Remote Controlled Go Wing?

[Bruzilla]

Way back about 1985, I stopped at the Pizza Hut on Pacific Ave in Virginia Beach. There were three Hemi Superbirds there, and the owners were going to some NHOA event.

One of the Superbirds had a pistol-grip shifter and another lever next to it. When I asked what that lever was, the owner moved it and the Angle of Attack (AOA) of the center section of the wing changed. I didn't ask if it was an electrical or mechanical mechanism, but it sure looked cool, especially to an aviation guy with a fixation on moveable control surfaces.

I was thinking I might try a similar set up on the go wing I just installed. I'm thinking of drilling a small hole in the trunk lid, and mounting a 12VDC microwave oven turntable motor to the underside of the trunk lid with the drive shaft extending through the hole. These are small, flat, very high torque/low RPM motors and made to spin Aunt Minnie's Death By Cheese casserole on Sunday nights so they should be able to handle this job. I would then mount a threaded swag bar from a hanging lamp (hollow on the inside/threaded on the outside) to the motor drive shaft.

On the wing, about three-quarters from the front, I would drill a hole and epoxy a washer and a nut that matched up to the swag bar. The swag bar would thread through the nut and into the wing. Turn it one way, the wing tilts forward, turn the motor the other way and the wing tilts backwards, all controlled by a double pole rocker switch on the console.

I don't know if it'll have any impact on performance, but it sure would look cool making the wing tilt change while you're setting up for the green. Maybe some intimidation factor there. ;)

 

[Moparmatt72]

Sounds like a cool idea. Just curious are the go wings truly functional what I mean do they really work on creating a little more down force or are they mostly for appearance?

 

[Bruzilla]

I always thought they were just for appearance, but I've noticed my 74 rides better in the rear with it on, so I guess it does have some effect.

 

[myaerocars]

It's funny you mentioned the Superbird with the adjustable wing.

On both my clone 'Bird and my friends clone Daytona. we have thought about the same thing! Would be neat but complicated to have it pivot like an air brake like Jim Hall did on his Chaparral 2C model and 2E race cars.

On my friends Daytona, he has a cable operated front spoiler. He has 2 inch drop spindles and low profile 16 inch tires. He made a front spoiler twice as big as the stock one and used a long piano type hinge on. it When he approaches his steep angle driveway, he pulls the large PTO style cable back to retract the spoiler.

AS far as the rear spoiler goes, what you are describing would be very cool. On the motor option, a linear actuator would be great to use ( but pricey). I mentioned the front spoiler setup on my friends car just to offer the idea of a cable operated option.

On the "g series" what if '71 Charger prototype car they built, it had a adjustable rear spoiler similar to what the factory was considering. It even had the angle of attack listed on the side of the spoiler in degree markings. I really wish they would have made that one. I know it was featured in Mopar Action magazine. They may have some extra info and photos on their website.

Great idea and I would love to see it in action.

Godspeed,
JON

 

[Bruzilla]

Man, I wish I would have asked more questions back in 85 about how that gal did her wing. If I remember right, she was the daughter of an exec with IBM so she wasn't limited on funds. Her car also had custom wood grips on the pistol shifter with sterling silver roadrunner bird inlays on each side. It was a nice looking car.

 

[Bruzilla]

Okay, change 1 to the plan. If I affix the nut to the wing, I'm going to be very limited to how much change I can make to the wing angle because the nut will start binding as it tilts. So... what I think I need to do is find something akin to a washer with two pegs on the side, and the pegs allow the washer to tilt. Then I attach the nut to the washer, and the angle of the nut stays constant with the driveshaft while it goes up and down. I'll still get some binding at extreme angles, but I'm only looking at being able to move the wing +/- 30 degrees or so. That should work!

 

[Moparmatt72]

Wonder if you can find a small pivoting joint with a screw type inside to attach the rod to. Look at the rods for the front diffusers the sport compacts use. They are adjustable and you could rig it to fit your motor.

