Board logo

Wind deflectors - Which type is best?
craig1410 - 27/4/09 at 07:01 PM

Hi,
I currently have no windscreen at all on my car and to be honest it is a bit breezy. Although I intend to wear a helmet most of the time, I want to be able to cruise with just a pair of shatterproof shades or goggles on from time to time. The problem at the moment is that the airflow above 50MPH makes it hard to breath, cold and very noisy (not to mention your mouth inflates like wallace and grommet = not a cool look!)

So, I'm looking for a deflector or some sort but don't want to spend shed loads of money or add much weight and I want to minimise drag. I might get a full windscreen some day but for now I want a deflector.

I see there are a few basic designs from a small opaque "lip" to a larger transparent mini-screen to what look more like individual fairings for driver and passenger, usually opaque.

Given that my scuttle was a GTS Tuning standard book size scuttle which I widened by 4" to fit my McSorley +4 chassis, I might not be able to use an off the shelf item unless the fitting is pretty generic. I'm attracted to the individual fairing type deflector as it looks like it wouldn't matter so much if the car was wider than standard (assuming they were separate fairings) and they also look like they minimise drag by only deflecting as much air as is required to shield the driver and passenger. In other words they let the air pass down the middle.

What would you guys recommend? What sort of shielding can I expect from the deflectors I have mentioned above? For example, is it enough to shield the driver from rain drops at 60MPH or will my visor/glasses/goggles need some Rain-X treatment if rain is likely?

I don't want to take away the go-kart like experience by fitting a full screen unless I start to use the car for longer journeys (eg. to Le Mans or something) but I would like a bit of protection from the raging winds which were threatening to rip the sunglasses from my face if I turned my head so much as 20 degrees!

Thanks,
Craig.


Guinness - 27/4/09 at 07:15 PM

I fitted an MK supplied aeroscreen to my Indy post SVA (thanks Welderman!)

Before fitting it I could feel the air hitting me in the chest. Since fitting it that air flow now hits me square in the face! Doh!

First time I drove it after fitting the aeroscreen I tried just shades. Was fine round the local roads, but a quick blast along the A1 at 70 mph had my forehead battered with stones!

I suspect that aerodynamically it needs more of a kick up at the end. However when driving in heavy rain, you can sort of hunker down and the rain just hits your right shoulder / helmet. Helmet visor has Rainex coating.

Next modification for mine will be a clear kick up on the back edge. If that doesn't work, I'll be looking around for the ones on ebay!

Like this one

I suspect you could widen that one if you can widen a scuttle.

Mike


RichardK - 27/4/09 at 07:18 PM

I made these brackets out of some 5mm ali and some edge trim,



I then got some 5mm Lexan and cut to shape but got some 6mm trim for the bottom and it was a bit loose around the bottom so decided to get some 6mm Lexan so I've got a bit of 5mm Lexan cut to shape if you want it, can take to Stonleigh if you're going. You might get lucky and it may be able to get it to fit.



btw mines a +442

Cheers Rich

[Edited on 27/4/09 by RichardK]


StevieB - 27/4/09 at 07:22 PM

I was at Bogg Bros tonight and they're re-building a westy, for which theyre just fitting a Carbon Mods aerosreen.

Having now seen it up close, it's very well made and incredibly lightweight - cheaper than a standard GRP westfield OE part too, by quite a large amount.


jacko - 27/4/09 at 08:17 PM

This is mine off ebay am very pleased with it
[img][/img]


Humbug - 27/4/09 at 09:15 PM

quote:
Originally posted by jacko
This is mine off ebay am very pleased with it
Aero screen
Aero screen



Same as mine and so am I!


craig1410 - 27/4/09 at 10:11 PM

Hi guys,
Thanks for the replies so far, some good ideas there.

Richard, thanks for the offer of the lexan but I won't be able to make it to stoneleigh as my car is still in shakedown(apart) phase... Also, I think the aero double-bubble from ebay looks more like what I'm leaning towards.

Jacko & Humbug, that looks very smart but I'm not sure if it will fit my car. It says on the ebay link (assuming it is the same one from Guinness's post) that it is 44" wide and can be narrowed to fit narrower cars. I've emailed the ebay seller to ask for where this 44" is measured but can you guys tell me if your cars are standard book width or +4" wide like mine? Also, how flexible is the aeroscreen? Can it be easily pulled into shape around the curve of the scuttle? How does it fix down?

Thanks guys,
Craig.


Humbug - 28/4/09 at 06:23 AM

My car is a Stuart Taylor. It's not as narrow as e.g. a narrow Westfield, so I assume it is "standard"...

Just went out to the garage to measure it and it is 42" wide at the point where the scuttle meets the side rail (i.e. where the body angles in). I found the screen was very flexible at the edges, so I would think it ought to be OK.

I posted a thread with pics here on how I did it. Min is a little higher than it would be on other types of scuttle, because the ST scuttle has a raised lip intended for a windscreen, but you get the idea.

EDIT: I have subsequently fitted rubber U trim on the leading edge and put a mirror on the top.

Cheers

Simon

[Edited on 28.04.2009 by Humbug]