about to get real aero dynamic

[Sven7]

Looks beastly too. Now do rear skirts and smooth wheel covers!

[WesternStarSCR]

Originally Posted by mcrews

What I am being to realize is that 'everything has a reason'.
While my spats point inward another car may point out.

As I stated a while back in other thread, the actually are engineers at these manufacturers who are earing their degrees. Some times it's just more obvious than others.

I have been wondering same thing, I decided on a compromise. I thought the Mercedes ML 350 (some models / recent year at least) has good factory spats. They seem to, at a minimum, keep the air off of front of tire, and they curve and taper inwards. Maybe a bit out too.

I mounted plastic PEX bend supports just in front of the front tires. Grainger item # 10A675.

I will be mounting lawn edging, maybe 2 or 3 inches down, in them using zip ties. Since it is 90 deg. curved, I angled them so they are pointing a bit back, not straight out the side. So I will have some air curved out into the side, and some inwards past my lower control arm.

I agree, without resources the aero engineers have, I am going on what SEEMS to work for other designs, and felt that getting air off of tire is good. I do not have a clean underside, so i figure some air each way is better then not.

2004 Malibu Maxx. Left front wheel well

[Jakins]

Hmm ok, I have not seen a spat like that. I think I might make them on the inside to try and angle the air away from the hole in my Bally pla that is cut out for steering. It seems like even though my car is low, having spats is better then not having spats. And it will be easy and fun to make. Soon once I aquier more signs. Ill finish off my belly pan. Even if these things make a small difference it is better then not Doing It at all. And seeing as my car likes to be driven around 60-75 good aero is goin to be important.

I'm thinking ill do some wheel skirts for my Arizona Vegas trip but I won't make them permanent. My friend is really pushing me to put them on. Ill have to figure out a way to mount them without using duct tape on my paint. AND I got a trunk for the trip for free that i am building into an aero bike rack and I can maybe build a boat tail on!

[WesternStarSCR]

I will have to take better pics of the complete front view with them mounted, but this may help.

Essentially curved air dams in front of tire, like the Vibe, but a bit bigger left to right, and they come down a bit further.

ML350 - Look just in front of right front tire... I have seen them in person, they curve under the car and taper up a tad.




My Maxx splash shield mounting area... prior to install





Good luck, have fun, be safe.

[Jakins]

That's what mcrews spats look like. I'm starting to think the engineers put it like that to help the wind clear the lower control arms and stuff (because that's a tall SUV a lot of it is exposed) Seeing as mine are covered now (and they are slanted up because its low anyways) I might just do a really small one like vibe to help with the tires. I still havnt slide code which direction in or out I want to go. Has anyone noticed some nice gains from shaving one of their wing mirrors?

[Varn]

Perhaps you might edit out your political comments. It's off topic.

[Jakins]

Sorry I didn't know it was so offensive. I just need signs. I don't care care who's name is on them haha.

Do you guys think my front lip is big/ low enough? Or do I need to go with a larger lawn edging?

[WesternStarSCR]

Originally Posted by Jakins

That's what mcrews spats look like. I'm starting to think the engineers put it like that to help the wind clear the lower control arms and stuff

Installed pic of the ML 350 style spat on my Maxx. Not trying to hijack your thread... just sharing what i am trying. Still have to do right side... good luck on all your mods.

[Jakins]

Nice that thing looks factory, the other thing that style spat would do is clear the hole in the belly pan that is cut out for steering.

Ok so I hit the jackpot on signs last night! I got 7 of the huge 8x4 or whatever they are. So now I can make a full belly pan for my car and probably at least 4 others lol. Really really excited. Idk if it was because of my new mpguino or my new front skid plate but I'm averaging like 4 mpg better AT LEAST right now. Ill have to fill up to be sure.

On a side off topic note. My dad has an ex civic same year as mine (crappy ex transmission) with a jdm d15b that I swapped in for him (converted the car to 1.5L non vtec) and he drives all over the state every day for his job and he is getting 41 mpg despite the fact he sucks at driving haha. But his car is all stock and ready for ecomodding so ill probably build him a belly pan too if he is nice and see what happens. Lots of potential.

[Jakins]

So my friend has these wheels that are the same lug pattern as my civic. I feel like I can make these smoothe pretty easy, or at least they are more aero dynamic then my HX wheels. And they have a lower offset so the will be closser to the fender. Plus they are 2% taller then mine. But they are 195 rather than 185. What do yall think?

http://forums.bimmerclassics.com/att...btlcap-rim.jpg