M O D I F I C A T I O N S : EXTERIOR, Smith & Deakin spoiler

FITTING THE SMITH AND DEAKIN TROPHY REPLICA FRONT LIP

After getting the car up and removing the KH Assemblies splitter, the magical moment was there to discover how the front lip of Smith and Deakin would fit. Although the temperature was only a few degrees above 0°C, the eager was huge to get this thing on or under the car.... But as the pictures could prove, some doubts raise and at a sudden moment we were thinking that it wasn't developed for an F.

The car where we tried to fit the front lip on was an Mk1 with original front bumper.


The primed front lip, helt in place (only) at the front wheel arch.

As shown on the picture above, the distance between the wheelarch and the front of the bumber is "a bit" too large. Let's see further.


Notice the gap between the bumber and the front lip; the side of the front lip (where the markings for the srews/bolts are) is pushed to the inner of the wheel arch.


And seen from the side of the car.... I hope it doesn't start to rain if this device is fitted ;-)


Picture from the side of the bumper

The picture above shows clearly where it goes banana's.... The curve describe by the bumper is completely different to the one that has been created by the front lip, causing a gap at the wheel arch and at the front of the bumper.


The yellow marks on the picture show the remaining gap. This must be the best fit we had...

We don't give up and we remove the front bumper of the car. Maybe fitting the front lip is easier when the front bumper is off the car. When the bumper is removed, it is more flexible too, so all the reasons to stop worrying.


Same shi... euh... story

Let's turn it upside down and see what the result is...


Looks like there !was! an MGF in the game while developing it


1) Shows where two screws/bolts can be used for fitting
2) In this region, there's another mark for fitting a screw/bolt
3) Oops... opening between bumper and front lip


At the side, where the front lip isn't touching the bumber, there is a gap of approx. 1.7cm


At the front over the total length, we measured approx. 2cms for the distance between bumper and front lip.

While trying to fit this device, I had another Smith and Deakin replica Trophy fornt lip with me, which gave the same result. My question is, is there any difference between a Mk1 and an Mk2 front bumper ? Or is this made for the Trophy only, and has the Trophy another front bumper ?
No need to tell you, that while writing this article our MGF was parked in the garage with only the KH splitter under the bumper. Anyone interested in buying some S&D spoilers ???

Read futher on... the reaction of Smith and Deakin on my e-mail describing the problem.