Installed a spook last weekend...

[Ron Carter]

In the Future buy your spooks from Les Cannaday of Classic Datsun 760-940-6365

his pricing is better, and he has the original molds with the markings of where the mounting locations are.

See my the photos of my car in my signature below.

[71ZZZZZ]

The spook works by reducing the flow of air under the car. So I would expect you would get similar results from an air dam, perhaps a little better if it blocked more of the airflow. But then there's the other side of the coin of how much drag it adds. As I understand it, the spook-style adds very little drag and blocks a lot of the under-car airflow as well.

You've seen this?

[Arne]

I note the recommendation in the book pictured above to use the non-vented spook on the street to avoid wet brake problems. I had already come to that conclusion on my own, but it appears that Les at Classic Datsuns only has vented in the original spooks. Am I going to have to get the replica from MSA if I want the non-vented one?

[Ron Carter]

I dont know of anyone who has had stoping issues with their brakes because of the potential of rain water from the vents in the spook...

Just about everyone I know runs the vented spook.

But if you prefer the styling of the other, that is your choice.

[Arne]

I dont know of anyone who has had stoping issues with their brakes because of the potential of rain water from the vents in the spook...

Just about everyone I know runs the vented spook.

But if you prefer the styling of the other, that is your choice.

Don't know that I prefer the non-vented one, but I do like to stop in the rain. My 240 will someday be my daily driver, and it can rain a lot here in Western Oregon.

I'd rather buy from Les, so I'll probably go with his vented one anyway.

[240ZMan]

I think that unless you run some ducting from the openings in the spook directly to the brakes that you aren't going to have any more water getting on the discs than if you didn't have a spook at all. The vents are far enough away from the brakes that the air isn't directly aimed at them anyway.

My guess, and it's only a guess, is that the spook without brake vents isn't going to cool any worse, at least for "normal" driving on the street. I bought the one with the vents because someday I may want to add the ducting for better cooling on the track.

[240ZX]

Arne, Here's a thought to ponder regarding the vented spook......Z's raced in the rain and with ducting to the brakes! I think your only concern, driving in the rain, should be an apprpriate set of tires intended for use in the rain...not the brakes.

[Arne]

Arne, Here's a thought to ponder regarding the vented spook......Z's raced in the rain and with ducting to the brakes! I think your only concern, driving in the rain, should be an apprpriate set of tires intended for use in the rain...not the brakes.

True, but I was reading some of the original road tests of the first 240Z (in old R&T) where they mentioned a noticeable delay in braking action in the rain. I've not yet driven my car in the rain, so don't know how bad it might be. I have experienced this on other cars from the 70s and 80s, and would prefer not to make it any worse, considering how much rain we get here during the winter and spring.

My guess, and it's only a guess, is that the spook without brake vents isn't going to cool any worse, at least for "normal" driving on the street. I bought the one with the vents because someday I may want to add the ducting for better cooling on the track.

Also true. I don't have any big plans for real track time in mine, just an autocross now and then, so brake cooling shouldn't be an issue for me.

I guess the big decision for me is that while I would prefer a non-vented spook, I would prefer to buy the real thing from Canaday even more.

[LanceM]

I would think that a non vented one may reduce the rain wetness compaired to stock slightly maybe, but that a vented one that had no duct work would be no worse than a stock vehical with no spook. It has been a while since I drove my Z in the rain, and don't plan on really doing it anymore but I don't recall having braking issues when wet out because of brakes, tires is another issue!

[lunar240z]

You've seen this?

What book is that?

[dogma420]

I drive my Z in the rain quite a bit, and the brakes work fine (72 z)...maybe a little less braking than a comparable newer style car in the rain, but nothing out of the ordinary.

[bpilati]

I note the recommendation in the book pictured above to use the non-vented spook on the street to avoid wet brake problems. I had already come to that conclusion on my own, but it appears that Les at Classic Datsuns only has vented in the original spooks. Am I going to have to get the replica from MSA if I want the non-vented one?

All the years we've been discussing these spooks here and elsewhere, I've never heard anyone complain about braking problems. In fact if anyone remembers the Gold Medalian 280Z a few years back, he had aluminum 3" dryer hose attached to the back of his spook vents direct air at the brakes. I never heard him say he was removing them because they were affecting his braking.

:beard: Carl Beck recommends the fiberglass spoilers for durability and reparability. Urethane warps and carbon is expensive to repair. I purchased the BRE original from Les Cannaday.

Carl posted some results on the IZCC webmail of testing done with various spoilers/airdams and the general conclusion was that the BRE design performed the best from the standpoint of downward force for control and lower flatplate drag compared to airdams. Airdams apparently have no advantage. Furthermore, it seemed that if the front spook was added, a rear spoiler like the 432 or BRE should also be used to balance the front/rear downward forces.

Maybe Carl can put this data up again here, I think it would be quite useful to everyone.