Under body panels....discussion [Archive] - Toyota MR2 Message Board

Under body panels....discussion [Archive] - Toyota MR2 Message Board Toyota MR2 Message Board > Toyota MR2 Generations > MK 2 MR2 - SW20 > MK2 Body Kits and Exterior Modifications > Under body panels....discussion PDA

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mr2greasemonkey10-06-2005, 08:45 PMSo, I was chattin with my cousin the other day and he was showing me this metal box he made for ram air on his civic. It was pretty clean and i was rather surprised by how well it was machined. So I asked him how he made it and it turns out that his job is to do cad designs and the company that he works for has this machine that cuts out flat panels. Oh yeah, hook me up! haha. Basically all he has to do is put in the design and the machine cuts it out. He couldnt remember the dimensions of the table, but from his description it seems like it is more than big enough to do underbody panels in a couple of sections. They have a brake there too so he can bend tabs. Now figureing nothing to0 fancy I think it could be done relativley quick and inexpensive. Course, he's my cousin so i get the hook up, haha. Anyhow, nuff of my rambling. I'm gonna try and start planning a prototype and make him fab it for me and i figured the nice members of MR2BOARD might want to have some input and generate some realistic discussion before i go spending money on materials. GF310-07-2005, 06:39 PMwasn't someone on mr2oc making something like this a under body diffuser??? Mister2.210-07-2005, 07:41 PMAny idea how much it would cost to have these made? Can he do these in Aluminum? mr2greasemonkey10-07-2005, 08:23 PMi've read the discussion but nobody has actually made it yet so i'm gonna make one for myself. As far as costs go i'll let eveyone know how much it costs me and then we'll see if anyone else wants to do it. mr2greasemonkey10-10-2005, 07:42 PMHmm.... thought there'd be more interest...... Oh wells. Anyhow, my cousin was down this weekend so we took some measurements. He's gonna make a prototype out of ABS plastic so we can fine tune the dimensions before we translate it to aluminum. First panel is from the rear of the fronts to the front of the rears. Basically just a large rectangular section so it should be easy enough for him to make. zman33610-10-2005, 07:46 PMI have read many threads about people saying they are going to this but nobody has provided any results yet. Good luck with this project, this should end up being really cool. rhouck10-10-2005, 07:48 PMI'm very interested and I'm sure you could sell a bunch with a decent product :) G3aR10-11-2005, 02:55 AMwww.emachines.com i'm sure you could whip something out on there GF310-11-2005, 10:24 AMWell get it made and send us some pics and i am sure that intrest will increase Ncturnal10-11-2005, 10:57 AMInterested Triad.:10-11-2005, 11:59 AMIf I CAD something up, can he make it? I would be willing to give the panels a try. I can replicate the stock panels and attempt a rear diffuser. The problem is that it may interfere with which type of exhaust you have.

I wonder if ducts to the brakes will work.... sab027610-11-2005, 01:54 PMI'm interested.

-Scott Crispin10-11-2005, 02:11 PMI'm not interested. Because my Hachi is going to whoop your MR2.

Okay.. Okay.. if I V6 my mr2 I am interested. mr2greasemonkey10-11-2005, 07:48 PMMy cousin says the table for the machine that cuts out the pattern is about 9 feet by 6 feet. I figured it be best to make the least panels as possible. The first panel should be pretty universal to just about any MKII since it covers from the rear of the front tires to the front of the rear tires. That way if someone wanted a different type under engine and rear panel then that could be added. The same also goes for the front so if someone had a different front bumper then that panel could be customized to fasten to it. Keep in mind I'm trying to keep this simple for a prototype. No venturi tunnels or massive diffussers for now. I figured using the stock fastening points for the original plastic panels and then tabs that will fasten to the outer seam of the body. Borinal10-12-2005, 04:31 PMThere was a place that said they would make it for our cars and showed us pictures of the ones they've made for many other cars. They were aluminum and looked BEAUTIFUL. The company wouldn't take long to make them. They'd purchase an MR2 to ensure perfect fit and get feedback on the design, concerns and etc from the community before producing. But they needed a committment of 50 people. I think it might be tough to find even across all of the boards. Gave an estimated price also. This was over on the MR2OC but I've been unable to find the post again!!!

