| Honda S2000: Motorized Spoiler Installation |
| Honda Aerodynamics Upgrade: Part 1 of 4 |
From "Tricked Out"
episode DTRK-307 |
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(Continued from page )
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At speed in excess of 100 mph, the down-force on a race car from the spoilers and other body modifications is powerful enough that it could adhere the car to the ceiling of a tunnel.
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High-Speed Aerodynamics 101:
"Does That Spoiler Really Do Anything?"Spoilers aren't just for looks. Well. . .some of them are, but a functional spoiler actually can enhance an automobile's aerodynamics to a substantial degree. Here's an example: On a race car, spoilers function essentially like a upside-down wing, providing the opposite of lift--i.e., down-force. That down-force helps keep the car "glued" to the track with downward pressure, thus enhancing traction and high-speed driving performance. The amount of down force can be considerable. A professional race car traveling more than 100 mph has enough down force that, if it could be turned upside down, could actually adhere to the ceiling of a tunnel and drive upside down! The downside to down-force is that a big wing on the back of a car also produces drag, which slows the car down by making it harder to push through the air. That's why professional race teams have to constantly adjust their cars' wings to strike a balance of speed versus handling. Because the spoiler we're installing in this project adjusts up and down with the push of a button, the owner of the car can essentially be his own race team--adjusting the spoiler down at the drag strip to decrease wind resistance, and raising it up for increased traction at, say, an autocross event.
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Tools and materials used for the spoiler installation
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Installing the SpoilerMaterials and tools needed for the first phase of the project: spoiler
painter’s tape
center punch
drill with bits
wire extensions
electrical tap
split loom
wire ties
shop tools
Steps:- Aerodynamically, you’ll want the spoiler to sit back as far as possible. Before you begin, make sure there is nothing underneath the trunk lid that will interfere with the installation (figure A), and adjust the placement of the spoiler if necessary.
- Next, measure to find the mid-point of the trunk and mark it with a grease pencil (figure B).
Line up the provided template (figure C) with your center mark to gauge its size, the pull the template aside and protect the paint in that area with a neat layer of painter’s tape.Once the area is protected, realign the template with the center mark, and then measure the distance from the edges of the trunk lid to make sure that it is exactly centered, and tack it down with tape .Measure the location once more to make sure it’s where it needs to be before securing the template on all four sides (figure D).
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