Go Back   EcoModder Forum > Introductions
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 10-24-2010, 08:56 PM   #1 (permalink)
MPGuino Supporter
 
t vago's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Hungary
Posts: 1,807

iNXS - '10 Opel Zafira 111 Anniversary

Suzi - '02 Suzuki Swift GL
Thanks: 828
Thanked 708 Times in 456 Posts
2000 Fiat Dakota Quad Cab

Hi, all!

My name is Tom, and I own a 2000 Fiat (was Dodge) Dakota Quad Cab. I am looking to make it more fuel efficient, as it is my daily driver.

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 10-24-2010, 08:56 PM   #2 (permalink)
MPGuino Supporter
 
t vago's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Hungary
Posts: 1,807

iNXS - '10 Opel Zafira 111 Anniversary

Suzi - '02 Suzuki Swift GL
Thanks: 828
Thanked 708 Times in 456 Posts
I guess I need to post 5 threads before I can post pictures, so...
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2010, 08:57 PM   #3 (permalink)
MPGuino Supporter
 
t vago's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Hungary
Posts: 1,807

iNXS - '10 Opel Zafira 111 Anniversary

Suzi - '02 Suzuki Swift GL
Thanks: 828
Thanked 708 Times in 456 Posts
Three...
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2010, 08:57 PM   #4 (permalink)
MPGuino Supporter
 
t vago's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Hungary
Posts: 1,807

iNXS - '10 Opel Zafira 111 Anniversary

Suzi - '02 Suzuki Swift GL
Thanks: 828
Thanked 708 Times in 456 Posts
Two...
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2010, 08:58 PM   #5 (permalink)
MPGuino Supporter
 
t vago's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Hungary
Posts: 1,807

iNXS - '10 Opel Zafira 111 Anniversary

Suzi - '02 Suzuki Swift GL
Thanks: 828
Thanked 708 Times in 456 Posts
One...
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2010, 09:01 PM   #6 (permalink)
MPGuino Supporter
 
t vago's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Hungary
Posts: 1,807

iNXS - '10 Opel Zafira 111 Anniversary

Suzi - '02 Suzuki Swift GL
Thanks: 828
Thanked 708 Times in 456 Posts
Here is a picture of my handiwork to date. I started building this thing back on Columbus Day, and I got the inspiration from this very board.

Skeleton


Side view, right-hand side


Side view, front facing rear


Rear view


I used Owens-Corning FoamulaR 1 inch boards for the frame, and 1/4 inch FoamulaR sheeting for the skin. I got a gain of 1 MPG with it so far, and would have gotten more if I hadn't been so heavy with the gas foot.

I would like to coat it with something to protect it against the elements. Any ideas?
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2010, 10:03 PM   #7 (permalink)
Do more with less
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: North Eastern Missouri
Posts: 930

OD - '05 Ford Econoline
90 day: 18.64 mpg (US)

Joetta - '86 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Oil Burner
TEAM VW AUDI Group
90 day: 49.71 mpg (US)

Benzilla - '85 Mercedes Benz 300D
90 day: 28.08 mpg (US)
Thanks: 66
Thanked 177 Times in 112 Posts
Yeah nice shape. Get some fiberglass cloth. a gallon kit of epoxy. Fiberglass , Epoxy , Composites, Carbon Fiber - U.S. Composites, Inc. or other supplier.

Lightly spray the pink board with super 77 spray and lay on a layer of dry fiberglass. I would do it in pieces. Mix your epoxy and paint it on the fiberglass cloth which is glued to the pink board. You can tell that the layer is wet out when the fiberglass cloth becomes clear. Use disposable brushes. Consider covering the wet layup with strips of rip stop nylon particularly over seams.

Once cured the rip stop can be peeled off and you have an ideal surface for a secondary layup.

I would do a single layer at a time to lessen warpage. Make sure that you have the fairing taped down. Duct tape is an excellent mold release.
__________________
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it.” George Orwell

“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe.

The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed.”

Noah Webster, 1787
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Varn For This Useful Post:
t vago (10-26-2010)
Old 10-25-2010, 10:48 AM   #8 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
euromodder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Belgium
Posts: 4,683

The SCUD - '15 Fiat Scudo L2
Thanks: 178
Thanked 652 Times in 516 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by t vago View Post
Here is a picture of my handiwork to date. I started building this thing back on Columbus Day, and I got the inspiration from this very board.
That's not bad as an intro !

It seems highly flexible, which of the Foamular products is it ?
__________________
Strayed to the Dark Diesel Side

  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to euromodder For This Useful Post:
t vago (10-26-2010)
Old 10-25-2010, 04:02 PM   #9 (permalink)
PSmodder lurker
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Chino
Posts: 1,605
Thanks: 26
Thanked 908 Times in 522 Posts
Strong Daytona prototype/closed coupe genes. Their regulation wide windshields & high metal roll cages, instead of expensive composite tubs, necessitated cleaner fastback tapers.
Still, a very aggressive aero look. Nice.
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to botsapper For This Useful Post:
t vago (10-26-2010)
Old 10-26-2010, 11:56 AM   #10 (permalink)
MPGuino Supporter
 
t vago's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Hungary
Posts: 1,807

iNXS - '10 Opel Zafira 111 Anniversary

Suzi - '02 Suzuki Swift GL
Thanks: 828
Thanked 708 Times in 456 Posts
Thanks for all of the info and props. I will experiment with the fiberglass once I receive it.

The frame was made from 3 each Owens Corning FoamulaR F150 1" x 48" x 96" tongue and groove foam sheets. The skin was made from 1 each FoamulaR 1/4" by 48" by 50 foot fanfold foam sheeting. I still have some of each type of material left over (about 1/2 of the fanfold sheeting) left.

The fastback style was dictated mostly by the side shaping of the quad cab itself. I had originally planned for a cover that looked like what was in the Naval Post-Grad School paper I found on this board, but I then made a closer inspection of the sides of the cab, and discovered that the sides of the cab tapered inward at about a 20 degree angle. It was a bit of a challenge to get the correct shapes for the ribs, and I ended up using an Excel spreadsheet to calculate the rough width/height for each rib.

  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to t vago For This Useful Post:
bikin' Ed (10-27-2010), euromodder (10-26-2010)
Reply  Post New Thread


Tags
aero, aerocap, bed, dakota, dodge

Thread Tools


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
2000 Dakota aux fan problem Andy50 DIY / How-to 1 09-29-2010 11:46 AM
Some engineer types discuss ecomodding options for a 2004 quad cab Dodge 2500 pickup MetroMPG EcoModding Central 7 11-09-2009 11:30 PM



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com