If ANYONE can make these though I'd be down for it. I didn't get a SINGLE piece of underbody plastic with my car. I need front fender wells and all the underbody panels. danielmr210-15-2005, 02:09 AMit is always nice to have access to a CNC machine. I used to do the same type of work before(designing with autocad), too bad I didn't take adavantage of it then. Is it ok if I email you about something? I wanna ask you if your cousin can make me something. Borinal10-15-2005, 12:51 PMCNC wouldn't do anything for underbody panels. Mister2.210-15-2005, 12:59 PMwww.emachines.com i'm sure you could whip something out on there

Think you meant http://www.emachineshop.com/ ? :D mr2greasemonkey10-15-2005, 06:04 PMWell, i tlaked to my cousin today and he said he got the CAD work done. It'll have five tabs down the sides and he's going to attempt it with the ABS plastic panel first. Looks like he should have the prototype done by next week, then he'll see if it'll fit in his civic so he can bring it down, haha. Then i'll have to figure out what the best way to properly attatch it will be. I'll take pics when i get it fitted to see what everyone thinks. Mister2.210-15-2005, 06:57 PMIf you can figure out a way it would release quickly yet be very secure that would be the best. mr2greasemonkey10-15-2005, 10:21 PMThe orginal idea was to get some input from eveyone while i'm starting to get this thing built. Of course there hasn't been much response so i'll just figure it out. This thing has to be securely fastened so i'm not sure bout a quick release system. Dont want it falling off at speed and running it over,haha. Looking at the body lift points today and was trying to figure out the best way to fit the panel and maintain them. One of the guys suggested some vents in the panel for moisture and to have the panels overlap. danielmr210-15-2005, 11:19 PMWait, it's not a cnc machine, it's a laser cutter. Right? mr2greasemonkey10-27-2005, 08:33 PMSo, my cousin called me the other day. Given what materials that he has readily available, the panel that we are making is now going to be in two pieces instead of one. It also makes it easier for him to transport in his car, haha. Anyhow, I'm very excited to see what he's done. He said he used a plastic sheet and that it would work for a prototype. Aluminum is gonna be expensive though, it's like $100 for a sheet for the size of table they use. Tyler10-28-2005, 06:36 PM10 %of ppl that saw thius thread replyed mr2greasemonkey10-29-2005, 02:01 AMwells, craps. Guess the panels are too big to fit into my cousins civic. So I'm gonna have to go get them next weekend. 20incher11-03-2005, 10:51 PMI remember seeing something like this on mr2oc, a guy had one chromed out i do believe and was trying to say it provided some type of downforce? (...im probally wayyy off so correct me if im wrong) never heard much after that. mr2greasemonkey11-10-2005, 12:12 AMDang it! It seems my cousins idea of what the panel should be is vastly different from mine. Well, it looks like i'm gonna have to do some more work to get this thing the way i want it. I had to shorten the width, so instead of 56 inches it's 48.5. I needed to shorten it to leave room for the lift points and space to bridge side skirts in the future. It is about 60 inches long. The plastic is nice, but not stiff enough over it's size. It looks like i may need to extend fastening points or make new ones. I was thinking about just framing the prototype to make it rigid, but that would be adding unecessary weight. Why is trying to make this thing simple soooo hard! turboguy11-10-2005, 04:39 PMI borrowed this from TomG's thread on MR2OC. It might help with the measurements.

-Jason

http://www.rainbowstudios.com/people/renderbrandt/mr2/model/meassures_N_design6.jpg

http://www.rainbowstudios.com/people/renderbrandt/mr2/model/meassures_N_design_B.jpg blckmr2gts11-17-2005, 10:00 PMDef interested...:D Nacho11-18-2005, 03:33 AMI lost my front undertray piece quite a while ago. I've been looking at having an alum splitter (for lack of a better word that i can think of) made to replace it. turboguy11-18-2005, 05:45 PMI've been working with the measurements above on emachineshop to see how cheap I can do it. I would probably leave the front wider and longer so people can cut it themselves to fit the particular bumper they have. I wouldn't be doing the diffuser either mainly because so many people have different exhausts and I don't think one would fit too well with my DD 85mm Pro. mr2greasemonkey11-18-2005, 09:44 PMThat looks like a good design. What do they use for lift points though? It looks like the plan is to mount at the body drip rails, but the unibody drops almost a 1.5 inches lower. The fronts and rears will be complicated since everyone has different set-ups. A universal flat panel would seem the simplest thing to do. I'm physically looking at my 91 and measuring all the places that i think will be the most difficult. Have to provide a place for the front sway bar to travel through it's motion. Have to keep the design light and sturdy. The lift i'm using is tied up for awhile so havent been able to get underneath the car with the panel i have. I will try to get under the car this weekend and have some help to hold it in place to get a real good look at the set-up. I'm using ABS plastic panels so it's easier and cheaper to make a prototype. Weasy2k11-21-2005, 01:37 PMthats awsome man...i would def be interested too....if you build it...peopel will buy....(of couse price is what matters the most) DaveMush11-25-2005, 05:08 PMI wonder how FRP panels would do for that purpose?? they would be ridgid enough. and are sold in 4ft by 8ft panels... turboguy11-25-2005, 08:03 PMAll it would take is one stone at the right speed and frp would be gone. With aluminum sheeting, it could be done for roughly 200 in materials. The rest is time and work. Weasy2k11-26-2005, 01:34 AMThe rest is time and work.


thats the killer :P mr2greasemonkey12-05-2005, 08:59 PMWell... got the test piece partially installed. It's a little wavy cause it's plastic. But the size is pretty close. Using stock panel bolt holes. Looks like a 1.75 inch offset from the floor pan will do. Definitely going to have to be a metal piece though. Looks like I'll need tabs to space it away from the body. I'm currently using long bolts with nuts to keep the panel secured. Doesn't look like much, but from a front view faceing the rear it cleans up the whole underbody. It's roughly 60 inches long and 48.5 inches wide. Starts off right at the bottom of where the wheel well ends in the front and goes to right about where it starts in the back. There's about 3.5 inches of gap down the sides between the panel and the rocker. That should leave enough room for a modification to allow for jacking the car and fastening future side skirts. Looks I'll be using 8 of the current fastener locations. d962r12-05-2005, 11:37 PMremember Zai, when we do this in Alu. we can roll beads down it (front to back) to keep it from bending under it own weight. That way we don't have to do any sub-srtuctcher in there. your looking at more than $200 though. a sheet of 16g Alu. 4'X10' is about $200.00 plus forming. doing this for a proto type.... well that would be a good idea. but then lets build the out of fiber glass or carbon fiber. light, stronger, cheaper. and you still can figure in your jack pints.
Summer... get you @ss home... I thinks we'z needs some help!!!!

all kiding aside . the 1st one out of Alum woud work great so we can make a mold of it later. Then mass production. and at a much cheeper cost. mr2greasemonkey12-06-2005, 09:15 PMI'm thinkin, if i'm gonna take the time to do this right, should we really let everyone else have it, Vince, hehehehehehehehe. Node12-07-2005, 06:04 PMGuys

The machine shop that I get my turbo flanges laser cut at just purchased a new pice of equipment you may be interested int. Its a $300K waterjet cutting machine. it has twin cutting arms and a pool you could fit two cars in length wise!!!! I bet they could cut you a huge 1pc alloy pannel that could fit the etire underside of your car. All they need is a CAD file ;) d962r12-07-2005, 11:50 PM2 problem with that idea.. the size of the part to be cut... what do you cut it from? and attatchment of the part... how do you get in under the car to bolt it up.
Then there is the problem of getting the shape of the rear defuser....

sorry.. (POP!!!) Mister2.212-08-2005, 01:24 AMGuys

The machine shop that I get my turbo flanges laser cut at just purchased a new pice of equipment you may be interested int. Its a $300K waterjet cutting machine. it has twin cutting arms and a pool you could fit two cars in length wise!!!! I bet they could cut you a huge 1pc alloy pannel that could fit the etire underside of your car. All they need is a CAD file ;)

Im a Draftsman (along with other things) can you get me more info on this? What is the machine capable of doing? mr2greasemonkey12-08-2005, 08:53 PMI'd have to agree with D962r, one panel may be nice for a race car but not practical for us cheap people, haha. 3 pieces is the best way for ease of installation and maintenance. What if you happen to crunch one section of the panel, then you'd have to replace the entire thing. I can get my cousin to do any drafting work i need. He is also capable of cutting the panels if i need. I'm trying to design it so that it can be easily installed and fabricated. And we really need to get Summer on board again since he's our composit guy. SlooMr212-09-2005, 01:15 PMpics :) mr2greasemonkey12-09-2005, 09:26 PMNot much to look at, it's just a panel at this point. Needs more work, soon as i get around to making more progress i'll post some pics. Blacktop12-26-2005, 09:25 AMDoes anyone have any good stock underbody pics of the MKII? tilma80012-26-2005, 07:26 PMsubscribing. BlakSteel12-26-2005, 11:42 PMhttp://www.geocities.jp/crazy_shift/koubou.html#swrwing

check out this site......this guy is crazy...

he has a nice undertray set up on his car not sure it applies to your project but Im just sharing the info

oh yeh and check out the lights and functional hoop scoop........crazy....ha....I love it.....wish I could be this hands on:shakeyes: Mekkahfire12-27-2005, 02:10 AMwww.MadPSI.net

They make carbon fiber genII diffusers. Blacktop12-27-2005, 08:31 AMCan anyone explain the significance of the bump on his front undertray?

http://www.geocities.jp/crazy_shift/underpanel3.html
http://www.geocities.jp/crazy_shift/funder21.jpg tilma80012-27-2005, 09:09 AMForcing the airstream of the radiator upwards??? mr2greasemonkey12-27-2005, 09:22 PMLooks like a low pressure zone, either to keep the panel from vibrating or to help suck it down. That's assuming we are looking at the top of the panel. I've seen several variations of that. Even on stock vehicles.

So, i've finally gotten the car up on a lift so i can do some more brainstorming on what to do about my underpanel. I've tried several different ideas on paper but most of them seem overly complicated. I've come down to two ways of going about solving my current dilemma. The center panel is ideal at it's current measurement so i'm left with two options ( keep in mind, we are going for simplicity and ease of maintenance.) 1) Relocate jack points to different parts of the car with add on pads/brackets. 2) Make pads/brackets that install at factory jack points that drop down below the panel and are removable. With (1) is there are several strong points that can be used for lifting the car, ie: rear subframe, front control arm strut flange. Of course if you have a body kit that drops way down then you have clearance issues. (2) is good as long as you can reach under yr side skirts and attatch them. I've been trying to figure out a way to get around this but it gets more complicated to fabricate something that is reliable enough. I was looking at this BMW set-up where the jack goes into the side of the lower panel. Good enough if all you need to do is change a tire, but if you had to lift it up a good distance, then it doesnt seem as sturdy. Or like the old cars that had beefy bumpers that came with high lift jacks you could just attatch and jack them way up. Anyhow, for my set-up i think i will go with relocating my jack points, but for a stock vehicle i'm leaning towards option (2). I'd like to know what everyone thinks. Weasy2k12-29-2005, 04:08 AMwow this is gonna be good regardless man keep it up! trdny12-30-2005, 12:11 PMI've been thinking about the underbody also but have a few questions. I've been mostly thinking about how to address the engine area. I see the grt design just covered it and put some vents to let some air up. How do people think this would effect the cooling system in summer traffic. granted my car isn't anywhere near an everyday car but I still want to be able to use it in placees like south beach traffic.

Would it be a horrible idea to leave the engine & trunk (tmic) area almost completely open? My idea was to have tunnel mid section , open engine/trunk, then a little rear diffuser.

Does anyone think that have a fan in your trunk sucking air up would make any real difference? mr2greasemonkey12-30-2005, 10:13 PMWell, first of all, there isnt really any air flow up into the engine compartment when you are sitting in traffic. Secondly, you ever look under some of the newer vehicles nowadays. Almost 75% underneath the engine compartment is covered in plastic or parts of the drivetrain that dont allow much air to go up. And that is on top of having hoods with little room for hot air to escape. Gone are the days of big openings in the front for radiators. Now everything is sleek and tightly packaged. Fans are the best option if you want to make sure things stay relatively cool. The whole purpose of sealing off the bottom is to decrease drag and try to take advantage of a rear diffuser. Generating proper downforce with underbody panels is far more complex than most of us have the means to do.

Like Weasy2k said to me the other day. So simple yet so complex!? trdny12-31-2005, 11:49 AMthat is true about modern cars but they came from the factory like that. I sure some type of extra cooling help was incorperated like increasing the radiator size. our cars came open from the factor.

Not having any air flow in traffic is my point. closing the bottom now makes an oven. When you go to a dyno you make sure you get those fans to help cool your car right? When cars are sitting in traffic your fans come on for a reason. What I was asking is do people think that closing the bottom off will cause a significant increase in temp during traffic?

Sounds like a test needs to be done:) mr2greasemonkey12-31-2005, 02:38 PMGood point. I've already addressed my cooling system set-up though. I'm really not too worried bout radiant heat with my set-up. My trunk firewall is cut out and my mufflers sit in my trunk. My rear is going to be mostly mesh, and i'm working on an engine lid cover, fast-back style. I'm also running a radiator with 1/3 more capacity with a self bleeding resivoir. trdny01-01-2006, 10:56 PMYea I'm thinking about changing the radiator also. I am using a n/a one and might change to an after market or from another car. 1/3 more capacity, care to share what radiator you're using? mr2greasemonkey01-02-2006, 09:03 PMI dont think you'll be using my set-up unless you are going full race, haha. My radiator is frunk mount, you can see it in my pic just below the huge hole in the center of my fiberglass hood. The large scoop in the front feeds air to it through the panel in the front that i've cut out. The radiator is from a 4.0L jeep. trdny01-03-2006, 09:55 AMha ha. Yea definitly not my thing. high speed baby. mr2greasemonkey01-03-2006, 08:59 PMYeah, definitely not for the average person. Course my project isnt meant to be a daily driver and it's always a work in progress. Weasy2k01-06-2006, 12:08 PMIts gonna be awsome to see the results!

TRDNY i wouldnt worry much about yuor engine when temps go way up...put a couple fans in there to help pull air out a bit when in traffic...the worst that will happen is that you will have some heat soak...but really you aint goiing anywhere fast if your in traffic.
The Stock Turbo rad is huge enough to support traffic sitting :) 71 mgb01-10-2006, 01:11 AMIm a Draftsman (along with other things) can you get me more info on this? What is the machine capable of doing?

It is capible of cutting anything 2D from .020" to 12" thick QT100 and anything in between the width of the water is about .04 depending how worn the tip is.


hope this helps, if you have any more Q about them i will be happy to answer them Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2026 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.