Front spoiler DRAMA

[oldmachguy]

Note to self: instruct dealer NOT to install splitter - I will do that myself.

I assume the install hardware comes in a bag or something, along with the splitter?

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[Tomster]

Note to self: instruct dealer NOT to install splitter - I will do that myself.

I assume the install hardware comes in a bag or something, along with the splitter?

Yes, all hardware included.

I have the new splitter in a box in the garage and it comes with all the hardware as well as the side splitters.

(Mungo) Steve started a thread a long time ago "check your splitter install". It is horrible how many dealers did not install the splitter correctly.

 

[Zitrosounds]

Note to self: instruct dealer NOT to install splitter - I will do that myself.

I assume the install hardware comes in a bag or something, along with the splitter?

Exactly what many of us did after hearing the horror stories of improperly installed splitter at the dealers hands. Guess what? I have not had one signal issue with hardware falling of other than the clips them selves. The clip/nut are not really strong and if you exceed the tq speck you will easily strip the threads. I damaged one and although it is tight it will not build tq to spec. And yet it has still not fallen off!

 

[oldmachguy]

Thanks, guys.

 

[Epiphany]

The bottom line is this - the decisions made at the corporate level led to the issues faced at the dealer and ultimately by the consumer. While I laud the efforts with respect to the GT350 for things such as the Owner's Supplement and the Track Attack, I'm bothered by the packaging content decisions made for '15/'16 and the inevitable ADM debacle. Add to that the decisions made as to how PDI's were to be handled and by whom (or the lack thereof).

Ford engineers are very good at what they were hired to do. But it is management that tasks them to make things work. And when they do, management often times wants to deviate due to cost which usually involves rework or redesign. All a natural part of the process.

In the case of the splitter, I have no doubt that the engineers that designed it along with the necessary support hardware, were keenly aware of what would happen if the fasteners (for example) were either not installed correctly or not installed at all. This was probably discussed numerous times within project management. Either by majority or by someone that held the power to make a unilateral decision, the choice was made to simply include one of two instructional videos and to hand the vehicle and hardware over to the dealer. I'm not aware of a mandate that only certain SVT/Ford Racing certified individuals handle the PDI (or at least this portion of it) and in my view that was a mistake. SVT used to have certain programs in place with respect to it's own vehicles that ensured that only individuals trained to perform specific procedures were handed the work order. Were that the case here with the splitter, blame for an inadequate installation could be placed on the individual that was assigned the installation and nobody would be questioning the design from an engineering standpoint. As it stands, blame gets spread across the entire program. That, in my view, is a mistake at the corporate level that needs to be addressed. It otherwise taints the view of what has been a fantastic marketing effort and a superb ownership experience.

 

[Colleton]

So this is the GT350 splitter P/N? If I order this from AFWBL I'll get the entire splitter and all the fasteners I need to install it?

 

[Tomster]

So this is the GT350 splitter P/N? If I order this from AFWBL I'll get the entire splitter and all the fasteners I need to install it?

That is the entire splitter kit. All hardware, front splitter, and side spliters are included. Everything you need for a non R GT350

 

[Colleton]

Awesome, thanks!

 

[Voodooo]

I think people make a bigger deal of the splitter install then what it really is. It's really easy to install and nothing a person with simple basic skills can't handle. Some people give to much credit to mechanics at dealerships as if they know best just because it's that dealers make of vehicle.

 

[GT_Dave]

You just need to make sure all the fasteners are in place, after 8K miles and 3 track days I discovered the dealer left out the 4 vertical screws on my front splitter. I did not have any problems in that time period, but I find it hard to believe that the way the front splitter is clipped in and 8 bolts holding it on, that any condition other than hitting something solid at high speed could cause the splitter to come off.

 

[HizliBullet]

I kept scratching underneath..now I dont

 

[barstowpo]

I saw some pictures of my car taken at a track day. It is amazing the ride height difference between the slow sections and the high speed sections. These were at the beginning of straight sections versus the ends of the same sections. I believe even the Non-R splitter produces a significant amount of downforce.

 

[Voodooo]

Yeah and I imagine the non R with its lighter spring rates with a R splitter are worse. Anyone know how much down force each splitter adds?

 

[Colleton]

I think people make a bigger deal of the splitter install then what it really is. It's really easy to install and nothing a person with simple basic skills can't handle. Some people give to much credit to mechanics at dealerships as if they know best just because it's that dealers make of vehicle.

The procedure in the video looks simple enough and I'm sure I'd have no problems installing one.

The thing is, I mentioned the installation issue to the dealership multiple times and even spoke with the tech, mentioning the video. "Oh, I've put these on before, no biggie."

Yeah. That's why mine is installed wrong right now. I'm going to have to take it off and reinstall it correctly, but want to have a spare on hand before doing so. It's scraping like crazy and I don't think it would scrape nearly as badly if it were installed properly.

Note: Just to be sure, this is installed incorrectly, right?

 

[machsmith]

Yes, you shouldn't have any gaps in there
Thats a terrible job!

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