Tomster
Beware of idiots
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- #1
We all have seen the problem created by the design and installation of the CFTP wing mount to the decklid. The O ring that surrounds the mount is supposed to provide two things..... The first is a water tight seal. The second is a friction area to help keep the mount stable and in place.
Friction is your friend and it is your enemy at the same time. Every time you hit your brakes or take a single step you should thank god for friction. On the other hand, friction is a detriment that causes losses in power and other inefficiencies. The rule of thumb is that we loose about 10% of our brake horsepower due to friction losses in our powertrain.... but I digress.
The problem with the carbon fiber mount that supports our $26,000 wing is it needs friction, but also needs to maintain a watertight seal. Well, it does one of them ok, but as I found out the hard way is that water enters the O ring seal and exposes our steel decklids to a corrosion hazard because Ford decided to drill the necessary holes and not provide any paint or corrosion protection.
Here is my solution..... I fabricated neoprene one sided adhesive gaskets to ensure that water does not enter the wing base. Since the gasket is adhered to the decklid it will maintain a firm position to the lid and also provide a solid watertight seal with the O ring on the wing mount.
I hope my fellow CFTP owners have taken this corrosion issue seriously. I recently washed my car and found that water pools on the inside of the mount at the lowest point of the decklid. If you don't have a good watertight seal, the holes that Ford drilled (or punched) will be exposed to water and will rust.
Anyway, here are the photos.
Friction is your friend and it is your enemy at the same time. Every time you hit your brakes or take a single step you should thank god for friction. On the other hand, friction is a detriment that causes losses in power and other inefficiencies. The rule of thumb is that we loose about 10% of our brake horsepower due to friction losses in our powertrain.... but I digress.
The problem with the carbon fiber mount that supports our $26,000 wing is it needs friction, but also needs to maintain a watertight seal. Well, it does one of them ok, but as I found out the hard way is that water enters the O ring seal and exposes our steel decklids to a corrosion hazard because Ford decided to drill the necessary holes and not provide any paint or corrosion protection.
Here is my solution..... I fabricated neoprene one sided adhesive gaskets to ensure that water does not enter the wing base. Since the gasket is adhered to the decklid it will maintain a firm position to the lid and also provide a solid watertight seal with the O ring on the wing mount.
I hope my fellow CFTP owners have taken this corrosion issue seriously. I recently washed my car and found that water pools on the inside of the mount at the lowest point of the decklid. If you don't have a good watertight seal, the holes that Ford drilled (or punched) will be exposed to water and will rust.
Anyway, here are the photos.
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