Bendy Bumper

TimR

Member
Messages
2,656
I would have thought there should be- and from your comments about it's acting as n "airscoop" too. The 4200 certainly does....but I scanned the parts fiche on Eurospares, probably not definitive, and it doesnt show one....!
Curious...:oops:
 

BigBob52

Member
Messages
366
I would have thought there should be- and from your comments about it's acting as n "airscoop" too. The 4200 certainly does....but I scanned the parts fiche on Eurospares, probably not definitive, and it doesnt show one....!
Curious...:oops:
Further check of the full manual last night does not show or mention an undertray - without such a thing the back of the bumper is open and seemingly acts like an air brake. This is what I saw when I first looked. Am I missing something here? If this is the case then the blowing out of the upper bumper edge will need reinforcement. I wonder if the reinforcing bar is an on the job fix by Maserati or the owner? The rear bumper fixed on my car definately is not reinforced but the replacement scrap one is - as does the bumper on car picture evidence you guys sent back. Will check and take some photos in the light of day and get back to you all.

Odd. Was there a modification on the 4200 like this?
 
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Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
I reckon they used whatever they had lying around for the reinforcement, mine is a w shaped piece of aluminium.

There is a vertical piece of metal, looks a bit like heat shield between my spare wheel well and the upper part of the bumper if I remember correctly. Will have a look after work in case I’m wrong.
 

BigBob52

Member
Messages
366
I reckon they used whatever they had lying around for the reinforcement, mine is a w shaped piece of aluminium.

There is a vertical piece of metal, looks a bit like heat shield between my spare wheel well and the upper part of the bumper if I remember correctly. Will have a look after work in case I’m wrong.
A small deflector would make sense - mine definitely does not have one but I could make one up and bond it to the wheel well - so long as it does not affect the airflow over the lower wing and make the car rear end 'light' at speed.

Curious. W shaped reinforcement would be stronger but flatter - the surface normally has a natural slight curve.

Dave. You out there?
 
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Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
Looking at the photo I posted earlier it can’t come down very far or do much that affects air flow. Or maybe I’m mistaken as to what’s there.



9FE82440-3F96-4C04-9DE9-A6D166C896BB.jpeg
 

davy83

Member
Messages
2,809
While you have it all to bits sir you might want to look at the eletromagnetic parking sensor I fitted to my car which is a metallic strip stuck inside the bumper and cannot be seen outside at all. Its not the best parking device i have ever had but it works more or less. I fitted it to my car when i had the bumper off.
 

BigBob52

Member
Messages
366
While you have it all to bits sir you might want to look at the eletromagnetic parking sensor I fitted to my car which is a metallic strip stuck inside the bumper and cannot be seen outside at all. Its not the best parking device i have ever had but it works more or less. I fitted it to my car when i had the bumper off.
Made by? Does it repel idiots?
 

BigBob52

Member
Messages
366
They must have changed things over the years. Mine is 2001
Apparently, Maserati used to change things as they went without issuing formal notice. They just fixed it. My 3200GT is a 2002 model - used to be owned by Martin.
7D7BB883-D260-4BF9-86CB-5FEA81DD1274.jpeg
 

alfatwo

Member
Messages
5,517
A small deflector would make sense - mine definitely does not have one but I could make one up and bond it to the wheel well - so long as it does not affect the airflow over the lower wing and make the car rear end 'light' at speed.

Curious. W shaped reinforcement would be stronger but flatter - the surface normally has a natural slight curve.

Dave. You out there?

Yea I had a look at mine in the summer, I recon the lower wing shape increase's rear downforce at speed

I've seen this sort of stuff on GT type race cars where they cant or are not allowed to fit rear defuser's

Dave
 

BigBob52

Member
Messages
366
The lower wing would work like that but the upper bumper section is open and scoops backward - how about using another 'normal' thin bumper u-section (cut, reversed and bonded in) to close it - thereby reinforcing and straightening at the same time - closing the gap and smoothing airflow over the lower wing? The design must be totally inefficient as it is. It looks like it might act as an air brake at speed and be the possible cause of the upper bumper lip 'blow-out'?

I have the scrap 3200 spare bumper to play with. Can you see any problems with this solution? Might it be too stiff? Over what area would be best? Closed or open ended solution? There are numerous mounting bolts to the body to align and it would have to be done off car. I will try to find something to reverse engineer it with from the local scrap yard- cut and offer it up - and then take some more pics for comment and advice. More anon.

Maserati definately missed an aero trick here - maybe something to do with rear impact protection standards not allowing them to manufacture it like this? What a drag! Maybe some of my friends on the Italian Forum have an answer? It's not a big problem - just bl00dy irritating!

Forse alcuni dei miei amici sul forum italiano hanno una risposta?

Marco? Claudio? Maurizio?
 
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alfatwo

Member
Messages
5,517
They achieved 175 flat, well the manual cars did according to the blurb at the time which I don't believe either!

I had 165+ out of mine a few years ago, it was stuck to the tarmac like glue so there must be lots of downforce from somewhere!

Dave
 

BigBob52

Member
Messages
366
They achieved 175 flat, well the manual cars did according to the blurb at the time which I don't believe either!

I had 165+ out of mine a few years ago, it was stuck to the tarmac like glue so there must be lots of downforce from somewhere!

Dave
165! That's ten short on the blurb - makes you wonder if that extra ten was lost because of the air brake effect of the upper rear bumper design? Small things make a massive difference at that speed. The underside of the 3200 is very turbulent - there is no downforce wing above - the car seems to rely just on its upper body shape and the clever design of the lower wing bumper to hold the end down at speed. I am no expert but its a pity that Guigiaro - or the manufacturing process - handicapped it with what is in effect a small airdam 'brake' above the lower rear wing. It will be interesting to see what effect - or none - filling in the small distort gap above the air tunnel will have. It should make it a whole lot smoother aerodynamically at this critical point if I can find something to fit and fill it - it wont be that obvious to the outside but... I feel sure she will appreciate it.

Meantime, has anyone got any ideas what those broken square locating holes on he bumper are for - see previous 'deckchair' pic? Low impact absorbent mountings..? Vibration dampers for the bumper reinforcement panel? Nothing?

Rob.
 
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