front end splitter

a low position side view photo if possible

Is the front air scoop strong enough so that the spitter's struts can be removed and bolt the two together.

Use shims to set the angle and "chicago screw" type bolts so only flat heads are visiable

As you asked for opinions regarding your splitter mock up, I feel safe in providing one.

I think your addition to the front end appearance does not harmonize well with the existing spoiler and is not something I would view as attractive. Actually, I think it looks rather poor.

That being said, every project has a starting point and that often looks very different than the final solution.

Larry

When you say "solve the relatively weak front end design", are you talking aesthetics or down force and tendency to be light at high speed?

Aesthetics; I'd pull all that crap off including the scoop thingy.

Down force; the splitter just doesn't gel wit the rest of it. The only way to rescue this IMO would be to build out the scoop to incorporate a full front air dam into it.

A splitter will not hurt handling and may even help. I suggest not allowing more than 1-1/2" of front protrusion (larger protrusions are more easily damaged) and running it from the front of the spoiler you have (which I cannot see in your photos- they do not display on my computer since George changed his software) all the way back to the radiator support. A splitter is supposed to shape airflow going under the nose, and doing it this way will also suck a bit more air out of the backside of the radiator, thus helping cooling as well as adding a bit more front downforce. Many splitters are made of 1/4" thick plastic with rounded front edges, in as tough a material as you can find.

I thank you for the honest responses, I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to hear them. Sometimes you don't see the forest for the trees. However, in my opinion, the front end of Panteras are not nearly as good looking as the rear end, and the rear is fantastic. Although this car is capable of +150 mph it will never see that again, so handling is no longer an issue, so aesthetics are the reason for this project. Being the eternal boy I like to have fun with it. The full airdams look great but work better when integrated side panels follow suit. Anyway, attached is a picture of my car with a simple thin soft spoiler. It will likely go back on.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tom Kuester:
this is an opinion question. In an effort to solve the relatively weak front end design, the first owner of my car added a front end air scoop some 40 years ago. I am toying with the idea of adding an adjustable splitter without adding visible holes to the car. This will either be in 1/4 aluminum plate or carbon fiber. The mock-up you see is fabricated with formed gator board and sheet aluminum, strengthened by steel straps. Your thoughts are welcome, even negative.[/QUOTE


I think that the idea is quite good, and if I may suggest that its the unusual none standard air intake with the blue lights inside that let it down visually, the angles of the fabrication appear too acute.
I would also like to see the finished unit.
Joules you cannot say rudy wording, be more constructive. If I said that the front of your white motor car looked like the great grand Coulee dam................but I won't as I wish not to offend, tongue firmly in cheek though.

i think Joules nailed it, this is a case of Less Is More

there's no going forward from where you're at

If you were to install an efficient wing or dam in the front, you'd end up with handling that makes the car want to pivot on its nose more and more as speed increases. So then you're forced to install a wing or dam in the rear to create equal force on the rear of the car to re-balance the handling. The other possible goal you can have is to simply divert enough air away from going under the nose of the car to zero out lift. This can be accomplished with something less visibly obtrusive.

quote:

Originally posted by Bosswrench:

… they do not display on my computer since George changed his software …

We are still operating on "Eve Community", the same platform we've used for a long long time. There haven't been any changes yet.

I like the Reaper's advice by the way.

Back in the 60s GM made me an offer to become a designer for them after I graduated in industrial design. We had an awesome group of talented designers in my graduating class. You may know of my classmates, Tom Gale, who became one of the best automotive designers in the world. I chose to buy my Pantera because the first owner, also a designer, had solved some of the week aspects of the the stock Pantera. In the final analysis it boils down to your own design sense when it comes to pleasing forms. An absolutely original Pantera brings big dollars but looks a bit weak, not as masculine as it really is . Many of you have improved your car's appearance immensely without ruining them by adding your own personality, and that is the fun of owning one. They aren't sacred cows like Ferraris. I enjoyed your responses, all well meaning comments and important to consider. My splitter design is a work in progress and will see many iterations before either becoming real or getting dropped entirely. In the meantime I enjoy the tinkering. If it remains, it has to be adjustable so I can get out of my steep driveway which ends with a tight angle at the street.

Couple more pictures in this thread for your consideration.

Spoilers Thread

No “splitters”, though...