I have been searching far and wide for an aftermarket rear air diffuser and there just does not seem to be any available. I know there is the Steve White dealership one and everyone seems to like Jeff Dunham's. The Steve White diffuser is just a little to ordinary for me and I am looking for something more aggressive. Jeff Dunham's has a sweet diffuser but I have read the shop wants 3000 to make it. Plus you would have to do something with the exhaust. So after no avail finding one to buy I decided to make my own. I am a Mechanical Engineer and have some experience in manufacturing which is why I decided to start down this path in the first place. So with the help of my buddy we just got done mocking up our vision for a rear diffuser on the challenger. We just made the mock out of card board, glue, tape and black spray paint. Our plan is for the final version to be made out of sheet metal (0.035" thickness?) and powder coated. Let me know what you guys think! All criticism is welcome! With the lack of options out there currently, we are hoping (down the road, maybe next year) to make some of these for anyone interested. Not sure on price yet but please post if you would be interested.
The middle part looks good. I dunno about going under the exhaust and out to the side part. That part doesn't look good to me. Especially if you're looking at it from the side.
I'd be interested depending on the material you use and how lightweight it is. Steve White one is about 14 lbs if and is made out of aluminum if I'm not mistaken.
I like this one a lot but I don't know where he got it from.
That looks great! I have an Arrington Diffuser on the Challenger and a Steve White on my other car. I like yours a whole lot better! Please keep me in the loop. I would love to add one of these to my next project.
Thanks for the thoughts guys! I will definitely keep this thread updated as things progress. We do not have a timetable set but hope to have completed something by the end of the year. We are set on completing this project.
We really like the 'race car' look which is why we decided to extend it under the exhaust. We were also going for something that had a clean look but still pretty aggressive. We also assumed some would think it was too much. The good part about the way it is made is that we could build just the middle section HEMIZSP. We actually almost stopped there because it was simple and looked good. As we build something out of metal I will install and post pics of just the middle section. The dimensions are slightly smaller than what ghostrt was building so I would assume weight would be similar. Probably around 20 pounds, give or take a few.
We have not figured out exactly how this will connect under the car yet breeeze. We are envisioning something similar to the Steve White diffuser. Probably have to drill a couple holes into the spare tire compartment as well as the lower valence. We think we are going to make a custom bracket to hold the sides around the exhaust. There is actually a couple threaded holes in the frame above each exhaust pipe we plan to use.
I appreciate the responses and will keep this posted as we go! FYI, this is a 2014 R/T that I am designing this on. Don't think 08-14 will be much different.
Why not build it in 3 pieces. Middle and the 2 sides. Some of us have different exhaust tips. Also, the 15s have a different rear bumper. I doubt it'll work on the 15s. Another suggestion, what do you guys think if it's made out of hard plastic just like on some oem cars. Maybe less expensive too? Less work?
I believe it will work for any model '14 and older. Depends on exactly how it would mount. Obviously all have the spare tire compartment and rear valance to attach to. Problem would be the sides though I believe it could be modified to attach to valance on corner as well. The corner and valance in general is pretty sturdy. I agree that it probably would not work on the 15. It is essentially three pieces with the one middle piece and then the two sides get attached.
Plastic would be cool as well and probably weigh less. Problem is that we have no clue how to do that. LOL. It would definitely give more of a OEM look to it. Finish would be limited as well. I think I want mine to be a nice shinny black to make it stand out a bit. It would be a nice possibility for sure.
I think most exhaust tips would still fit and look right. They would just need to use the same cut out in the valance. Size could be issue. Different tip would need to be relatively same size as the stock one. And as long as it isn't something like a circle-ish exhaust tip.
Maybe talk to a company that makes plastic parts. Have them make a mold. These companies already have the machines. All they'd need to do is put in the mold. I dunno. Just thinking out loud.
Lots of guys have the round tips like mine. A little bigger than oem.
Yea that is a possibility for sure. I think we obviously have to get down the road a bit on this before we get to think about plastic but I like the idea!
I have actually never seen those tips but I like them! We modeled the side pieces with a half inch below the exhaust. The top also has a half inch between the valance and exhaust tip. So there is some 'play' room. It might require raising the exhaust tip closer to the valance but I think they could fit. Obviously most would want something to bolt right up but I do not think there is anyway we can get around some slight modification. And especially so with aftermarket exhaust tips.
There isn't much room to lower the piece under the exhaust. One and a half inch is all. Though it is possible and I believe we could make it that way, I am not sure if it would look good. It might though with bigger exhaust tips. Will need some R&D on it.
I dont think it will fit a '15 but I dont know that for sure. Our plan is once this one is complete to rent a '15 and check the fit. If it doesnt we would like to make one for the '15+ as well.
No definitely not dead though I would not hold my breath for it either. I dont think we can finish that quick. LOL. But seriously we have just been struggling to find enough time to really finish this up. My buddy helping me with this works out of town and for various other reasons this has dragged on longer than planned. We have experimented with different gauges of metal trying to find the correct one that is light enough but also easy to weld and work with. We eventually decided on 20 gauge (i think). Cant remember exactly right now. Our schedules have freed up so I am hoping to have some progress and pictures posted in the next few weeks. I will keep updating as this progresses in the coming weeks.
I saw where you said .035 thickness that is 20 gauge, well .0359 is 20 gauge. 18 would be easy to weld but would probably weigh more than the trunk lid. At least it would help with traction at launch.
Carbon Fiber would be a possibility but I have no clue how much it would cost. More than likely it would be pretty expensive! And I would be paying someone else to do it since we cannot
i have the splitter and the wing, next is the diffuZZZAAAA!!
get on it already, chop, chop annoying customers calling...LOL
get a waiver in place because when a good diffuser is installed w/o a front splitter it can create a nice downforce in the rear and make a car understeer when taking turns at high speed >80 mph...and have sorry mofoz slam into a wall or somethin'....
Aero tuning is balance; wing, splitter, (canards, vents, arches) and diffuser;
all must work hand in hand knowing this is not the stuff needed for the strip but rather the road racing dudes and dudettes; unless you are a 4.82 sec 1/4 mile car....and you need a parachute...
you are on the right path as yes the diffuser needs to wrap the exhausts ports, go as wide as possible within track width, extend out until the race series rule book says "No mo'!" and it must have an angle so it does what it is supposed to do which is to create a decompression chamber for air velocity to increase, suck the air out of our bottom tanks and create a vacuum effect....like that....that one used fans, raced once i think with Jackie Stewart
otherwise if this is for the look, forget all what I said...
HAHA Nice picture! Yes the customers are calling!! Waiver ready with 'not intended for track use' lol for me this is basically all for looks as I do not plan to road race at all. Hopefully someone will though. Hopefully will have a diffuZZZAAA shortly!
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