Project: The Anal Probe

[Sven7]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Are there a few tufts stuck by the upper C-pillar? They're not pointing the "right" way, but they also don't appear to be moving.

Cool video! I love tuft testing videos.

Didn't even realize that! I imagine they got shut in the hatch or something?

Anyway I did an oil and filter change in the O'Reilly's parking lot today and therefore had to rip off my belly pans and front fairings. Used Valvoline Max Life 10W30 with a Wix filter btw.

So I'm going to probably make an air dam there and bolt it in. Quick question though- if I have an air dam should I still have a belly pan?

Otherwise I disconnected one of the linkages on each headlight mechanism so now they're down. However I've got to open the hood and reconnect them before turning them on. The price you pay for efficiency?

Also broke down and removed the rear seats entirely. Probably a good 75 lbs. or so!

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by Sven7

So I'm going to probably make an air dam there and bolt it in. Quick question though- if I have an air dam should I still have a belly pan?

I think so but will wait for those who are cool enough to have made such things.

Just wanted to tap that the many photos on this thread are really great. Will add a thanks where I can.

EDIT - I like your SAAB avatar.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by Sven7

Quick question though- if I have an air dam should I still have a belly pan?

You can combine both for best effect.

While a belly pan smooths out the airflow underneath a car, it's still far from perfect, and the air still has the bad effect of the nearby ground working against it.
So it still pays off to use an air dam to shove the air to the sides, rather than underneath.

If you make the air dam too low, you'll increase the frontal area and thereby drag (CdA), canceling out the effect of the air dam.


If you want to go the Full Monty, you can add boattails behind the wheels.

A fairing in front of the rear wheels could also help - or alternatively skirts filling the void between both wheels (and as wide as the wheels), then boattailing the rear wheels.
Take a look here :
aerocivic.com

It may look crude, but even then the results are impressive.
(Makes you wonder what it'd do if it was as smooth as a new car.)

Having the antenna inside the vehicle instead of sticking out in the breeze will also help a tiny bit

[Sven7]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

I think so but will wait for those who are cool enough to have made such things.

Just wanted to tap that the many photos on this thread are really great. Will add a thanks where I can.

EDIT - I like your SAAB avatar.

Thank you! You should see my Tatra picture collection

Originally Posted by euromodder

You can combine both for best effect.

While a belly pan smooths out the airflow underneath a car, it's still far from perfect, and the air still has the bad effect of the nearby ground working against it.
So it still pays off to use an air dam to shove the air to the sides, rather than underneath.

If you make the air dam too low, you'll increase the frontal area and thereby drag (CdA), canceling out the effect of the air dam.


If you want to go the Full Monty, you can add boattails behind the wheels.

A fairing in front of the rear wheels could also help - or alternatively skirts filling the void between both wheels (and as wide as the wheels), then boattailing the rear wheels.
Take a look here :
aerocivic.com
-image-
It may look crude, but even then the results are impressive.
(Makes you wonder what it'd do if it was as smooth as a new car.)

Having the antenna inside the vehicle instead of sticking out in the breeze will also help a tiny bit

Thanks! I'll probably do a smaller belly pan then if I have the time. I've been thinking about boattails behind the wheels but again, i'm running out of time before I leave for school.

I've perused the AeroCivic thread and it is very impressive. If I had enough time and money the Probe would start looking like that, but alas the most easy and effective things must come first. I'm going do make some wheel spoilers for the rears like these, then maybe maybe boat tails down the road.



Also, found some Probe V images for inspiration.

[Sven7]

Also, I'm just going to drop these here

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by Sven7

Anyway I did an oil and filter change in the O'Reilly's parking lot today and therefore had to rip off my belly pans and front fairings. Used Valvoline Max Life 10W30 with a Wix filter btw.

Access flaps. Cut the rectangular hole you need, then fasten a bit of Coroplast to cover it. It'd be a pity to be manually raising and lowering your headlights while giving up the belly pan that you've already made.

[Sven7]

I made an access flap for the drain plug but not for the filter. :facepalm:

Time for some updates.

Here's most of the stuff I pulled out of the car.

Seat bottom
Seat backs (2)
Rear interior panels with sound deadening(2)
Rear speakers (2, broken)
Steel brackets for panels (2)

As well as the spare tire cover, rear carpeting with sound deadening and seat belt buckles.


IMG_4218 by Tyler Linner [Ft. Corporate Insect Masters], on Flickr

Which leaves the rear of the car looking like this:


IMG_4216 by Tyler Linner [Ft. Corporate Insect Masters], on Flickr


IMG_4215 by Tyler Linner [Ft. Corporate Insect Masters], on Flickr

It's really not that much louder than stock. I still have to replace the belly pan (and make a new one that the exhaust won't melt) and make an air dam. Maybe tomorrow. I'm going to be busy packing for Friday.

IMG_4217 by Tyler Linner [Ft. Corporate Insect Masters], on Flickr

At about 316 miles now.

[320touring]

Congratulations on such a rapid and effective build!

I've been thinking re your lights-would a servo similar to that used on model aeroplanes give you the cranking motion required to raise/lower the lights?

probably a cheaper soolution than the new stock motors?

Could be operated from a switch on the dash

[Patrick]

What's that spare tire doing in there?

Any idea how much weight you've removed? Are you going to remove the passenger's seat?

[pletby]

Holy cow man! So much progress since I read this thread last. Keep up the good work!

I am inspired to go do stuff to my car now.