Stillen front splitter - how does it mount? Any good?

[dealmaker]

Guys,

I am intrigued by the Stillen front splitter. I have been thinking of buying one but wanted to know if anyone had one fitted to their gal?

Does the Stillen unit REPLACE the existing front spoiler - or simply attach to the existing unit?

In the pictures I have seen it seeems like there are a sh*t load of stainless steel screws holding the lower section on (I think these would look much better if they used anodised screws?). Assuming the Stillen unit mounts onto the exisiting spoiler - do you need to drill and fix the spitter to the exisiting unit (thus rendering the OEM part a write-off) - or is it a complete new assembly including the upper structure?

Also - if I fit this should I fit the 4" longer Stillen "venturi" diffuser on the back of the car to balance up the aero?...or stick with the stock?

Thanks!

 

[Luke Warmwater]

I'm considering the same kit both front and rear. It's too bad they did not mold an entirely new front piece versus riveting on an extension. I'm searching from some sort of black fasteners as well and will report once I find something.

 

[sandman]

I've seen the Stillen pieces mounted and felt they were just over the top for my taste. I didn't care for the bolts on the front splitter, too Frankenstein looking and the rear diffuser becomes much too prominent. If you want a gonzo look then they would fit the bill. I just felt they made the pieces stand out too much and detracted from the classic look of the GT.

 

[ChipBeck]

High speed problem.

Gentlemen,

At the Texas Mile, Tim Cantwell's Stillen front splitter folded under the car at over 150 MPH and ground part of itself off on the ground. This part does not appear to be sturdy enough for high speed aero forces. Tim and his son are very competent when it comes to installation and maintenance work so I am sure that his Stillen front splitter was properly installed. Perhaps Tim can weigh in on this. The elongated rear diffuser should really only be used on GTs with a back bumper. On bumper delete cars it appears to stick out way too far. All the best.

Chip

 

[fjpikul]

The pieces are rivetted on. The picture at the beginning of the post show the rivets with the rear diffuser. If I'm not mistaken, you do need to rivet into some of the body panels for mounting, making it a less reversible add-on.

 

[PL510*Jeff]

Gentlemen,

At the Texas Mile, Tim Cantwell's Stillen front splitter folded under the car at over 150 MPH and ground part of itself off on the ground. This part does not appear to be sturdy enough for high speed aero forces. Tim and his son are very competent when it comes to installation and maintenance work so I am sure that his Stillen front splitter was properly installed. Perhaps Tim can weigh in on this. The elongated rear diffuser should really only be used on GTs with a back bumper. On bumper delete cars it appears to stick out way too far. All the best.

Chip

They make two versions of the rear splitter. Stock length and a longer Targa "race" version. None for bumper delete GT's that I know of. But because it is a poly unit shortening one "to fit" would be very easy to do.

 

[PL510*Jeff]

The pieces are rivetted on. The picture at the beginning of the post show the rivets with the rear diffuser. If I'm not mistaken, you do need to rivet into some of the body panels for mounting, making it a less reversible add-on.

Frank, the rear splitter replaces the stock unit. One must drill out the factory rivets, a pretty major chore, and then rivet the Stilen unit onto the rear pan.

And it takes an industrial size rivet installation tool. Most Ford dealers have one, mainly used to rivet window raising arms in the door.

 

[Luke Warmwater]

Are you saying the rear piece must be riveted to non stock mounting points? I was suspicious of the front piece as well Chip. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[PL510*Jeff]

Are you saying the rear piece must be riveted to non stock mounting points? I was suspicious of the front piece as well Chip. Thanks for the heads up.

No, the rear goes right where the factory splitter was installed on the rear pan.

 

[911teo]

Gentlemen,

At the Texas Mile, Tim Cantwell's Stillen front splitter folded under the car at over 150 MPH and ground part of itself off on the ground. This part does not appear to be sturdy enough for high speed aero forces. Tim and his son are very competent when it comes to installation and maintenance work so I am sure that his Stillen front splitter was properly installed. Perhaps Tim can weigh in on this. .....

Chip

Darren

this is concerning.... You can do 150mph on the M25 just staying on 4th a little too long....

 

[dealmaker]

Darren

this is concerning.... You can do 150mph on the M25 just staying on 4th a little too long....

