Making a minivan more aerodynamic.

[Frank Lee]

Plexi over the lights is still illegal. Gotta have 'em out back, not covered by anything.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by ShadeTreeMech

hmm, 28%? That's really good. For my van that would put me in the range of maybe seeing a 30 mpg tank once in a while. You wouldn't have a picture of your tail, do you? Were you still able to use the tailgate? I can see how having the bottom of a boattail properly built could add some much needed luggage space in a somewhat cramped van. With it being only 18 inches, I'm assuming it was open at the end.

I'm toying with how to do rear wheel skirts. My rear tires are not underneath the van very much; about 1/3 of the tire surface above the floor is exposed. So i may have to think about flaring it a bit before a skirt would do any good.

ShadeTreeMech,I went ahead and posted a new thread entitled Phil Knox's aero-modded VW Van.Al Glidewell here at Copy-Pro was kind enough to scan the images and do the PhotoShop work to get them on the internet here at EcoModder.As you will see from the images,the thing was just cobbled together but the air liked it enough to reward me at the pump.Hope the images help.

[ShadeTreeMech]

Wow do I have some catching up to do!

Around the beginning of September of last year my motor finally went kaput. Make a long story short I got a heckuva deal on a used motor and off she goes again. I haven't been as thorough checking the MPG as i used to be, but it still gets over 20 mpg usually, and this engine had 70k on it when I got it. But the van doesn't struggle up the hills as bad as before with the worn out engine.

I'll need to get some more updated fuel economy figures for the ole girl, but it isn't driven nearly as much now since my wife got her a Maxima. But I'm glad to be back on here, and hope to do some research on a fairly ambitious project I have in mind for an EV--namely, making my Explorer electric. Yes, I know, it's huge. But it's practical for my area. But that's for another thread.