 

[RustyRatRod]

To hell with all that hooha. Use a wireless remote control model airplane servo. Duh.

 

[Bruzilla]

Doubt a servo would work. That's a lot of weight to move. Second, it would have to be installed externally to the wing, which means it would be exposed to the elements 24/7 and those servos aren't made for that. Lastly, you would have an issue with a servo overcoming resistance from the far end pivot point.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Doubt a servo would work. That's a lot of weight to move. Second, it would have to be installed externally to the wing, which means it would be exposed to the elements 24/7 and those servos aren't made for that. Lastly, you would have an issue with a servo overcoming resistance from the far end pivot point.

Well, before you rule it completely out, research it. They got model planes over 500 pounds now. Them servos gotta WORK. lol

 

[Ron 73]

Never really thought of anything like this.. Interesting idea and i hope it works out good for you... Would certainly bring up some conversations at a show.

 

[jessipup]

There is information on how someone else did just that in the AUG 2012 Mopar action issue.
Yes it sounds way cool

 

[ws27]

I had a mechanics teacher who raced minis. He had an adjustable spoiler hooked up to a power window motor. For racing it was a very simple hookup. There was a momentary switch on the steering wheel, when you pressed it, the spoiler went one way and when you let go, the other. He beat the pants off everyone until someone noticed one day the car went out one way and came back the other. Then it was outlawed. Good while it lasted. I should see if he's still around.

 

[ocdart]

Hey Bruzilla, you got the recipe for Aunt Minnie's casserole?
Sorry, had to ask.
LOL

 

[dangina]

subscribed! I can't wait to see what you come up with, I wish I had a crappy repo one kicking around to play with this idea

 

[Bruzilla]

Well, before you rule it completely out, research it. They got model planes over 500 pounds now. Them servos gotta WORK. lol

Those planes may weigh 500 pounds, but the control surfaces the servos are moving only weigh a few ounces. Gravity and lift are what's making the plane fly, all the servos have to do is move a little control surface to change those factors.

They do make bigger servos for other applications. The only problem with them is size and mounting them. I'm thinking whether I use a servo motor or a cheaper turntable motor, I'm still going to need a driveshaft connecting the motor to the wing as a direct drive unit on one of the pedestals would look funky and require a ton of torque to overcome resistance at the far end of the wing.

 

[99ss]

maybe a shaft and some universals or gears eminating from the trunk going up inside the stantion
you could use what ever elec motor you needed then... one one vertical shaft that connects to the horizontal wing

 

[Bruzilla]

The problem I see is there are no bearings where the wing and the pedestals join. There is just a hole and an adjustment bolt. The bolts have to be loose enough to enable the system to move the wing, but be firm enough to keep the wing stable while driving. If you try to move the wing from one side, the resistance on the far side is going to exceed that on the driven side, and cause problems. That's why I was thinking being able to lift the wing from near its center point would balance the forces acting on either end and make movement easier. The downside is you'll have a noticeable drive shaft in the center of the trunk lid, but I figure if it's painted body color it'll be tougher to see.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Can you post some pics of a go wing like what you have? Maybe in pieces? That might help. I got an idea that might work, but I need to see how it adjust and attaches.

 

[Ron 73]

Sounds good for racing.

I had a mechanics teacher who raced minis. He had an adjustable spoiler hooked up to a power window motor. For racing it was a very simple hookup. There was a momentary switch on the steering wheel, when you pressed it, the spoiler went one way and when you let go, the other. He beat the pants off everyone until someone noticed one day the car went out one way and came back the other. Then it was outlawed. Good while it lasted. I should see if he's still around.

It really must make a difference racing then! I only got the impression more of a cool conversation idea and turn a few heads using it.. intimidation? Sounds here beneficial.. Sounds a bit like Nascar and everytime they came up with faster, "outlawed"..