Why a rear spoiler ?

I remember my green Z didn't let fumes in - it had a rear spoiler. My yellow one does - it doesn't !

Mere coincidence or have others noticed this difference ?
 
in my mind, rear spoiler is probably usefull... but car's style is nicer without for me

I would be interested in figures of down force with or without if anybody has

natural behaviour of Z is understeering... so I would think front is more usefull, wouldn't I?

thanks very much for advice :thumbs:
 
I remember Kevin Irons telling me that the rear spoiler did offer a useful amount of downforce, he tested it with someone sitting in the back trying to push the rear hatch up at speed :eek:

Sylvain, yes getting the front pushing down is important too.

Anyway I bought that 'whale tail' off Phil Hyett recently just to try it out, I need to insert movable panels in it now F1 style! :thumbs:

Fumes, interesting - I think that's down to rear hatch sealing and manufacture holes in the bottom of the hatch. From my experience if I drive with the side window open air is drawn out and fumes sucked in from the rear as a consequence. The spoiler may cause more fumes, I don't know :unsure:
 
Another point but still on the same threadish is....
The critical angle of the rear spoiler/wing. On our track pug 106 the variation of degrees of angle can change the wanted 'downforce' into an air brake!
Trying to push the hatch up at speed will definately tell you if you have downforce but it can't tell you if it is too much or too little.
Rob if you are going to have a play about with a whale tail spoiler can you make it adjustable anglewise so you can do a lap and time it then adjust and do a lap and time it again to note a difference?
Obviously all other factors need to be the same for reliable results.
The 106 shows up any changes instantly as it is so light and quick but the effect is the same to a lesser degree to a road/track car.
We found a few degrees difference to the wing angle could turn the car into brilliant high speed cornering (but not fast enough) through to a completely unmanegable back end, almost undrivable.
So the rear wing has to be managed just as importantly as everything else we found.
 
I've changed the hatch seal for a genuine Nissan one, I've changed the door seals for better sealing ones.......and there are less fumes but still not something I can happily live with.

I wonder still that a rear spoiler affects the airflow such that exhaust fumes are less likely to be dragged in...........!

If I have my window open - it aint so good - if the passenger window is open, if only a tadge then it's better.

Any better suggestions - I'm listening.

I'm fitting a front spoiler this winter to reduce the understeer.
 
Sean, have you got a steel hatch and has it got 2 round holes in it on the bottom edge. I've been told that fumes can enter there and 'bypass' the seal into the car.
 
At the moment all is steel (but that will change for next year.............) and all grommets are new and seal well.
I don't see how gases can bypass such a seal ?
 
SeanDezart said:
At the moment all is steel (but that will change for next year.............) and all grommets are new and seal well.
I don't see how gases can bypass such a seal ?
Click to expand...

Sean, see the two big round holes - have you got good grommets in there? If not fumes can be sucked in and out where the interior trim is, therefore bypassing the seal which is further forward than the holes. Check the area around the latch hole too, can fumes get in there?
 

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Yep, they're good - I even duct-taped up the insides ! There must be a LOT of gas passing through the tiny latch...........
 
Sean & Matt

Have you replaced the Taillight Weatherseals recently ? They become brittle & cracked over time & sit in the vortex created by the design of the Bodyshell, and so vacuum in the exhaust fumes to the Cockpit. We replace them in every Resto job as routine.

Still available through Mike at the moment, but don't tell everyone,or they'll soon become 'NLA'.....
 
They were new five years ago, I have new ones to put on this winter during her respray - we'll see........
 
SeanDezart said:
I've changed the hatch seal for a genuine Nissan one, I've changed the door seals for better sealing ones.......and there are less fumes but still not something I can happily live with.

I wonder still that a rear spoiler affects the airflow such that exhaust fumes are less likely to be dragged in...........!

If I have my window open - it aint so good - if the passenger window is open, if only a tadge then it's better.

Any better suggestions - I'm listening.

I'm fitting a front spoiler this winter to reduce the understeer.
Click to expand...

What are the seals round your tail lights like? I had a bit of a similar situation on the 280zx and replaced both seals on the clusters. It helped.
 
Just a little input

I have a fibre glass hatch with no seal (although I do have a rear spoiler and an alloy foam filled tank) I get no fumes (petrol or exhaust) what so ever

BTW the reason I use a spoiler is that by accident one day in 2005, that idiot Matt Bannister left my hatch partly open, without knowing it, off I went up the drag strip and ran what was one of my fastest times
We did a few more tests the following rounds and it would appear that the rear spoiler was an advantage (to me at least) this is of course very unscientific however I don't have my own wind tunnel.

Ped said:
What are the seals round your tail lights like?
Click to expand...

Ped, didnt Sean answer that after Duncan asked it with
Sean said:
They were new five years ago
Click to expand...
 
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You intrique me !

Would you say you have faster acceleration or a faster top speed using a rear spoiler ? All unofficiel like of course !

No fumes with or without window (s) open ? Or have your nostrils been damaged and you just don't have a sense of smell anymore ?
 
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