35 MPG 1966 Chevelle

[Sven7]

There's your 35-40mpg aero package. With a 0.5 Cd and a 30mpg V6, you'll probably have to drop Cd by 40% to even hope for 35mpg on the highway. Start adding up the mods...

I think if you had the money and will, you could get a rear window made in the style of the first gen Barracuda that would come close to the aero template (ghosted). With generous radii and some care, it might even keep your flow attached. Even if it's just close, it will improve your aero a lot. But for sure, do the air dam, grille block and belly pan. If no window, try to find a spoiler that sticks up enough to touch that aero template.

Cool project!

Edit: you might even consider vacuum forming a custom headlight/grille cover in the vein of the 70's Celica racing parts... It would help aero quite a bit and look super cool.



Another pic

[67-ls1]

Sven7,
Wow! That is a very cool rendition of an aero 66 Chevelle.
Unfortunetly, mine will not be near as aero as your drawing. I can do the front air dam and grill block and even the side skirts, but the rear glass is not in the budget/skill level.
I did see recently that on Smokey Yunick's 1967 Chevelle he had installed vent flaps just behind the rear window glass, forward of the trunk lid seam. I'm not sure if this was to vent the interior or vent from underneath the car, but he was dumping air into this low pressure area from somewhere.
I might be able to sneak in tricks like that.
Dennis

[66-malibu]

Cool project. I have considered the camaro v6 for my 66 malibu also. I am interested to see final mpg numbers. I may have some questions in the future if you don't mind. Good luck! Thanks.

[Frank Lee]

I think if you had the money and will, you could get a rear window made in the style of the first gen Barracuda that would come close to the aero template (ghosted).

Or get a Barracuda.

Heart that Toyota! But the "widebody" flares are not our aero friends... too bad!

[Frank Lee]

I wonder if an XR4Ti type spoiler could be functional and look decent?

[elhigh]

I thought you have a snowball's chance in hell of actually achieving your stated goal, but then I saw the line "I installed the body to check the transmission clearance." That's a pretty big job just to see whether things bump into each other, and the nonchalance with which you drop the line makes me think you are one serious gearhead.

Dropping a mountain of weight with the new mill. Gaining huge flexibility with the new gearbox. Spend a fair amount of time with hidden aero mods (the underside of your Chevelle looks like my face, circa HS junior year) and I think you have a shot.

I'm going to go back and reread this entire thread, I've only skimmed so far. Fascinating, and subscribed.

[67-ls1]

Yeah, the more I follow this the more I get concerned about the aero aspect of my project. Looking at it from the front and below, it is anything but smooth. I will add an air dam to the front and try to close up the grill as best I can without cooling problems. I don't think a belly pan is in the cards given everything that is under there, so I will concentrate on keeping as much air out as I can.
Has anyone ever "vented" the under car area?

[67-ls1]

Fyi, I came across this forum about aerodynamics over at protouring.com
I know this more about racing than MPG, but still, Fascinating reading.

Designing Aerodynamics for Track Performance

[Hypermiler1995]

Originally Posted by 67-ls1

Yeah, the more I follow this the more I get concerned about the aero aspect of my project. Looking at it from the front and below, it is anything but smooth. I will add an air dam to the front and try to close up the grill as best I can without cooling problems. I don't think a belly pan is in the cards given everything that is under there, so I will concentrate on keeping as much aid out as I can.

Be sure to add a lip onto the air dam, as it would force air to go off the sides of the air dam and would keep the air from going under, very important if you don't use a belly pan (though I would if I were you).

You can also consider a mirror delete, and maybe some small kamm pieces on the trunk, and maybe the top of the back window, you could try VGs here too (test it though).

[67-ls1]

I saw the vortex generators but they would definetly not fit in with the classic look.
I will add an lip yo the bottom of the air dam.
Thank