Quote:
Originally Posted by Sulfuric
WOW, you're really dedicated.
I've been wondering about this for nearly everyone I've seen with mods like underbody paneling, rear wheel skirts, etc...
How are those screws attached? Did you drill straight into the car's frame? I want to redo my rear wheel skirts but make them more secure this time...how can I attach them?
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I drilled into the car for just about everything. haha
- 7/64" drill bit
- Air Drill
- Boxes of sheet metal screws from Lowes
- Aluminum Tape to go over the screws that stay permanently.
- 1/4" socket on 1/4" rachet
- Coroplast
- Boxcutter
There's like 20 screws in each one. I probably could have used less, but it's more than secure that way. haha
I also aluminum taped and painted over the screws which I won't be removing for rear wheel service.
I remove the bottom 7 screws on each side and fold up a crease in the coroplast to service the rear wheels.
I drilled through the fenders and the plastic with the 7/64" drill bit before twisting in the screws.
Quote:
Originally Posted by daqcivic
Seriously impressed, especially the basjoos-style nose cone.
I've got a 92 DX sedan, so you're a great comparison. What's your commute like? I'm wondering not just about %city/hwy, but also topography and congestion, since these are the killers for me. My commute is 10mi each way, about 50city/50hwy, very heavy and unpredictable 2-lane city traffic, lots of lights, and a few considerable hills--plus a 220lb passenger, which makes a difference on such a light car. I've been getting high 40s on mostly commuting miles during the warmer weather, using P&G, EOC, DWL, all the usual techniques, but I can't crack 50 except on long hwy trips.
I have a few aero suggestions for you, which I could better describe if I take some updated pics: (1) increase the effectiveness of the rad intake by ducting the opening all the way to the face of the rad so you can make the intake smaller (not so big a deal in winter); (2) modify your tire deflectors by placing them further inward and pigeon-toeing them to face airflow as it bows out approaching the front underbody (as you have them they're deflecting air further out from the sides of the car than necessary); (3) add to the undertray between the axles, from the frame rails on either side of the exhaust tunnel to the rocker panel covers; (4) add a large rear undertray piece from the fuel tank to the bumper cover, extending it past the bumper several inches (the angle is nearly perfect for minimizing wake area while maintaining attached flow). This last mod has helped my hwy coasting distances more than any other.
One last question: do you P&G on the hwy, and if so, what's your technique?
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My normal commute to work is also about 10 mi. each way.
The commute is:
- Approx. 25% hwy, 75% city.
- Full/half tank of gas
- 1 Person, myself. 160 lbs.
- Fairly predictable light to medium traffic. Predictable maybe 70% of the time.
- The highway portion is up and down a hill (bridge).
- 7 traffic lights.
Employing P&G and EOC, driving only this route with the car, I averaged 57.11 mpg.
I kind of take the engine off thing to the ump-teenth degree, though. I shut the engine off whenever I can in addition to pulse and glide while still generally maintaining traffic speed. Since I have a DX, I don't have a tach. I never go more than half throttle. I shift in this manner: 1-2@15 mph, 2-3@25 mph, 3-4@35 mph, 4-5@45mph. I don't have any instrumentation yet, so I kind of feel for and watch the speedo to get into the throttle range where I apply the least throttle with moderate acceleration.
I've yet to actually go on any long highway trips with little city mileage. I have a week off from my night job this week, so I'm thinking about taking one this week though!
Thanks for the advice though! I'm planning on building a boattail for the civic soon. I need to get a garage to use for a while though. I don't have one and I've been doing a lot of this stuff in the street.
And yeah, definitely P&G on the highway. Like I said, I shut the engine off whenever I can. Not only at lights, but on every hill, every slow down, and with P&G.
What's this DWL you mentioned?