I did the weight comparison on this... 1/4" ABS (absolute minimum i think for a splitter) is heavier than 1/2" ply and it is usually less rigid. Actual density and strength of your ply depends heavily on the glue/layers/wood type but for a regular sanded 1/2" birch ply, it's better in every way. ABS has it's uses for sure but as a splitter isn't one of them. I use 1/8" abs for the airdam and small piece but the splitter is plywood. Another big benefit is the abuse plywood can take. Constantly scraping on curbs, trailer ramps, etc...
Really exciting seeing you with a s550(ish) chassis in the shop. Because I think if you can create a "all inclusive" splitter (with the blade the mountings solutions etc) this will be a great thing for the mustang community. Always a pleasure watching your videos. Thanks!
Have a look at Tegris splitters. When NASCAR was doing research for the Car of Tomorrow (which had a splitter) it was their choice of material. It has a pretty good compromise between strength, weight, cost, abrasion resistance, stiffness, etc.
3/8 Abs plastic worked well for me. Easy to cut. But kinda heavy. and still bendable a bit between mounts. Kinda hard to glue together though. It becomes very rigid and the glue always cracks if your not careful
FYI...my 1/2 birch plywood splitter weighs 17.4 lbs with a good chunk worn down from scraping. My first attempt at a carbon splitter (3/8” foam core, 1 layer 12k spread tow each side) weighs 5.2 lbs. If you want pics of my carbon splitter...I will refuse in an attempt to maintain my dignity.
You can get an ACM panel like alumilite but with a solid plastic core. The problem with alumilite is the plastic core is like cardboard core and weak. The solid core ACM panels I have used. It way stronger and you can easily radius the lead edge.
i worried that if i put a spliter the material like plywood and abs will catch fire or melted because of exhaust manifold and turbo. Is there a case something happened?
I wouldn’t. The smooth surface on the alumslite would provide very little sheer stress. A proper core material for composites would be cheaper and stronger than alumalite.
It is not that glass is heavy. It is not very rigid compared to carbon. On the flip side I dont see why a foam core or coremat laminated with E-glass and epoxy would not work for a splitter.
@@ajhartmanaero we just use a boss Laguna Seca style splitter for our AI car. We had the ABS one for one day before we took it off lol very flimsy at high speeds
