Quote:
Originally Posted by drmiller100
Hello,
I'm new to the site. I am building a reverse trike powered by a Honda Civic Engine (Dx 1500 to start with).
Cockpit is 33 inches wide, and enclosed.
Outside to Outside of front wheels will be 60 inches.
So on each side, will be 14 inches, with the front tires the outside 6 inches or so.
Leaves 8 inches by 26 inches tall "duct" on the inside of car, and outside of engine.
This is 210 square inches per side, or 410 total. which is 2.5 square feet.
I thought about bicycle fenders, but they look like crap In My Opinion. So, I want a hood over the top.
I am totally willing to leave gills at the back.
So, the question is: Am I better off to close off the front as tradition dictates, or put huge ducts through the car like this one does:
Another company to make a reverse trike? - Page 2 |
As early as the 1950s,Mercedes discovered that fully enclosing the wheels netted a better drag coefficient as compared with an exposed wheel 'monoposto' design,even with the increase in frontal area.
If you pull the body off the Cd 0.19 Olds AEROTECH and re-expose the wheels of the March INDYCAR underneath the drag coefficient degrades to about Cd 0.54.
I would have you consider a closed nose and gentle body plan taper exactly like GM did with Impact/EV 1.
You'll end up with enormous pods on each side but these will prevent any separation and you can use the interior space for groceries, luggage,or your mother in law.