HOW TO: SVT brackets for SAP rear diffuser

[Spatakula]

So, anyone that has an SAP rear diffuser mounted on their SVT bumper can copy what I did to add a little bit of support the rear diffuser. I had Steven (sonicbluezx3) take a look at my car as I drove down the highway and he said that the diffuser was flopping around pretty bad due to the winds at highway speeds. I know there are many ways to make/ attach brackets for this but this is what I did. It seems like the best way to do it IMO because it doesnt involve any drilling into the car itself and is pretty easy to do.

First off, the materials. I stopped at Home Depot and picked up these metal strips. They are thick but not too thick. They were 1/16" thick but you can really use whatever thickness you desire. I picked up some bolts from there too. You will need 4 bolts, 4 nuts, 8 washers and 4 oversized washers. (The bolt/nuts set I used were sized at.... 1/4"-20 X 5/8") This size is almost a perfect fit for the two holes that you use when mounting the bracket to the passenger side.



Step 1: The beginning

Jack up the car like so....



Step 2: The approach

Crawl underneath the car on the passanger side. You will see 2 holes already on the SAP diffuser on the bottom. This is were you will mount one part of the bracket. Look up beside the tow hook and you will see two holes like so....



This is were the other part of the bracket is mounted.

Step 3: Making your brackets...

First off, the holes we are drilling now are going to mount the bracket to the bottom of the diffuser.

The over all length of the piece...



The first hole drilled 3/4" from the tip.



X marks the spot for the next hole... 4 3/4" from the end of the bracket.

After drilling...



Pay no attention to the diagonal line. The straight line represents were you first bend will take place. This is 8 3/4" for the tip of the metal stip. The bend needs to go up and be twisted at 90 degrees. This is not something I can exactly show you on this how-to but when you are done, it should look something like this.... ( just painted it for looks)



I used 2 pairs of vice grips and just bent the piece myself. Its not that difficult to bend... unless you are a girly man. I suggest on bending a bit, then mocking it up under the bumper just to see how much more or less you need to bend. The object is to have the dilled hole part resting on the diffuser and covering the two holes on the car with the piece of metal. Also, you may need to cut the excess off the end of your bracket to get it to fit under the car... use you judgement.

Now you will need to drill your last two holes for mounting the new bracket to the car itself. What I did was after I got done bending the peice up and was happy with the fitment, I used a Sharpie, stuck it through the holes on the body, and marked were I needed to drill my last two holes, using the body holes as my stencil. Not that precise but it works. Drill you last holes then paint it if you want to.

Next up is making you brackets for the drivers side. Use the same measurement as noted in the beginning for you bracket/ diffuser holes. Bend in the same spot as mentioned before. This time it does not need to be twisted, just bent up. You will attach the other part of the bracket to the car using the tow hook itself. I am not too happy with using this mounting point but if you look under there, there is just not a close and sound spot to attach it without drilling holes in the car. Again, you will need to just go in there and bend the stuff, mock it up and make any adjustements. Once you are happy with how everything lines up, stencil your lest drilling holes and drill away.

Step 4: Attaching the brackets.

After you are happy with the new bracket shape, mount it up.

Passanger side....



Drivers side.... (note the oversized washers...)





Step 5: Painting

I painted the screws that were on the diffuser black because they stuck out like a sore thumb.

Passanger side...



Drivers side....



Step 6: Automated wind machine

Grab ahold of the diffuser and shake it around a bit. You will immediatly notice how much more ridged it is. It is a huge improvement over having just nothing supporting it in the middle.

Step 7: Lower the car and admire your work.

Hope this helps! Anyone else with any idea's or corrections to my work, please feel free to add!



-spatakula

[Phacade]

You, sir, are a god amongst Foci owners! This is exactly what I'd been thinking about doing since my SAP defuser was more flaccid than a wet stick of margarine. I'm all over this. Thank you!

[SVT3658]

Very nice write-up, I did something similar to my SAP diffuser.

[Spatakula]

Originally Posted by Phacade

You, sir, are a god amongst Foci owners!

Nonsense poopy pants!

-spatakula

[Spatakula]

Sticky-ness?

-spatakula

[CTZX3]

its not really a diffuser, more like a parachute

[Ataru]

Originally Posted by Spatakula

Sticky-ness?

-spatakula

It's already in the reference thread.

[Spatakula]

AWE COOL! I feel so special.

-spatakula

[SVT Pilot]

Great post. Quick question. In your 2nd photo there appears to be a small gap between the bumper and the diffuser. Is that normal?