Like the title asks, do these here cheese wedge fourth gen cars actually make real downforce? The old addage of if it looks right it probably is might not be true...opinions?

 

In order for downforce to have any affect on a vehicle they need to be travelling a very high rate of speed. Faster than you would be traveling on the road so the whole idea of worrying about downforce is ridiculous.

 

^^^That's true. To the OP, run your car up to about 145-155 and you'll have your answer. When I had mine that fast it literally felt glued to the highway on stock suspension.

 

It sarted hunkering down between 125-140 then it settles and actually pulls easier to 160. Between 100-120 it feels floaty on stock suspension. When lowered and on good shocks it feels stable all the way up to speed.

 

All I know is the car feels damn good up around 150. I wonder which has more downforce, a 4th gen or a 3rd? I know a lot of people like 3rd gens for top speed records and such, but I thought that was cause 3rds have very low drag?

 

All cars make downforce, just the faster you go the more you make usually they are exceptions...
From the looks of the 98-02 Firebird i would think it makes a decent amount, but i have no clue.

 

i would think that the trans am's spoiler would make for great downforce. i could be wrong though. if you add a tiny lip to the back to catch a little more downforce but yeah, not too many places/times you'd need to worry about it.

 

The Bonneville guys seem to prefer the 3rd gen Trans AM for the down force which is more important to them then low cd. I bought my 4th gen Body in White from a Lakes Racer for that very reason.

 

you can definitely feel the back end being held down over 140

 

I added the little RS Spoiler to the back of my Z to help with any possible available downforce. Like said above, most of us aren't going to go fast enough to where it will make a difference.

 

you damn well better hope so with the top end these things are capable of

 

the basic shape of the car compared to an airplane wing, with enough wind, would lift the car off of the ground. A wing creates lift because the air has to travel further distance over the wing than under it, just like the top of the car is curved, so air over the car has further to travel than air under the car, so the car would lift off. That's why they have huge upside down wings on the fastest cars. Well that would be assuming the underside of the car is flat, which it's not, so probably evens it out some, but the wedge shape isn't going to push down, it's going to create lift.

 

Actually the 3rd gens make the most downforce of all the f-bodies. But the 4th gens make alot too. Like some other prople said take your car up to 150-160 then you will know. If your car takes off like an airplane then its not making any downforce.

 

Back when my SS was stock it felt really floaty over 150 when I pegged the speedo. I haven't done any Aero mods on the car so I assume it will still be the same, stock shocks also. So I'd say no, the car doesn't generate much down force.

Exotic cars generate most of their down force from a rear diffuser, which our car doesn't have. Here is a good write up about aerodynamics: http://filebox.vt.edu/users/forum/is...iderations.htm

 

nice article here...

http://www.circletrack.com/techartic.../photo_01.html

 

I had a blast at 160+mph the other day. It felt really solid at that speed. Tires were hugging the road. With my old stock suspension though, speeds 140mph+ would feel VERY floaty. Full suspension mods would be worthwhile playing at such speeds. Just the air noise from our crappy window design just doesn't inspire confidence at such speeds. I have much respect for NASCAR drivers who spend a good chunk of time at said speeds as even the smallest bump is magnified into a giant one...

 

yea until youve done 150 or near it nascar doesnt sound that hard. that **** would be so intense. not only doing near 200 but with 42 OTHER cars right next to you as well. thats pretty crazy.

 

It's a good thing most courses you only have to turn in one direction, then it would take some real skill

 

nascar is one of the lamest forms of auto racing IMO... look! he's makin a left turn!

 

or the front end rising.