Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Grill Block and Under Belly Skirt Aero Mods

shiba · 05-10-2010, 12:57 AM

So i'm planning on entering a MPG challenge this summer; the one at hybridfest, or whatever the new name is called, i'd assume some of you are familiar with this...which is the motivation behind these two mods.

All winter long i had some pink insulation foam blocking the front grill on my 98 tercel, and some plexiglass blocking the lower grill on the front bumper. Since its getting warmer out, I decided to remove the pink foam...plus i heard the radiator fan turn on one day when i pulled in my garage for the first time since i've owned the car.. From some motivation from a friend from our local EV car club, he mentioned another possible way that people do, so i thought i'd give it a try.

See pictures on my blog here.

you can still see one line of the pink foam, left it in there because it was the only full piece that had not fallen out/cracked...

What I really want to accomplish is eliminate as much aerodynamic drag from under the car as possible...with out going crazy.. apparently it is a bad zone for the car..

For pictures of my current cardboard mock-up, check here on my website: Index of /toyota/aero/underbelly

I'm planning on making it out of corrogated plastic/corroplast.. I'd like to know what you think about how far away from the exhaust system i need to keep the plastic; i'm obviously going to not cover it, but just go around..

Thanks!!
~Shiba

P.S. i got this crazy idea at about 4am this morning reading someone else's post on this, i think for an infinity? Not sure, but hey, its another project

and it it helps any...then its worth the few $ for the plastic

05-10-2010, 12:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
shiba EcoModding Lurker Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 31 Shiba's Tercel - '98 Toyota Tercel CE 90 day: 63.84 mpg (US) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Grill Block and Under Belly Skirt Aero Mods So i'm planning on entering a MPG challenge this summer; the one at hybridfest, or whatever the new name is called, i'd assume some of you are familiar with this...which is the motivation behind these two mods. All winter long i had some pink insulation foam blocking the front grill on my 98 tercel, and some plexiglass blocking the lower grill on the front bumper. Since its getting warmer out, I decided to remove the pink foam...plus i heard the radiator fan turn on one day when i pulled in my garage for the first time since i've owned the car.. From some motivation from a friend from our local EV car club, he mentioned another possible way that people do, so i thought i'd give it a try. See pictures on my blog here. you can still see one line of the pink foam, left it in there because it was the only full piece that had not fallen out/cracked... What I really want to accomplish is eliminate as much aerodynamic drag from under the car as possible...with out going crazy.. apparently it is a bad zone for the car.. For pictures of my current cardboard mock-up, check here on my website: Index of /toyota/aero/underbelly I'm planning on making it out of corrogated plastic/corroplast.. I'd like to know what you think about how far away from the exhaust system i need to keep the plastic; i'm obviously going to not cover it, but just go around.. Thanks!! ~Shiba P.S. i got this crazy idea at about 4am this morning reading someone else's post on this, i think for an infinity? Not sure, but hey, its another project and it it helps any...then its worth the few $ for the plastic Last edited by Daox; 05-10-2010 at 03:45 PM..