5th generation civic hatchback - improving aerodynamics

[Aconrad84]

@ EF TuneRR

forgot about the HF haha, nice

[thefirebuilds]

are you guys reading the link back hater threads? This is my favorite comment so far:

"If you rode a horse, and shaved it completely bare to save unsprung weight and achieve better horse-per-gallon, would you look like a tit? Yes you would."

Those hilarious POMEs!

[todayican]

Slightly OT but way back somewhere in this (Great) thread, when Andrew was making the camback, someone mentioned 13 degrees for the taper, is this the optimum number? is there a range?
Thanks

[3-Wheeler]

Originally Posted by todayican

Slightly OT but way back somewhere in this (Great) thread, when Andrew was making the camback, someone mentioned 13 degrees for the taper, is this the optimum number? is there a range?
Thanks

Have a look at AeroHeads Streamlining Template for the correct angle.

Jim.

[eco_generator]

One problem with that scenario is that as soon as the clutch engages then the voltage will jump up to the 13-14V the alternator puts out and then it will just shut back off again. So it will constantly engage and disengage.

[pquijal]

Isn't the resistance/drag caused by the alternator proportional to its load anyway?

The clutch would be great for manual control over the alternator, but I'd imagine that you could just put a heavy duty relay inline with the alternator's output so you could just break the circuit, making the load zero and leaving the alternator to spin freely.

[jago25_98]

Originally Posted by pquijal

Isn't the resistance/drag caused by the alternator proportional to its load anyway?

That's a key question, and OP should be able to answer from the tests.

If the load is higher on a drained battery then the only point of this could be in combination with electric plug in. That would work particularly well on campervan journeys where you could well be plugging in anyway on arrival.

I was under the impression that deep cycle batteries are no good as starters. I think that could be a bit of a myth exaggeration on the part of battery manufacturers though?

Personnally I find having a very good battery highly useful in any event for camping etc. It would be nice to get all the utility of the starter and deepcycle into one.

Battery monitors are available, and that combined with a switch surely makes this a very easy mod. If you want something even cheaper you could use a multimeter. Very accessible. This is a mod I can see myself doing.

If there was some kind of expensive one hit thing you could use just to get it started in case you mess up, that would be highly useful. Know of anything like that? At the moment my camper has to carry 2 batteries, it would be nice to cut that down.

[JethroBodine]

Originally Posted by jago25_98

It would be nice to get all the utility of the starter and deepcycle into one.

Look for commercial "dual purpose" batteries. The Interstate 31-ECL has 700 CCA and 190 minutes back-up power @25 amps @ 80 deg. F There are AGM batteries , but they are a bit on the pricey side for now.

[MetroMPG]

AFAIK, deep cycle batteries are more than adequate for starter duty, especially with relatively small displacement engines like the Civic in this thread.

[JethroBodine]

You are correct MetroMPG. I forgot to mention that. I did think it very loud( in my head), but I think my fingers had been drinking.