5th generation civic hatchback - improving aerodynamics

[2003protege]

BOAT TAIL!??!?!!? YYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
we are not worthy!
*quits forum*

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

I see there are a few sharp-eyed folks that have noticed the missing pizza-pans. They fell victim to a particularly fast decent of the switchbacking highway out of Yosemite national park.

I need to get another pair, but I've been busy with other (boattail) stuff

Haven't had time for coastdown testing yet, but that'll be on the to-do list. Just gotta find a nice long flat stretch of road.

Andrew,is there any truth to the rumor that GM VOLT guys have been driving back and forth past you house videographing the CRX? Looks great! You can tell your neighbors that the tail is to store all the extra cash you have from fuel savings.The "money-back".Or was that "profit-curve"? Oh yeah,"cash-back."

[Funny]

Originally Posted by aerohead

Andrew,is there any truth to the rumor that GM VOLT guys have been driving back and forth past you house videographing the CRX? Looks great!

The car companies should start taking a few pages from our notebooks and get some serious mileage gains. They're the ones with access to the Computer software for designing mass producible vehicles, they should be thinking this stuff up.

Originally Posted by aerohead

You can tell your neighbors that the tail is to store all the extra cash you have from fuel savings.The "money-back".Or was that "profit-curve"? Oh yeah,"cash-back."

= Funny as hell

[2003protege]

So what type of sheet metal did you use for this? What did the overall cost for the boat tail come to?

[AndrewJ]

I used 2 sheets of 4'x8' 28 gauge galvanized sheet metal. I also ended up using 16-24' of 1"x1/8" steel bar stock for the skeleton.

With paint, caulk, rivets, plexi and lights I'd say it came in at about $150.

I still have a little sorting out to do with the rear taillights/turn-signals, but that shouldn't add more than another $20 to the tab.

[Abner]

Originally Posted by Vince-HX

Great job, its looks really really good

It´s really beautifull, I love your modded car

Nice job!!!

[Sean T.]

Wow!!!!!! WAAAAAAYYYYY totally awesome!

[Chris D.]

hey Andrew, what material are you using for the boat tails skin?

Also, California plates but located in Columbia, MO?

I'm rocking California plates in MN, but I think that makes people drive more aggressive aroudn me (dam tourists)

Ya mite want to think about sealing up that wood with some fiberglass or paint of some sort before the rain starts hitting ya.. warp city..

Looks clean.. get some LED versions of those tails and you'll look modern at night

"What kind of kit car is that?"
I'd love to see hatch opened pictures inside and out if you could..

also, hows it all sealed up from weather?
have you noticed alot more road noise with this setup?

looks killer!

[2003protege]

I think the cobra copied the Aerocivic Junior!!!!!!!!!



Curse you, Carol Shelby, you time travelling mad man!!!!!!

[dynochris1]

hey AndrewJ thanks for being brave enough to drive around a civic that extreme and be proud i will be honest i copied a lil of ur work but im not yet brave enough for the boat tail especially since mine is a 2 door but using your front air dam and rear belly pan i went from approx. 28 mpg avg. to 37-38 mpg avg. over many tanks and to be fair my commute is like 80 MPH on the highway the whole time just wanted to thank you for your inspiration and bravery ("BALLS") to say screw the rest and persue a goal.