finally installed my splitter, custom made by Bryan! Thanks again! it came out great IMO!

used turnbuckes from Lowes. $10 or so worth of materials. painted them black, attached them through the grill.

found out all those grill pieces are just glued in place! one day ill have to rip it all apart again to paint it shiny black

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-T...I/s960/405.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-T...g/s960/412.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4...M/s960/414.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Q...Q/s960/417.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-b...M/s960/419.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-B...U/s960/420.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-q...c/s960/423.jpg

 

It looks great, especially the splitter itself! Question though - Do the turnbuckles only attach to the grille? It doesn't look like you have them solidly mounted. They should really attach to the aluminum bumper bracket. If you happen to scrape that splitter on something, it will probably deform or rip that lower grille. It may even deform it at higher speeds. If you plan to track the car, I would definitely look into revising those mounting points. The splitter itself turned out great! Is it fiberglass?

 

ya, just to the grill (see link for pic). they are pretty solid man, plus, the grill has to come out Forwards, away from the car. there is almost no physical way for it to "implode" inwards, unless all 2 dozen tabs break off all at once. and that grill stuff is pretty thick, at least half an inch.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-b...E/s960/408.jpg

i dont see where or how you could attach the turnbuckles to the bumper like that. its one or the other: either all bumper, or no bumper attachment.

dont plan on tracking the car, so no issues there, and i agree, if i hit this thing on something, sh*ts gonna break. im actually going to use some sonic parking sensors for that little issue (secret project its not fiberglass, but lexan i think (or plexi, cant remember). a fellow NAM member makes them at his work, its cut out with a CNC machine, comes pre-drilled, and Bryan puts vinyl wrap and that edging stuff on it for free. i think total total cost was like, $75 or something? with all the hardware, shipping, and splitter.

 

Are the turnbuckles really necessary? It's the only thing stopping me from getting a splitter. I like the look of the splitter, don't like how the turnbuckles stick out.

 

well.... thats a good question, and it has many answers. its going to depend on:
1. what the splitters made of
2. how stiff / durable said splitter is
3. how big / long it sticks out from your bumper
4. how you attach it to the bumper

this particular splitter, id say is borderline on whether or not turnbuckles are needed. it def has flex to it, even after it was mounted with a bunch of bolts and large washers. the turnbuckles not only hold it in place, but actually adjust its angle, so keep that in mind as well. i would say, if you werent using turnbuckles, to use some aluminum and make some brackets / braces for the splitter for rigidity. remember, its splitting air, so there is a lot of air force acting on it... last thing u want is for that thing to rip off at high speed.

 

so if I use a thicker material I won't need turnbuckles? and tuck it in an inch more?'

And a second totally unrelated question that I think you could help me with.
I have a 400W amp and sub in my car. How many solar panels would I need hooked up to my battery in order to run it without draining my battery. And would I just wire it straight to the battery or is there more too it? No Sunroof so where do I put the panels.

 

I mean, to have the stereo on without the engine running.

 

you wouldnt nec need "thicker" material, just stronger material (like tough abs plastic, metal, or carbon fiber). and tucking it in another inch would prolly do it, ya.

as for the solar panels, youd never get one to even fit on the mini. solar panels are hugely inefficient, my 2 small panels give me 3 watts total.... so, if you had a 20x20 ft panel on a trailer you pulled behind the mini, you may be able to run that system :P

a much better alternative would be to get an Optima battery, red top is Good, yellow top is designed more for what you are describing. i managed to snag a red top for $150 at autozone (if you print out an online price, they should price match in the store). those are deep cycle batteries, lotsa power.

with regards to charging the battery, yes, you need a battery charge controller so that you dont overcharge the battery, causing various types of damage.

 

Lol...
a solar panel the size of the entire roof of a mini is only 50-75 watts on a sunny day!!
i'm not gonna call you a troll, but this question is kinda....
how about mounting a windmill on the roof, and converting the car to run on electric...once you are moving, you can go forever!!
To the op, not bad! Best mods are honemade and cheap, but look $$.
turn buckles let you adjust it...the angle, and makes it look like $$ tuner parts.....

 

I had no idea solar panels were so inefficient, I thought they were the way of the future... What do smart cars do with their solar panel roofs?

And do you have a product# on those turnbuckles?

 

If i remember right the little panel on a smart car runs a tiny fan (like on a computer) that uses a few watts to cool the interior....or was that on the prius....either way the weight and $$ of a panel is a money loosser on moving vechicle, and on a house it takes about 15-20 YEARS to break even WITH TAX INCENTIVES in the right climiate here in the us...expected life of a panel is about 25 years, with dropping effeciency as it ages..and a few failures...not to mention hail, baseballs, etc. Then add the chemicals to make them...they are like huge computer chips....and transport them....makes them look almost as bad as li-ion or NI-metal batteries....most likely do more net harm than good, kinda like burning ethanol fuel here in the us...then add rasing food prices, 3rd word starvation, etc....but greenwashing is a full industry.....and folks like to CONSUME, but still feel like they are help the earth....just consume less, consume wisely, and don't be in rush to toss old stuff out....
End rant.

 

I MADE the turnbuckles my friend go to lowes, in the rope / chain section. They have various sizes to choose from. i think i used the "middle" size. then get the rope holders (or whatever they were, the u-bolt bits to hold the turnbuckles) heres a link for you...

http://www.lowes.com/pd_22225-1277-M...RL=&facetInfo=

didnt know smart cars had solar panels, thought the prius did, and it uses its solar roof panels to open a sunroof and power a fan to cool the interior of the car (i am currently working on just this concept as a project...

solar panels WILL (and hopefully should be) the way of the future, but not until they can make them for way cheaper. currently, solar panels only use 2/3 light bands (the red and blue i think) and dont use the yellow band (most powerful); this is why they kinda suck. Nasa has double (or triple maybe) layered solar panels that use all 3 wavelengths, and get 2x or more the power than their cheaper counter parts. BUT, they cost like 4x as much or more (maybe 10x, cant remember exactly).

 

Always like the look of a splitter, done right they are very functional handling wise....
i do suggest removing it before the snow flies!! Tiurnbuckles aid in fast install/removal...
You can find them in most any hardware store...aluminium ones are nice, but hardwsre store ones could be painted...help with the blackout look, and corossion protection.