Factory Plastic Stuff Under The Car, Ducting?

[msports180]

You know the black plastic covers and stuff under the car, from the front bumper back to the cross member etc.

Is it worth putting these back?

Im in the process of fitting a FMIC, oil cooler and PWR steer cooler to my 34.

I know the factory fitted them for a reason, but with having fitted different coolers everywhere is it still worth it?

Whats peoples experiences?

[iamhe77]

bash plates = protection against unwanted surprises

Keep 'em mate, besides, they also protect debris that may bounce up and hit your cooler hosing (among other things).

From a daily perspective - I would have had some serious damage without mine, useless road "repair" leaving a chasm (around 250mm deep, 1/2m long and almost the full width of the road) in a 100km/h zone that was lightly covered with loose road base - no signage.

I must have picked up about 3-4kg of the stuff and needed a wheel alignment, but that was it.

Edited September 27, 2010 by iamhe77

[jrm]

Pretty sure they also assist with the cooling effects of the car in terms of the air-flows ... (seem to recall reading that somewhere where they did back-to-back testing..)

[Kinks]

they're made of plastic so not much of a bash plate. but useful to stop small debris from bouncing up into your engine bay if the car/truck in front stirs it up. and better for aero/cooling as it creates a vacuum behind the radiator and helps pull the air through.

[msports180]

Yeah i more interested in the airflow then as a protection, allthough thats a good thing to.

I'll chuck em all back in, just gotta buy more of the stupid clips that break when u remove them.

[Equinox]

They make a massive difference in cooling efficiency at high speeds. Re-installing my stock undertray made a bigger difference to my on-track water temps than going from a stock radiator to a Koyo 53mm did.

[msports180]

They make a massive difference in cooling efficiency at high speeds. Re-installing my stock undertray made a bigger difference to my on-track water temps than going from a stock radiator to a Koyo 53mm did.

Ahh awesome, thats what i wanted to hear! thanks!

[Russman]

and better for aero/cooling as it creates a vacuum behind the radiator and helps pull the air through.

pull the air through to where? I'm interested... I would have thought having it open at the bottom would be of more help for air flow?

[The Bogan]

http://www.autospeed.com/A_2159/cms/article.html

[msports180]

Thanks for the link!

Lots of awesome info there, and also given me idea's for wkend tinkering!

[Russman]

http://www.autospeed.com/A_2159/cms/article.html

That tells me for cooling it's better to have the bottom of the engine bay open.

[Ant97GTR]

That tells me for cooling it's better to have the bottom of the engine bay open.

Actually if you read further (parts 2 and 3 I think) they actually test a car with the undertrays off and on and a bit of aero mods. Undertrays off proved the worst and while it doesn't give specifics it was mentioned that the more turbulant air had something to do with it.

[Russman]

Actually if you read further (parts 2 and 3 I think) they actually test a car with the undertrays off and on and a bit of aero mods. Undertrays off proved the worst and while it doesn't give specifics it was mentioned that the more turbulant air had something to do with it.

Ah. didn't read low enough...