$2.50 Wheel Skirts

[gascort]

I'm on the first aero mod... I made sure to make it cheap and removable so I can do testing to determine its influence on my FE when I have a dependable daily commute.
I used sheetrock corner-brace, some recycled coroplast campaign signs, sheet metal screws, washers, and duct tape. Paint will come later.

As for the poll, I'm trying to decide... paint the skirts white and put the ecomodder.com decals on them (to make the decals stand out), or green to match the car?
More details than you'd ever want to know about what I did are on my blog, along with more pictures.
Matt

[ebacherville]

nice !! love the scort wagons!

[Bror Jace]

gascort, love the cheapie skirts!

Still, I think you should have sunk another $0.99 into them and spray-painted them black first.

Maybe I'll score some free plastic once the lawn signs come out in front of the coming election.

[Bror Jace]

Hey, I just looked again, why haven't you deleted the roof rack, yet?

[gascort]

I can't find my ecomodder.com decal though! I should've installed it the minute it arrived here. Hopefully it turns up in the next day or two.
I also finished a bit more... pics here and on my blog! I'm still planning on taking all of this off in August when I start work (teaching) again, so I can compare FE scientifically.
Pictures: Front end factory, then modded, then the whole car. Yes, I'm planning on trimming the front block up tomorrow.
Matt

[gascort]

Originally Posted by Bror Jace

Hey, I just looked again, why haven't you deleted the roof rack, yet?

I'm going to have to fill in some holes and I want to get data on exactly how much the removal affects my FE. I don't want to take it off, then reinstall, then take it off again.
Have no fear, my friend. I've already removed the headliner and loosened all the bolts - she's ready to be destroyed!!!

Oh, and the black ended up not being necessary - Krylon Fusion plastic paint is incredible!

[ebacherville]

you have to camm back that thing!!, wow, looking great !!

[mhmitszach]

Wow. Having the fold at the back makes it much easier then trying to make the whole thing curved. Def going to give wheel skirts a chance again.

Just not really feeling screwing into body, so I'm going to have to try some other ideas.

Friend suggested .... using that mesh fiberglass that hardens when you put whatever on it. Sorry, forgot exact names. But having that go on inside lip of wheel well and around to coroplast.

[gascort]

Originally Posted by mhmitszach

Wow. Having the fold at the back makes it much easier then trying to make the whole thing curved. Def going to give wheel skirts a chance again.
Just not really feeling screwing into body, so I'm going to have to try some other ideas.
Friend suggested .... using that mesh fiberglass that hardens when you put whatever on it. Sorry, forgot exact names. But having that go on inside lip of wheel well and around to coroplast.

Believe me, I would never have done this to my mustang, but I bought this car for fuel economy experimentation only, so I'm not worried about damaging it.
I think you're referring to fiberglass and hardener, or bondo, to do your wheel. I might try to make a fiberglass shell based off the skirts (using them as a mold or form) later, depending on how long the coroplast and duct tape last.
I also noticed yesterday that I can take the wheels off without removing the skirts - should just have to remove the bottom two screws and lift the car up by the body, and the wheel and tire should come free. Loosening the lug nuts without having the tire on the ground will be the real trick.

Did I hear Coroplast Cammback? Oh yes, but I don't think I'm going to make it today. I need to figure out how it will work at the top of the hatch (my hatch top slides below the roof level when it's lifted - I need to look at Andrew's civic design again and see if he had the same issue.)
Matt

[Bror Jace]

Yes, green looks better than black. I'll have to see if they have a dark blue that will closely match my blue Civic.

I'm thinking of mocking up something on my '06 Civic using coat hangar wire and cardboard. If it it works, I'll try the same thing using sturdier materials.

Problem is, even if I paint the cardboard on both sides, one rainstorm will probably ruin them.

As for the roof rack, I'd use RTV to seal the holes. Will seal well, can last a long time and if you have to remove it, well, any screw or bolt can work its way through the stuff no problem.