Rallyists - Skidplate?

[1LE]

Anyone make a skidplate for a 2g, or will I have to just get a custom one made? Looking for something relatively light, doesn't need to be super strong as I only Rally-x and Road Rally (no Stage Rally at this time).

 

[Greg Collier]

Here's a guy on the NASApro-racing forums that is selling some cars, including a Mitsubishi Rally car. He may have extra parts or know where you can get what you need.
(It's like the sixth paragraph down on his forsale list)

http://www.nasaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=6806

Greg

 

[dr1665]

I have yet to get mine to the point of being capable of doing any rally yet, but I just thought I would chime in and say I think it's bad ass that you're playing in the dirt with your DSM. Wicked.

If you end up making your own, keep in mind you want it to be somewhat flexible so that it can absorb the harder hits without transferring the force into the unibody, resulting in a bent car. You don't want to get bent, do you?

 

[1LE]

Yeah, there's a lot to think about with building one, that's for sure! Finally decided I really need one as I'm getting my rear kicked all over the place at rally-x because I get nervous about all the junk hanging out of the bottom of the car. Combine that with the fact I landed hard on a TSD rally and ended up having to replace my SMIC (smashed the inlet pipe) and the fact that I know someone that packed snow in the wastegate actuator and ate an engine...

 

[mavisky]

I would think that a simple piece of thick sheetmetal attached at an angle to the front core support and then attached at the rear past the transfercase would be sufficient. Obviously check around though as I've never actually built one before.

 

[1LE]

I would think that a simple piece of thick sheetmetal attached at an angle to the front core support and then attached at the rear past the transfercase would be sufficient. Obviously check around though as I've never actually built one before.

Some of the considerations that I already know about are:

- Strong mounting points
- Sufficient gaps to allow it to bend before hitting important things
- proper angles and positioning so the car doesn't get hung up on things

Gotta get this done so I can go faster I didn't think about it when I bought the car because I was using my MR2 before and it has very good protection from the factory. We pretty much destroyed a friend's '90 Eclipse on a end of winter gravel TSD event, so that was my warning that these cars are more fragile. I didn't listen to that warning though, had to do some damage to mine before I paid attention We'll get 'er all set up though and go out and get some trophies!

 

[Greg Collier]

That really sounds like fun. What sanctioning body are you running with? I know NASA took over when SCCA pulled out for insurance reasons...

 

[1LE]

That really sounds like fun. What sanctioning body are you running with? I know NASA took over when SCCA pulled out for insurance reasons...

NASA just took over the old Stage Rally program. SCCA kept the TSD, Rallycross, and Arena Rally programs. I'm currently doing some of those events that the SCCA still has. I hope to get in with NASA eventually, but I'm not ready yet. I also do some events put on by the small regional CORC and NSC rally/rallycross clubs.

 

[leet]

I would think that a simple piece of thick sheetmetal attached at an angle to the front core support and then attached at the rear past the transfercase would be sufficient. Obviously check around though as I've never actually built one before.

Just remember.. any air that flows through the radiator exits (stupid stupid STUPID) underneath the vehicle. So you will need to either put a vent on your hood (a la carbontrix) or design it to ensure undercar ventilation (STUPID).

Airflow underneath a vehicle = lift.

 

[ease]

I made a skidplate about two months ago. It is made out of 1/8 inch aluminum. It is 3 seperate pieces. It took me awhile to finish because I had to measure and re-measure many times. I work in a machine shop so it was easy to keep going back and make changes to it. I plan on using it in the future for RALLYCROSS. Its not real thick but I think it will do a good job protecting my car. It extends out about an inch past my bumper and then angles alittle bit. It also extends all the way back to my transfercase.

Anyways, here are some pictures.

 

[ease]

Another picture.

 

[DammitBeavis]

I made one for my '90
http://www.solo2.org/blogs/pc/gallery/image/289.aspx

For mounting points I drilled some holes into the subframe and welded in some nuts. As you can see from the picture the skidplate is basically just a square with the front and rear bent up and the back corners removed to clear the suspension. Since the center subframe piece is pretty far from the edge, I welded a piece of aluminum angle open-end-down from the edge of the subframe over to the edge of the aluminum so that it's just in front of the tranny case. Then another piece of angle on the edge to protect the edge of the tranny case too. IIRC it was made from a 36" square sheet of 1/8" AL. It touched the 2.5" downpipe a bit so I added a 1/8" spacer on the rear mounting points to clear it.

It was tested last Feb at the 100AW rally. We were working start control and after the stage was finished we made the trip to the finish control at a spirited pace. Apparently the rally cars had dug up a rather large rock after a LWB, and I didn't see it until our Talon was already airborne. The rock dented the skidplate hard enough to put a crack in it, but it didn't penetrate. It bowed the skidplate down the middle and pressed it up against the exhaust. I'm positive it saved the tranny though. As the car rolled over the rock it beat the crap out of the rest of the exhaust and put a dent in the rear floorpan as well. Got lucky that it didn't hit the brake/fuel lines.

Here's a pic of it after it had already been hammered flat with a very large sledge we borrowed from one of the rally teams. You can see the path of the rock leading to the big crack/hole in the middle.

http://www.solo2.org/blogs/pc/gallery/image/599.aspx

So I got one remade in 1/4" this time.

 

[ease]

Thats a nice skidplate. Glad to hear that it protected your tranny.

I had to make some bends on mine too so that it would protect, but not touch, the downpipe. It is easier to see the bends in the third picture I posted.

I also bolted mine up to the subframe in two different spots to hold up the rear of the skidplate.

I'll try to take some pictures of it on my car sometime soon.