I'm thinking of making something like this for my lancer
http://www.lancershop.com/customer/p...&cat=49&page=1




obviously not as fancy, just a basic shield with a couple of vents cut in it.

I just want some feedback, anyone think it is worth doing? any ideas on what material to use?
I was thinking of using some cheap Aluminum from home depot or something, i dunno. Any ideas people?

 

been thinking about that same thing myself, taken my car apart so many times ive lost all the plastic underbody covers

but yes i think best bet would be aluminum to keept it light

the idea i was planning was to use that h-bar thing ive seen around here and built it on that so that i would just bolt up the bar with the attached protection panels, but i just dont have the time atm to actually do it

 

yeh i broke most of the screw things that hold the plastic panels in, so i need something different.

i was thinking of using the 4 big screws that hold in that massive bar, that the front motor mount sits on. I would use those screws to hold the weight of the panel, and then screw into where the old underpanel screws where, just to keep the rest of it up.

then i could cut a hold out for oil changes and maybe have a little panel to go over it, like the pics i posted, and then just cut some vents.

hopefully you know what i'm talking about

 

It depends on what you want it for. If you want a show piece, just use some thin aluminum, don't want to add a bunch of weight to the car. On the other hand if you want it to be functional as a skid plate/front diffuser you'll want to use reasonably thick aluminum in order to take the blows. The one you posted looks to be pretty thick.

 

well mostly it just needs to replace the stock ones. I am not planning on off roading anytime soon, so the only thing it needs to stop is water. I'm sick of my belts squealing whenever i drive through a puddle.

 

Thin aluminum would work then, could paint it black or have it powdercoated too.

 

meh, if i have some money laying around. no one is gonna see it, so it's not on the top of the list

 

bet you notice more stability at highway speed too so long as its designed well enough. Should cut down on a lot of the drag caused by wind hitting the oil pan and crossmember.


as for material i'd agree that you want something sturdy enough to not flap and flex from air under the car so probably something thick enough to need a press to cut it.

 

thats not a bad idea do you think it might affect cooling? Maybe make aluminum ones using stock pieces as template? this would be easy for me I work at a watercutting shop I have been looking for something I can make for a while.
BTW I think that one looks like .125 "

 

Depending on design yes it definately would aid in cooling. coupled with a vented hood you could really help the heat disapation from one. Usually what happens in a car that doesn't have one of these is air draws up from under the car and hits teh cross member and oil pan which causes drag, but it also causes the hot ambient air to just swirl around in the open spaces in the engine bay rather than being pulled out. With a vented hood and a properly vented under tray it would pull the air out through the vents and out the back of the car. Definately a multi purpose piece they are.

 

well lucky for me i have a vented hood. should be a good setup

 

couldn't you just goto the dealer and buy the clips and plastic covers? Mine are all broken too.

 

yes i could, but that wouldn't be as cool lol

 

def. keep us on the up and up. I want to know how much of a pain it is or isn't.

 

yeh i haven't even started it yet. when i do i will take pics