10-11-2011, 11:23 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Owosso, Michigan
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Smooth Wheel Covers - Success
Ok so I wanted to make smooth wheel covers for my 2006 Suzuki Forenza since I got it (January 2011). I was reading a post on ecomodder and while I was reading it I was only aware of making the pizza pan wheel covers, but wasn't sure how I was going to fasten them to my car so I didn't really look into it any further. Anyway, I was reading a post about someone making smooth wheel covers with fiberglass resin. I looked into it and ended up doing the mod.
The results turned out great. I LOVE how they look. I do not have any real statistical data to prove that I am getting more mpg, but my hub caps before weren't that aerodynamically "dirty". The improvement in mpg is probably marginal at best, but it gives me a little piece of mind.
Oh and it turns heads like no other..
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The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to m.portice For This Useful Post:
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10-11-2011, 12:14 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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"Inconceivable"
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Looks good! I lived in Owosso back in the late 80's early 90's. Hope you see some nice gains in this.
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moorecomp
Mancelona, MI
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10-11-2011, 12:51 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
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Very nice looking hubcaps.
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10-11-2011, 01:10 PM
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#4 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
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Those are excellent! Do you have a picture of what they looked like before you started?
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10-12-2011, 01:44 AM
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#5 (permalink)
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Pokémoderator
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m.portice -
Gorgeous execution!
CarloSW2
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10-12-2011, 07:31 PM
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#6 (permalink)
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Wiki Mod
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nice job
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03-10-2012, 07:59 AM
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#7 (permalink)
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EcoModding Lurker
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Hi, I like this mod and want to try to do it myself. I have plastic hub caps on my car and they have four plastic 'nut covers' which screw over the top of the wheel nuts.
Could anyone advise me please, should I cut out the center of the plastic hubcaps or would this destroy the strength? The center plastic covers screw onto the wheel and keep in firmly attached but if I cover with cloth and resin I would lose this function. Any advice gratefully received.
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03-10-2012, 02:11 PM
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#8 (permalink)
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60+ mpg at posted speeds
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JPD
Hi, I like this mod and want to try to do it myself. I have plastic hub caps on my car and they have four plastic 'nut covers' which screw over the top of the wheel nuts.
Could anyone advise me please, should I cut out the center of the plastic hubcaps or would this destroy the strength? The center plastic covers screw onto the wheel and keep in firmly attached but if I cover with cloth and resin I would lose this function. Any advice gratefully received.
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That center is pretty smooth, and it is slightly raised. Do the lugs drop deep into the cover, mostly out of the airstream? If so, I think I would not cover the center, but just cover/fill the outer portions of the cover.
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Black and Green will be rebuilt over decades as parts die--until it becomes a different car. Goal is only 60-70 mpg at posted speeds. I'm not trying for highest possible mileage.
Calculators: standard deviation, Ohms Law, & drag HP losses.
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03-10-2012, 02:17 PM
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#9 (permalink)
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EcoModding Apprentice
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Have you thought of using vinyl wrap to finish them? I think gloss white, or chrome silver could look really good!
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03-10-2012, 03:13 PM
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#10 (permalink)
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EcoModding Lurker
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m.portice
Ok so I wanted to make smooth wheel covers for my 2006 Suzuki Forenza since I got it (January 2011). I was reading a post on ecomodder and while I was reading it I was only aware of making the pizza pan wheel covers, but wasn't sure how I was going to fasten them to my car so I didn't really look into it any further. Anyway, I was reading a post about someone making smooth wheel covers with fiberglass resin. I looked into it and ended up doing the mod.
The results turned out great. I LOVE how they look. I do not have any real statistical data to prove that I am getting more mpg, but my hub caps before weren't that aerodynamically "dirty". The improvement in mpg is probably marginal at best, but it gives me a little piece of mind.
Oh and it turns heads like no other..
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I missed this thread earlier . Supper idea . I could do this on my vx for like .....free Thanks for posting
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(10-11-2011), 
(10-11-2011), 
