me it feels very planted and comfortable.
 

SM105K

Streetlight Grand Prix Champ/ IG @fafomotorsports
Joined
May 3, 2018
Messages
7,405
Reaction score
9,701
Location
Arizona
I still have the stock hood. Something between the other modifications you've made maybe?

In my mind, I don't think the speed holes and the hood are helping at high speed. I see the air entering and making the engine bay a large parachute, esp without the splash guard. It makes sense in my head, however I could be 100% wrong.
 

GotGrip?

Conversation Ruiner
Joined
Jan 21, 2019
Messages
887
Reaction score
1,454
Location
Minnesota
In my mind, I don't think the speed holes and the hood are helping at high speed. I see the air entering and making the engine bay a large parachute, esp without the splash guard. It makes sense in my head, however I could be 100% wrong.

Makes sense to me, air comes in and can't get up and out quick enough and just creates a shit load of drag. Splash shield is a great start and inexpensive, but ultimately though, you'll need downforce from some where even if you do put the splash shield in at those speeds.
 

skyshadow07

On a mission to get below 4000lbs
Joined
Nov 15, 2019
Messages
959
Reaction score
925
Location
Oklahoma
I think I'll start with Flex splash shield paired with aluminum or something closing the area between the bumper lip and core support area. I feel like maybe air is coming in to the bumper grill and shooting down, since I have nothing there.
 

Kevin81

SHO Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2020
Messages
666
Reaction score
540
Location
USA
Just be careful. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. More downforce on the nose of the car will make steering twitchy and overly sensitive at those speeds...ask me how I know, lol.
 

GotGrip?

Conversation Ruiner
Joined
Jan 21, 2019
Messages
887
Reaction score
1,454
Location
Minnesota
Just be careful. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. More downforce on the nose of the car will make steering twitchy and overly sensitive at those speeds...ask me how I know, lol.

How do you know? >.>
 

yaycandy

Aerospace Engineer
Joined
Jul 2, 2018
Messages
2,612
Reaction score
2,003
Location
Hanover, PA
Just be careful. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. More downforce on the nose of the car will make steering twitchy and overly sensitive at those speeds...ask me how I know, lol.

More downforce makes the vehicle more stable at higher speeds especially on the front. Also an increase of downforce is an increase of drag equally. Ask me how I know, it's my career.
 

Kevin81

SHO Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2020
Messages
666
Reaction score
540
Location
USA
How do you know? >.>

I had a similar issue on my project corvette, years back. Was trying to set it up for autocross, so I installed a guldstrand front splitter. At 120 mph, the slightest touch of the wheel resulted in scary dramatic direction changes.
 

Kevin81

SHO Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2020
Messages
666
Reaction score
540
Location
USA
More downforce makes the vehicle more stable at higher speeds especially on the front. Also an increase of downforce is an increase of drag equally. Ask me how I know, it's my career.
Everything you said is true. However, doesn't change what I said. More down force over the front wheels can make cars more difficult to adequately control during direction changes at high speeds, due to increased force over the front wheels. IE, twitchy. ESPECIALY if there is not a corosponding increase in down force over the rear tires.
 

Michigan-SHO

SHO Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2020
Messages
686
Reaction score
843
Location
Michigan
More downforce makes the vehicle more stable at higher speeds especially on the front. Also an increase of downforce is an increase of drag equally. Ask me how I know, it's my career.

Ooo ooo I wanna know too!!! I’m a whore when information is involved the more the merrier and too much is never enough.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Forum statistics

Threads
107,087
Messages
1,181,312
Members
16,153
Latest member
lapochkarr

Members online

Back
Top