Matteo,

Yes indeed - I think this has put me off the whole idea!

If it had been one complete unit securely mounted to the car itself I would have been interested but not if it's just riveted on to the exisitng spoiler! :frown

 

[timcantwell]

I have both the front and rear. And they work. If you mount the front, use ALL of the fasteners they give you. I did not, and it made so much downforce at the Texas Mile that it bent down, folded under and rubbed the tarmac. It did little damage, and was soon fixed like new. It is very durable.

 

[Luke Warmwater]

Thanks Tim for the clarification. That seems like an important piece of information that was not mentioned...

 

[ChipBeck]

Pop.

I have both the front and rear. And they work. If you mount the front, use ALL of the fasteners they give you. I did not, and it made so much downforce at the Texas Mile that it bent down, folded under and rubbed the tarmac. It did little damage, and was soon fixed like new. It is very durable.

Tim,

You're killing me! I've looked at your cars and talked to your son. I thought everything you guys did was optimum! You are bursting my bubble! Thank you for your candor. Perhaps that front splitter is the cool deal after all if one was to use all of the fasteners. I stand corrected.

Chip

 

[tpraceman]

Chip you and down force are not to be mentioned int the same post....

You are a specialist at "lifting force" and once in the air...someing pushing you hard & down on the tarmac is not in your vocabulary:rofl

 

[doogie48084]

Tim,
That was great of you to clarify that fact. Chip,
Way to go with the correction!
With all the experience they have, I would have been surprised to hear they didn't check into that.
Nice looking components!

 

[kmillen]

Hey Guys,

I just thought I would jump in here and add some more information. I know it's raising a dead thread but figured the information might be helpful to some.

The front splitter was designed to increase down force on the front of the car. With that being said, we do not recommend this front splitter for people who are more interested in standing mile events over track days. The increased front down force will help keep the front of the car planted by adding more down force to the front of the car. In turn, this same affect will more than likely slow down a cars potential peak speeds when competing in straight line events. We have had our car to around 180mph with the splitter attached during a track day at Pukekohe raceway during the 2006 Targa rally. It was pouring down rain with monsoon like conditions. However, if we were to compete in a standing mile event, we would remove the longer splitter.

Also, we make the rear diffusers in two lengths. We do have the O.E. option for those of you who have simply damaged the factory splitter and would like to replace them with something more durable. The factory diffusers can only be purchased with the entire rear tray and as such become pretty costly. If memory serves me correctly (please correct me if I'm wrong) the rear tray is around $1,100.00. Instead of replacing the entire rear tray we simply replace the diffusers with our poly-urethane versions using the factory mounting holes. Simply drill out the old factory rivots and replace with the ones we supply.

 

[930shark]

Mine ripped and folded under exactly as described earlier. Mine happened @ 315kmh scarrrrrrrrry!!!!!!!!

 

[timcantwell]

Mine ripped and folded under exactly as described earlier. Mine happened @ 315kmh scarrrrrrrrry!!!!!!!!

Mine also folded under at 184 at the Texas Mile. But I did not use all the bolts or stagger the bolts as recommended. Mine was not damaged much, just ground the front slightly, so I sanded it and added more fasteners. The other thing that I did that has paid off very well is placed a bead of black silicone across the back side where it meets the stock spoiler. It "glues" the back-side down preventing potential for it folding over under speed, and it prevents bugs and dirt from sliding in between the Stillen spoiler and the stock spoiler. I've tested it at 160 mph, it works great.

 

[SLF360]

Mine folded twice, was bolted on properly ad took the three aluminum arm off... The worst bit is, such event stays in your memory and occupies your attention, when over 300km/h [180mph].. Now I need to consider to replace it, or simply try again with maybe stronger arms to hold the whole splitter arrangement to the car. I think, to defend Stillen here, it was also as I touched twice going into the underground garage with it on the ground, as my GT is lowered by 3/4 inch, and the piece sticks out a lot..That gave a compression shock on the fimsy three aluminium arms holding things in place. Aluminium doesn't take that well..

Personally, looks I like ! Reminds me of our Gallardo GT 3 race car look.. The PolyUrethane bends, so if it flaps down, it will significantly change the flow under the car.. Personally I am now more inclined to go for a carbon splitter..