Just purchased my first Miata, a little over a month ago, getting started on getting some aero parts on it.

This is a 5 element Railer Jr. made by Difflow for the Elise/Exige.

I made two custom brackets to use all the stock lotus mounting points for the diffuser. The top one replaces the rear subframe brace. The bottom one bolts to the inner bumper.





But this is what it ends up looking like.

 

So, you kept the stock parachute-effect bumper, but added a super expensive diffuser that's not mounted in an effective location.....cool story bro

 

That's not the only dumb thing he's done judging by the bumper stick on the hardtop.

 

Wrong.

 

You could be right, he could have bought that splitter with bitcoins.

 

Looks highly streetable! Like!

 

FTN,

Looks good, props for your engineering, I am also looking to install an Elise diffuser and was looking for a mounting solution. Not too sure about the angle of the diffuser, according to a thread on Miata the angle needs to be about 7-15 degrees(?) yours doesn't look too far off. There's probably less parachute effect than is thought due to the fact that the majority of the airflow is slowed down from the undercarriage bits, but, anything you can do to keep air from getting on top the diffuser is good. Also, good for leaving a slot between the bumper and the diffuser as an exit for any air that does get there..

 

Best one I've seen yet, but that's not saying much.

Not a big fan of the recent trend in the scene of every other ricer trying to jump on the rear diffuser band wagon, seemingly mostly motivated by the looks (irony being it looks like ----) rather than the function. Aero is tricky business, so I don't say this in absolute terms, but I think without properly sorted under-body aero from head to tail, the rear diffuser does ****-le-all for wake improvements.

 

I bet it's hammered/broken in 2 weeks of street use.

 

Needs pulled up around 8-12 inches.

 

Testing?

 

How much higher could you actually get this without some really crazy modification? I agree that it could be a bit higher up, but I'm not sure if it would even be possible. (Note: I haven't spent any time at all looking at this on my own car with the bumper off)

 

Cut the bumper, trim the diffuser, profit.

 

LOL everyone's an aerodynamicist...

I have absolutely 0 desire to raise the angle of the diffuser.

It's sitting at a stock Elise angle right now, with the leading edge even with the floor of the car. The Center 3 elements are at 10^0, and the outer two are at 20^0.

I got about 60 laps at my local track in the weekend i purchased the car, I'll be back out in the next few weeks to get my take on the diffuser...It will eventually all be a part of a bigger aero package i have in mind.

I agree the diffuser alone does not do magic and create tons of down force, does it do a little probably, can you feel the difference not sure yet.

Think of it this way does a wing work with a hardtop/top up? does it do absolutely nothing with the top down? Similar aero theory at work. Smoothing out air flow will always help, but having turbulence doesn't instantly negate all else.

 

Don't think you can draw those comparisons in effectiveness between a mostly cosmetic diffuser upgrade, to a wing that will still function regardless of how poorly it may be set up.

Point is, that is a huge, tacky eye-sore of a mod for what could be a negligible improvement in aero/wake. You got to get the under-body aero well sorted for it to be even remotely functional.

 

It just reminds me of the time at the Zoo.

Oh wait, here it is-

 

Well despite some of the usual A-hole reactions.... (you need a really thick skin here...)

I think it has potential and look forward to seeing and hearing the development as it comes along.

 

I admit that I would like to see it molded into the bumper to clean it up a bit, but I admire the handywork.

Sounds like form over function is the name of your game, and I think that is the right way to go. What's the rest of the aero setup that you have in mind?

 

i bet that it creates more drag than it helps being that low...

 

You just added more drag. The stock bumper is a parachute. You need to cut into the stock bumper and raise the diffuser.

Think this: