Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Aerodynamics
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 09-05-2017, 01:25 PM   #1 (permalink)
Master Novice
 
elhigh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SE USA - East Tennessee
Posts: 2,314

Josie - '87 Toyota Pickup
90 day: 40.02 mpg (US)

Felicia - '09 Toyota Prius Base
90 day: 49.01 mpg (US)
Thanks: 427
Thanked 616 Times in 450 Posts
The beginning of the belly

I have finally, four years after I bought it - and 46 months after I discovered the thing was missing - replaced the the belly pan under the engine in my HCH1.

Material is coroplast from Home Depot. About $14 per sheet. Don't flame me for paying, I have just enough social anxiety that even thinking about calling campaign offices for permission to take abandoned signs gives me hives.

I'm not worried about sagging; I put the corrugations crossways on the car to provide a bit more rigidity that way, and a gentle curve where the forward edge rises to meet the existing under-bumper tray stiffens things up in that direction.

I provided a generously-sized trapdoor for access to the oil filter and drain plug. I'm pretty sure that a quickie-change place probably tore the old one off and discarded it; that appears to be a recurring theme with people who complain that their undertrays are gone. I use a Walmart near me, but I know the guys that work on my car.

I was able to use the existing mounting points for the original tray; I bought a bulk bag of 50 push-through trim anchors specifically for this project and extending belly panning aft.

Pictures are forthcoming, as soon as I can build a link to them.

[edit] Pix!

The approximate size of the sheet I needed to install. The corners needed trimming but overall about 35x27" (90 x 68.5 cm)


The yawning chasm where the undertray should have been.


The new tray in place. The trailing edge of the bumper's undertray had been missing its buttons for a long time too, so everything was quite droopy and sad-looking under there. This has neatened things up a lot.


The maintenance hatch. For anything more involved than oil changes, the whole thing will have to come down.

__________________




Lead or follow. Either is fine.

Last edited by elhigh; 09-05-2017 at 08:25 PM..
  Reply With Quote
The Following 9 Users Say Thank You to elhigh For This Useful Post:
aardvarcus (09-06-2017), aerohead (09-09-2017), BamZipPow (09-13-2017), Daox (09-05-2017), Ecky (09-06-2017), mcrews (09-08-2017), mpg_numbers_guy (04-30-2018), oldtamiyaphile (11-07-2017), redpoint5 (09-08-2017)
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 09-06-2017, 07:36 AM   #2 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
aardvarcus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Evensville, TN
Posts: 676

Deep Blue - '94 GMC Suburban K2500 SLE
90 day: 23.75 mpg (US)

Griffin (T4R) - '99 Toyota 4Runner SR5
90 day: 25.43 mpg (US)
Thanks: 237
Thanked 580 Times in 322 Posts
Pictures aren't working for me right now, but luckily I can use my imagination. I don't blame you on not taking the signs, back when I did similar on my old car I just went and bought home depot coroplast as well. Glad to see some progress from a fellow east Tennessee member.
  Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2017, 08:36 AM   #3 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
JockoT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Scotland
Posts: 654

All That Jazz - '06 Honda Jazz i-DSI S
Team Honda
90 day: 48.72 mpg (US)
Thanks: 36
Thanked 137 Times in 101 Posts
Looks great. Let us know how much of an improvement it makes, please.
__________________
People Think They Are Thinking When They Are Merely Rearranging Their Prejudices


  Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2017, 02:26 PM   #4 (permalink)
EcoModding flying lizard
 
Daschicken's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Georgia
Posts: 742

Cibbie - '88 Honda CBR 250R
Motorcycle
90 day: 48.49 mpg (US)

Rarity - '06 Honda Accord EX V6
Team Honda
90 day: 29.88 mpg (US)

Baby viff - '86 Honda VFR 400R
Motorcycle
90 day: 42.15 mpg (US)

Latios - '08 Suzuki SV650SF
Motorcycle
90 day: 64.56 mpg (US)

Mazda 3 - '14 Mazda 3 i Sport
90 day: 43.25 mpg (US)
Thanks: 618
Thanked 261 Times in 174 Posts
Looks a whole lot cleaner than mine! I like that triangle wedge idea to hold up the maintenance hatch. I just take the whole engine tray off mine for oil changes. If I were to try to make a hatch for mine, it would weaken the already weak area that the drain plug is nearby. I think the oil filter doesn't need the pan dropped.
__________________
-Kaze o tatakaimasen-

Best trip in V6: 52.0
Best tank in V6: 46.0
Best tank in Mazda: 49.9
Best tank in CBR: 61.3
Best tank in SV: 83.9

Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
You can lead a fashion-conscious horse to unusual-looking water...

  Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2017, 08:51 PM   #5 (permalink)
マット
 
M_a_t_t's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Indiana
Posts: 718

The Van - '95 Chevy Astro Cl V8 Swapped
Team Chevy
90 day: 7.84 mpg (US)

The new bike - '17 Kawasaki Versys X 300 abs
Motorcycle
90 day: 71.94 mpg (US)

The Mercury - '95 Mercury Tracer Trio
Team Ford
90 day: 34.35 mpg (US)

Toyota - '22 Toyota Corolla Hatchback
90 day: 40.11 mpg (US)
Thanks: 131
Thanked 258 Times in 188 Posts
Orientation

Wouldn't it be better if the hatch opened the other direction? The way it is facing now it could get blown open while driving down the road correct? Or is it attach good enough not to worry about it?
__________________
1973 Fiat 124 Special
1975 Honda Civic CVCC 4spd
1981 Kawasaki KZ750E
1981 Kawasaki KZ650 CSR
1983 Kawasaki KZ1100-A3
1986 Nissan 300zx Turbo 5 spd
1995 Chevy Astro RWD (current project)
1995 Mercury Tracer
2017 Kawasaki VersysX 300
2022 Corolla Hatchback 6MT

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6s...LulDUQ8HMj5VKA
  Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2017, 10:32 PM   #6 (permalink)
Master Novice
 
elhigh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SE USA - East Tennessee
Posts: 2,314

Josie - '87 Toyota Pickup
90 day: 40.02 mpg (US)

Felicia - '09 Toyota Prius Base
90 day: 49.01 mpg (US)
Thanks: 427
Thanked 616 Times in 450 Posts
RE: weakness caused by the hatch - I reinforced the edges of the hatch opening with an extra layer of material, which also provided a flange to stop the hatch. I've had the car up to 70 several times since installation, and that's about as fast as I ever go. No buzz or loosening yet.

RE: opening direction - the hinge edge is the leading edge. I can't get the car very high up, so the pictures can't provide a lot of context.

__________________




Lead or follow. Either is fine.
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to elhigh For This Useful Post:
aerohead (09-09-2017)
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com