Lowest drag side mirrors

[Otto]

Any sources on testing of the lowest drag side mirrors?

In other words, for a given frontal area, what shape mirror is most slippery?

Long stalk, further from side glass?

Short stalk, partially in wake of car frame?

Bullet shape?

[pgmomni]

I am interested in this topic also.
Just beginning to plan/start aero mods on a 2000 Camry.

I will post if I find anything.

Pete

[cfg83]

Otto -

I think these are good candidates :



They can be $70 a pair for a good set, or less than $30 for a pair on flea-bay if you look around.

CarloSW2

[RobertSmalls]

What about Chang Ho Kim's boattailed mirror?

[redyaris]

An other source may be mirrors used on open wheeled or other race cars that could be adapted to ecomoded road cars. They are very small in terms of frontal area and well shaped. I think I will look for some myself now that I thought of it! Thanks for the question.

[cfg83]

RobertSmalls -

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

What about Chang Ho Kim's boattailed mirror?

Yup, that's a great one too :

A.M.E.C. Fall Economy Run IV November 1, 2009


You could probably combine the best of both worlds. A small-enough-to-use mirror with the boattail design. I found a candidate for the mirror housing in a hobby shop. Think R/C model airplane canopies :

E-Flite Canopy: F-15 Eagle DF ARF


The above is *only* a pictorial example, it may not be the right scale. I think you need one to be about 12" long if it is going to contain a 2" convex mirror. Here is one that is 9" :

Great Planes Canopy Patriot/Dazzler GPMQ2255 - Toysonics.com


Imagine the above with the mirror mounted inside the flat interior part.

Neither of the above egg-zamples are egg-zactly what I was hoping to show. If you go into a hobby shop you can find a really good on for maybe $10 or less.

At one point I had an "Easter Egg Mirror", but that had too much refraction from the clear plastic and didn't work well :



The question in all of these "clear covered" mirror designs is whether or not the clear cover interfers with the visibility. The good thing about a "canopy mirror cover" is that the interior side should not have the clear plastic between the mirror and the side window. I just realized that I didn't test this theory in the hobby shop. Next time I go I will take a round-convex mirror with me and do the test. If it looks good, then maybe I will try a new side-view mirror design.

CarloSW2

[cfg83]

redyaris -

Originally Posted by redyaris

An other source may be mirrors used on open wheeled or other race cars that could be adapted to ecomoded road cars. They are very small in terms of frontal area and well shaped. I think I will look for some myself now that I thought of it! Thanks for the question.

The mirrors in my first post are modeled after those designs.

CarloSW2

[AeroModder]

If anyone finds the universal F1 style wheels for cheap, make sure to share. So far I've found $70 to be the lowest for the universal ones.

Mirror set, pair, F1 Race style, manual, black or carbon fiber look, without heat: Electrodyne, Quality Motoring Accessories

[cfg83]

AeroModder -

(I don't vouch for the quality ...)

Ok, looks like $28 a pair :

00-04 FORD FOCUS F1 BLACK RACING SIDE MIRRORS 01 02 03 : eBay Motors (item 220569231209 end time Apr-08-10 14:05:02 PDT)


CarloSW2

[Frank Lee]

Bwaahahahaha!!! I'd like to see the yarn/smoke tests on that baby... fail!




Me thinks trailing airflow on eggs ain't where it's at either...