I got underneath the truck recently and removed the forward 3-sections of bellypan for scheduled oil and filter.
I took the opportunity to reconnoiter the driveshaft safety loop install.With a peek underneath,I realized that the front seat would have to come out,and that would allow the switchover to the seat frame/racing seat/racing harness.
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I pulled the seat ( now it's the cats ),measured,marked,and drilled the cabin floor for the Summit Racing' driveshaft safety loop,and assembled/installed the loop.
I swapped to the new ( recycled) T-100 seat frame which of course,just bolted right in.Onto that went the blow-molded racing seat ( recycled ).And this allowed reconnoitering of the Simpson Racing 5-point harness ( recycled ).
A subframe is in the works,which will allow attach points for the fire-extinguisher,GPS,Airspeed indicator,and parachute release mechanism.
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I constructed a 'Gap-Seal', from SAE Papers #s 801402 and 801403,by McDonald & Palmer of Purdue University,and Berta & Boris of FIAT.
It's a simple panel which spans the longitudinal gap between tailgate and prizmatic trailer nose ( this is not the gap-fillers,which are still in the works ).
I used some aluminum extrusion C-Section and flat stock,plus some of the polyurethane floor pad material,machine screws,nylock nuts,a few machine screws and fastnuts.
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This morning,the winds were forecast to be light,so I did 2-runs,back to back,without,and then with air conditioning.
It was the same 104-mile round-trip as test#2.
* Baro :29.98"-30.01"-29.99"
* R.H.: 67%-38%-38%
* Wind: S-3 mph,S-W 7,S-15
*Temp: 84 F-90F-95F
* Target speed : 65 mph
* Elevation 683' - 934' maximum
* Road temp: 88F- 115F
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RUN# 3
I pulled 31.44 mpg w/o AC
Moving ave.= 62 mph
Max speed ( passing) 71 mph
Airspeed: 62- 78 mph
Cabin Temp: 84F-104F
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RUN# 4
26.510 mpg
Moving ave.= 58 mph ( holiday gridlock over 7-miles of construction zone)
Max speed ( passing ) 73 mph
Airspeed: 58-88 mph
Cabin: air conditioned full-time
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I didn't come close to RUN # 2,however the absence of the forward section of the bellypan ( it will be off until September ) would negate the presence of what was left on the truck.
The 1.8 mpg difference on # 3 is in range of the contribution lost by the missing pan.
The 6.73 mpg difference with RUN #4 may be explained as follows:
* 7 miles of traffic
* full-time air conditioning ( I never test with AC )
* defeated bellypan
* 15 mph headwind on return leg ( 80 mph airspeed ) with passing bursts to 88 mph
NOTE: From the vehicle logbook,from April,2008 and September,2009,the T-100 returned between 26.369-26.767 mpg @ 80 mph,when tested in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas.
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SAE's 'Gap-Seal' demonstrated a 4% drag reduction on a semi-trailer.This would equate to a little over 2% mpg,which could easily be lost in the 'noise' of real world testing.
I'll retest with the pan sometime.I'm not discouraged.The more data the better and it's good to get all the seat time I can get pulling the trailer.
I would like to be acquainted with all its idiosyncrasies before I head out to Utah.
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PS,my workmate flew out to Europe for a 3-week tour blowing trumpet for the Blues brother's Band.I'll get the 3-weeks to blow low drag into the rig.
