Air deflection plates (DIY anyone?)

[martiq]

Hi!

Does anyone outthere have a drawing or homemade blueprint of the two air deflection plats, with measurements? (preferable in millimeters, but not necessary)

I don't have them on my car, and they look like a nice DIY project

Regards Martin

[Bitsyncmaster]

I was thinking about making some in stainless but am waiting on DPI to offer them.

[Citizen]

I assume you are talking about hot air dam deflectors (so air heated from the radiator is deflected around the fuel tank).

I made some. I'll get the dimensions for you a bit later today, if that's ok. I made templates out of cardboard, so I need to find them, measure, and draw it out for you. Obviously I can't measure the originals since they are on the car.

Thomas

...

[martiq]

I assume you are talking about hot air dam deflectors (so air heated from the radiator is deflected around the fuel tank).

I made some. I'll get the dimensions for you a bit later today, if that's ok. I made templates out of cardboard, so I need to find them, measure, and draw it out for you. Obviously I can't measure the originals since they are on the car.

Thomas

...

Thanks, but no thanks ;-)! No need to look for your hot air/fuel tank cardboard template (I'm sure you can find something better to do :-)). I mean the original air deflector plates under the car
29981

[Domi]

I was thinking about making some in stainless but am waiting on DPI to offer them.

Do you think it will be available someday?

[Citizen]

Thanks, but no thanks ;-)! No need to look for your hot air/fuel tank cardboard template (I'm sure you can find something better to do :-)). I mean the original air deflector plates under the car
29981

Oops, sorry. When it said DIY, I figured it was a custom part.

...

[DMC5180]

Do you think it will be available someday?

Knowing Josh, Probably yes. However, you are replacing a Light weight aluminum parts with Heavy Stainless steel. Think engine cover grills or SS coil cover. These are cosmetic items that look great, so you sacrifice the weight for the appearance. The trailing arm shields are not a visible item. Unless you are trying to impress other owners when your at a local tech event with your car up on the lift I don't see a point in having them in stainless.

[SS Spoiler]

Mine have been off for twenty-five years with no problems.....

[martiq]

Mine have been off for twenty-five years with no problems.....

...and that also why I'm not going to pay 80$ each + shipping and import charges (or 80Euro on my side of the pond) for some parts that I still haven't figured out what the axact purpose is other than deflecting some air in some direction. O_o!

But if I made some by myself, other than beeing fun to do, at least I could say: "Well now I have them! ;-)

[papanoel]

they are on my car but i know a few people on the forum have removed them. their reason was to eliminate another source of noise. So it seems like they aren't really all that necessary.

[nkemp]

... they aren't really all that necessary.

Aren't they there to smooth out the under-body airflow and increase gas mileage?


Also ... if you want to keep the hot air off the fuel tank ...... The frame protects the front of the tank but the hot air can go over the top. Simply block off the airflow from going over the top of the frame and thus the tank. The swimming season is almost over so steal the kid's swimming noodle and cut it to shape :shocked:

[NightFlyer]

Aren't they there to smooth out the under-body airflow and increase gas mileage?

I have them installed on my car and consistently achieve over 30 mpgs with my manual car :thumpbup:

[Delorean Industries]

I think SW finished the samples for us. I will be there tomorrow and check for a set.

[lindbergh]

Aren't they there to smooth out the under-body airflow and increase gas mileage? . . .
:shocked:

I drove over 830 miles on the highway with them on and over 1600 miles on the highway with them off. I tracked the gas mileage like I normally do and I saw no discernible difference in gas mileage. Of course exact scientific measurements would almost certainly yield some difference either + or -, but I don't think it would be too significant.

[NightFlyer]

I drove over 830 miles on the highway with them on and over 1600 miles on the highway with them off. I tracked the gas mileage like I normally do and I saw no discernible difference in gas mileage. Of course exact scientific measurements would almost certainly yield some difference either + or -, but I don't think it would be too significant.

That's awesome that you conducted such an experiment.

Did you happen to notice any difference in engine running temperatures?

Thanks for sharing the results of your experiment with us :thumbup:

[ALEXAKOS]

I doubt the use of those are meant to be for anything aero dynamic. My guess it keeping the engine free of possible dirt and spray.

[Boxbot]

Sorry to bump this old thread, but I have two questions:

1) What sized bolts or screws do I need to attach these covers that were removed by PO and sit in the corner of my garage?

2) Do they serve any discernible purpose? (I have read pros are aerodynamics, fuel economy, and redirecting hot air from rads away from fuel tank and cons are a potential source of noise and another item that has to be removed to access rear arms)

[Boxbot]

I think I answered my questions. Are these what I need? If so, for that price I guess these deflectors will stay off the car.

http://store.delorean.com/p-9673-big-head-stud-m6.aspx

[DMC5180]

I think I answered my questions. Are these what I need? If so, for that price I guess these deflectors will stay off the car.

http://store.delorean.com/p-9673-big-head-stud-m6.aspx

I wouldn’t use those. The 3 stud strip type units are much better and easier to install. Virtually every vendor sells them.

https://www.deloreango.com/us/the-dflectortm-stainless-air-deflector-retaining-strips-pair.html
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[DMC-81]

Sorry to bump this old thread, but I have two questions:

1) What sized bolts or screws do I need to attach these covers that were removed by PO and sit in the corner of my garage?

2) Do they serve any discernible purpose? (I have read pros are aerodynamics, fuel economy, and redirecting hot air from rads away from fuel tank and cons are a potential source of noise and another item that has to be removed to access rear arms)

On question #2, I believe they use the principle of lift ( like the wing of a plane) to draw cool air up through the engine compartment, which exits through the grills/vents in the lower engine cover, basically to augment the liquid cooling. But that's just my layman's observation.

The purpose of redirecting hot air from the radiator is referring to a different part.

[nkemp]

2) Do they serve any discernible purpose? (I have read pros are aerodynamics, fuel economy, and redirecting hot air from rads away from fuel tank and cons are a potential source of noise and another item that has to be removed to access rear arms)

I read somewhere years ago that some unimplemented design included a full pan under the engine to improve gas mileage. This may have been part of the design (but I'm just guessing).

I can't imagine a full pan under the engine!:
1) Heat
2) an oil catcher
3) a dirt/grit catcher

[DMC5180]

I read somewhere years ago that some unimplemented design included a full pan under the engine to improve gas mileage. This may have been part of the design (but I'm just guessing).

I can't imagine a full pan under the engine!:
1) Heat
2) an oil catcher
3) a dirt/grit catcher

The lower panel you are thinking of did not cover the entire bottom of the engine. Brandon Moody, a former owner from Kentucky, created an Aluminum panel to mimic the intent of the original concept back in the early 2000’s. He painted it flat black. It looked pretty nice, but yeah it’s a dirt catcher for sure and technically Big air scoop I wouldn’t be surprised if it actually hurt gas mileage.


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[Michael]

I put my deflectors back on a few years ago. Whenever I drove over 180mph, the rear end would lift off the ground and I would lose traction. After installing them, not only was my aero problem solved but my fuel mileage increased to 68 mpg on the highway with the caveat that I keep the speed under 100mph.

[SS Spoiler]

riiiight....

[DMC-81]

I put my deflectors back on a few years ago. Whenever I drove over 180mph, the rear end would lift off the ground and I would lose traction. After installing them, not only was my aero problem solved but my fuel mileage increased to 68 mpg on the highway with the caveat that I keep the speed under 100mph.

:hysterical: