FancyWide Diffuser

[The HACK]

Had to do a lot more cutting than I initially anticipated, but a friend stopped by to help cut and grind while I install. It fits over a stock exhaust muffler with significant amount of cutting, I'm going to have to go back and mark all the cuts to disguise it.

[i2ichal2dZ4M]

almost ordered one, but the necessary modification turned me off. Looks awesome

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by i2ichal2dZ4M

almost ordered one, but the necessary modification turned me off. Looks awesome

For reference, I have the OE exhaust on the car. Almost ALL aftermarket exhaust will be smaller.

I started the install with a buddy around 10:30am, finished cutting and installing by 1:30pm. It's not too bad if you have an angle grinder since it's mostly aluminum. Half of that time was spent measuring to ensure the least amount of cut needed.

[StickMon]

You're so Fancy! (I already know.)
Looks great! Reminds me a little of the WEC Astons, but unlike the Aston, doesn't look like a farm implement.
I was considering it, but I doubt I would be able to back out of the driveway.

[i2ichal2dZ4M]

pics from under after cuts?

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by i2ichal2dZ4M

pics from under after cuts?

I'll try and get some next NEXT weekend. I need to tighten the cross brace bolt, loctite it, and check for clearance.

[bananabun]

Your car looks super clean! Will this diffuser make enough of a difference that you'll notice on the track, or is it mainly aesthetic?

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by bananabun

Your car looks super clean! Will this diffuser make enough of a difference that you'll notice on the track, or is it mainly aesthetic?

Don't know. My "gut" tells me no. But if I go to my favorite track and pick up 2 seconds? Who knows.

Baseline is pretty much out the window already, since the KW Clubsports could be the reason why for change in dynamics/performance. I didn't put it on EXPECTING a difference that I will feel on track, that's for certain.

But according to my racer friends, because it extends out so much, both the front splitter AND the diffuser will make a huge difference in aerodynamics in creating a longer slipstream, although the actual effects are hard to quantify.

Already scraped it twice leaving the driveway.

[bananabun]

Originally Posted by The HACK

Don't know. My "gut" tells me no. But if I go to my favorite track and pick up 2 seconds? Who knows.

Baseline is pretty much out the window already, since the KW Clubsports could be the reason why for change in dynamics/performance. I didn't put it on EXPECTING a difference that I will feel on track, that's for certain.

But according to my racer friends, because it extends out so much, both the front splitter AND the diffuser will make a huge difference in aerodynamics in creating a longer slipstream, although the actual effects are hard to quantify.

Already scraped it twice leaving the driveway.

Thanks, and let us know what you notice after a few sessions. Seems like you're going in with low expectation so won't be THAT disappointed I guess. On the plus side, it does look pretty good.

As for scraping it on the driveway...you're just breaking it in!

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by bananabun

As for scraping it on the driveway...you're just breaking it in!

LOL. I like how you think.

[The HACK]

This is approximately how much was trimmed away. Dotted lines are beneath the part that covers the bottom of the exhaust.

[inTgr8r]

seriously considering this one myself.
one thing I wondered about is the posaibe impact on diff cooling.

& does the oe plastic piece stay?

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

seriously considering this one myself.
one thing I wondered about is the posaibe impact on diff cooling.

& does the oe plastic piece stay?

OE plastic piece can stay, but you'll need a longer bolt for the cross brace. I chose to leave the OE plastic piece off. You know, for the weight saving (plus this piece completely covers it up).

To be honest, I don't think the OE Diffuser is designed to create cooling for the diff. The diffuser is designed to create a Venturi effect to speed up air flow near the rear of the car to create a low pressure area. Since the plastic cover and the FancyWide diffuser pieces both sit behind the diff I don't know if the airflow actually washes over the cooling fins, but the fins are still fully exposed with either diffuser in place. The metal "brace" for the x pipe actually has 2 NACA ducts cut into it, and that's probably more than enough for the diff cooling. That air will continue to flow through the diff fins, and exit the slot between the bumper cut-out for the exhaust.

[AriuSen]

I think I?m gonna get one myself too. Let?s see if that helps me on riverside.

[angelr]

Thanks or sharing, been thinking about picking one up myself.

[i2ichal2dZ4M]

group buy!!

[Westersund]

Looks like a fine diffuser, but it doesn't look good with the sides cut open to fit around the stock mufflers.

[The HACK]

Interesting side-effect. When I first installed the diffuser weeks ago, I drove around with my buddy and immediately noticed that the stock exhaust sounds a little different. Wasn't quite sure if it was just my hearing going after an afternoon of the high pitched wail of the angle grinder masking out to only allow the lower pitch to come through. My buddy who has only ridden with me a few times shrugged and wasn't quite sure (also his hearing was probably affected the same way since he did the majority of the cutting and grinding).

In the subsequent weeks I've driven the car a few times and the more I drive it the more I'm convinced the way I had the two pieces covering the bottom of the exhaust installed creates a "resonance" chamber and amplified/magnified the lower frequency sounds of the exhaust. The high pitch, whiney wail sometimes accompanying the stock exhaust at higher RPMs now transform to a low, guttural grunt, which sounds really cool. It's like getting an aftermarket exhaust for free.

On Sunday I decided to flip the piece covering the exhaust around, because that's truly how it's intended to be installed (I installed them upside down for clearance purposes). Most of that side-effect of the "louder" exhaust is gone, since that space underneath the dragging balls of the exhaust is tightened up (now the diffuser butts right up to the exhaust).

If you choose to install the diffuser for looks and sound, you can flip the two horizontal fins up-side down (and left to right) to create a massive resonance chamber around the exhaust to create a really cool effect to augment your exhaust. The original pictures up on the top of this thread has the horizontal fins installed upside down. Can't really tell you from an aerodynamics perspective whether or not having those fins installed the "right" way affects downforce, I suspect the open resonance chamber will create more drag and slow down the airflow under the mufflers causing a high pressure area and induce lift, but I'm no aerodynamicist.

Wish I had the frame of mind to record before, during (upside down fins), and after (right-side up fins) sounds.

[Steeler]

Originally Posted by The HACK

Wish I had the frame of mind to record before, during (upside down fins), and after (right-side up fins) sounds.

Next man in...(insert crude jk here) can be the test mule for sound bytes

[Beedub]

great thread, where does the "struts" either side of the diffuser mount to on the car??

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by Beedub

great thread, where does the "struts" either side of the diffuser mount to on the car??

not sure exactly what you are referring to....
- The small outside fins just use self tapping screws into the plastic.
- The front drop support for the large outside fins attach to an OE fastener in the wheel well.

[Beedub]

yes the front supports "struts" can anyone photograph where this attach to please....

i really like this piece !