03-05-2008, 01:26 PM
|
This thread is in the EcoModder Project Library |
#1 (permalink)
|
|
Batman Junior
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,534
Thanks: 4,082
Thanked 6,979 Times in 3,614 Posts
|
The Phil Knox fleet - 34 years of aeromodding
I talked to Phil on Saturday - I was hoping to meet up with him in Texas this weekend, but unfortunately my trip was cancelled, so it'll have to be another time.
I didn't realize until I read the edmunds.com piece featuring several ecomodders from this forum that he's been doing this stuff for so long!
Anyway, we talked about a bunch of stuff, including many of his vehicles, and I thought it would be interesting to present his "aero fleet" in a single thread. So, with Phil's blessing, here it is:
The first one he aeromodded was his...
'64 VW Karmann Ghia
 - bought to replace a thirsty El Camino with a v8 that could get 18 mpg at best
- the Ghia was purchased wrecked - the previous owner had smacked into the back of a big Caddy, braking on a wet road.
- Phil put the front clip from another Ghia on it, and then started modding it after reading about Car & Driver magazine's Crisis Fighter Pinto
- Reshaped the front to mimic a Porsche Carerra
- was good for 41 mpg @ 70 mph
'62 Dodge D-100 pickup
- this was his grandad's truck (still has it!)
- the shape of things to come?
'70 VW bus
- link to thread with more details of this project: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...-van-8675.html
- Modding this VW was Phil's thesis project, and he used many of the same techniques NASA did for its van testing:
- full belly pan
- skirts on rear wheels
- 18 inch tapered rear extension
1984 Honda CRX
   - ultimately, the mod set included: nose, hatchwing, gap-fillers,wheel skirts,wheelcovers,bellypan,and boattail
- 18% improvement in mpg, 36% drag reduction, 9mph improvement in top speed
- Estimated Cd: 0.23
- tested at Bonneville, and systematically at Chrysler Proving Grounds, in Michigan in 1991.
- Still has it! (On guard duty - long story)
'94 Toyota T-100
  
- what *hasn't* Phil tried on this famous truck?
- @ 75 miles per hour, with aero mods fuel economy improved to 32 miles per gallon from stock 23.3 mpg.
Custom mini hypercar
 
- under construction
- motorcycle based
- VW front end?
|
|
|
|
|
The Following 9 Users Say Thank You to MetroMPG For This Useful Post:
|
|
 Today
|
|
|
|
Other popular topics in this forum...
|
|
|
|
|
03-05-2008, 01:33 PM
|
#2 (permalink)
|
|
Batman Junior
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,534
Thanks: 4,082
Thanked 6,979 Times in 3,614 Posts
|
Did I get all of them, Phil?
Thanks for the inspiration and the education! |
|
|
|
|
The Following User Says Thank You to MetroMPG For This Useful Post:
|
|
|
03-05-2008, 02:19 PM
|
#3 (permalink)
|
|
MechE
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,151
Thanks: 0
Thanked 22 Times in 18 Posts
|
More pictures/info on hyper car!!! please 
__________________
Cars have not created a new problem. They merely made more urgent the necessity to solve existing ones.
|
|
|
|
|
The Following User Says Thank You to trebuchet03 For This Useful Post:
|
|
|
03-05-2008, 02:28 PM
|
#4 (permalink)
|
|
That VX guy!
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Mini Soda
Posts: 829
Thanks: 75
Thanked 80 Times in 53 Posts
|
I'm really digging the KG!
Phill has been at this for quite some time eh? Kudos!
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
The Following User Says Thank You to TomO For This Useful Post:
|
|
|
03-05-2008, 02:34 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
|
|
Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 11,203
Thanks: 2,501
Thanked 2,588 Times in 1,555 Posts
|
Very nice work.
|
|
|
|
|
The Following User Says Thank You to Daox For This Useful Post:
|
|
|
03-05-2008, 02:48 PM
|
#6 (permalink)
|
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 713
Thanks: 1
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
|
Love the CRX and the Ghia
|
|
|
|
|
The Following User Says Thank You to Red For This Useful Post:
|
|
|
03-05-2008, 04:07 PM
|
#7 (permalink)
|
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mirabel, QC
Posts: 1,672
Thanks: 35
Thanked 86 Times in 57 Posts
|
I always loved the look of the KG. An e-KG would be a nice project.
|
|
|
|
|
The Following User Says Thank You to tasdrouille For This Useful Post:
|
|
|
03-05-2008, 05:04 PM
|
#8 (permalink)
|
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Wheeling, WV
Posts: 410
Thanks: 12
Thanked 14 Times in 10 Posts
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by trebuchet03
More pictures/info on hyper car!!! please |
I will second that. That bike/car looks interesting. |
|
|
|
|
The Following User Says Thank You to igo For This Useful Post:
|
|
|
03-05-2008, 05:43 PM
|
#9 (permalink)
|
|
That VX guy!
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Mini Soda
Posts: 829
Thanks: 75
Thanked 80 Times in 53 Posts
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by tasdrouille
I always loved the look of the KG. An e-KG would be a nice project.
|
Heh, all I could think of is electrocardiogram. An EV conversion on that car could only be called "The EKG Machine" in my eyes. 
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
The Following User Says Thank You to TomO For This Useful Post:
|
|
|
03-06-2008, 11:46 AM
|
#10 (permalink)
|
|
Ecomod noob
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Tooele, UT
Posts: 412
ZJ - '95 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo Upcountry 90 day: 20.57 mpg (US) Neon - '03 Dodge Neon SE 90 day: 33.46 mpg (US) S'Crew - '02 Ford F150 Supercrew XLT 90 day: 16.4 mpg (US) Ranger - '90 Ford Ranger Last 3: 28.02 mpg (US) Not the Jeep - '03 Dodge Neon SE 90 day: 34.11 mpg (US)
Thanks: 7
Thanked 15 Times in 10 Posts
|
Hyper car!!! I've wanted to build something like this for 20 years!!!! I might have to now. I always thought it would be best to use a 700cc or larger shaft drive (or belt drive) motorcycle for the rear. But always thought using a Mustang II style front suspension would be better and help to keep a lower profile.
Is that a Goldwing fairing turned upside down on the front of that?
__________________
When it comes to Heroes, RENEGADES are mine!
|
|
|
|
|
The Following User Says Thank You to zjrog For This Useful Post:
|
|
|
