Hi Christopher,
All of the wood supports mounted to the car have been epoxied to keep the water out. The only weak area is were the wood screws hold the panels onto the car. Water can seep into those areas. Only time will tell how this holds up.
I do have a motorcycle fairing with 115,000 miles that is constructed in a similar manner and still looks good, but it is not mounted underneath a car body either. However, the fairing still gets rained on just like the car, since I typically ride it rain or shine when it's warmer, such as this summer when working on the smoothing panels.
Jim.
Guess you'll find out how it'll fair until you run with it on 'til spring is back again.
I noticed too, with silverinsight2's mention of your Picasa web folder, there's more pictures there than were shown off here, showing yet additional fairings. LOTS of work went into this, and if you are getting your additional 7mpg, at least you've something tangible to show for it.
I'll have to look at my underbody pictures I took the summer before, and plot and scheme how I'll attach similar fairings. Fairings and living in the snow belt have kept a few of us a bit wary of going too aggressive with smoothing out down below -- because of concerns about snow and ice packing, or how it could pack more sand/salt crud used to melt it in on the underside where we'd prefer it not to be.
Please be sure to update how it performs after winter's through.
__________________ Current mod: Skidplate/Undertray for my MkIV Jetta. Next mod: CAD drawing for skidplate so other Jetta/Golf drivers can make one too!
Guess you'll find out how it'll fair until you run with it on 'til spring is back again.
I noticed too, with silverinsight2's mention of your Picasa web folder, there's more pictures there than were shown off here, showing yet additional fairings. LOTS of work went into this, and if you are getting your additional 7mpg, at least you've something tangible to show for it.
I'll have to look at my underbody pictures I took the summer before, and plot and scheme how I'll attach similar fairings. Fairings and living in the snow belt have kept a few of us a bit wary of going too aggressive with smoothing out down below -- because of concerns about snow and ice packing, or how it could pack more sand/salt crud used to melt it in on the underside where we'd prefer it not to be.
Please be sure to update how it performs after winter's through.
Hi Christopher,
I plan on adding more pictures of the other panels to this thread, so those who are interested, do not have to look at the other posting on Google.
You are right, in that the snow, and it's affect on the panels is a concern. More specifically, those hard, crusty, pieces of hard ice that drop off the cars could *really* cause a problem with these panels. The panels are plenty strong for high air speeds, but no match for a carefully placed 'snow crusty'.
I also have to make a fender-well snow guard for the rear wheels, to keep snow from packing in that area, similar to the front. With the weather getting colder, it may be a bit tough, but we will give it a try.
Jim.
Last edited by 3-Wheeler; 10-20-2009 at 02:40 PM..
Holy crap. Are you going to bring this to the green grand prix next year? This could give this year's winners a run for their money. Going to boat tail this? You're pretty much going all out already....
Holy crap. Are you going to bring this to the green grand prix next year?
Hi Wonderboy,
Where is the green grand prix?
I was at Hybrid Fest in Madison last summer. Of course the car was in the garage, and I rode the motorcycle, which currently barely gets the same mileage as the Insight.
When the weather gets warm next summer, I doubt the motorcycles 79 mpg best will be able to keep up with the car.
I think the Grand Prix guys can kick the snot out of my 'normal' driving style, since I rarely pulse and glide. However, 43 mph seems to be my favorite speed for driving to work on old country roads.
As for boat-tailing; yes I can see the day coming when I would try something like that! It goes without saying that six months would be reserved for sanding/glazing/priming/painting the fiberglass to get that 'smooth' finish.
