Aero mods on 06 civic

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by Bror Jace

c0da, looks good. I have the same car (2006 LX) and have been wondering where I could start with aero mods as most of my driving is on limited-access highways and I could probably see a benefit.

My big concern is making things that don't make my late-model car (with less than 20K miles) look like a home-made P.O.S. I applaud guys with 10 year old cars that aren't afraid to bolt on skirts they cut with a pair of scissors, etc ... but I just can't do that to my new baby Civic.

If you make a piece to block off the bottom, I'd make several of the same ones and consider some openings in the middle to let some air through. Maybe make one with small openings totaling 25 square inches ... another 50 square inches, etc ... Making the template (properly) is probably going to be the largest chunk of your time ... multiple copies should be light work.

On most Hondas I've owned, the temp gauge is VERY stable and predictable. Any changes which adversely affect the cooling should be easily noticeable as long as you monitor the temp gauge.

I'm waiting for some innovative company to come out with an aero kit for these cars ... solid front wheel covers, rear wheel well skirts and a more efficient front splitter that bolts on underneath the front fender cover.

I made a MS Paint image of what I'm thinking of:

I like your MS Paint image.I did want to share with you that Bondo had lowered the airdam on his F-150 and lost a mile per gallon.When he re-sized it,even with the bottom of the undercarriage,the mileage came back.

[Bror Jace]

aerohead, thanks for your feedback.

Yes, looking at that image again, I can see how hanging a larger front lip on the car might catch more air that would ordinarily pass harmlessly beneath the car.

We debate on this site about aero on the upper surfaces of the car, the undertray is even a bigger mystery.

If that is the case, the aero kit I desire just became a third more simple to produce.

[PolyOlefin]

Have you thought about purchasing the Civic Hybrid's wheels? They're pretty darn efficient, though far more expensive than using wheel covers. But perhaps by selling your current wheels on eBay you could recoup a portion of the cost.

[johnpr]

i originally wanted the hybrid wheels but found 1 issue. they have a 4 lug pattern while (at least the coupes) have a 5 lug pattern. i was very disappointed when i found this out.

[Bror Jace]

The hybrid rims are a possibility ... but they would be outrageously expensive unless I could get a couple from a junkyard.

And as for the 4/5 lug deal ... a 2006+ hybrid uses a 4 lug hub? That's odd. I know the older Civics did.

[johnpr]

the wheels i found where the current style but had only 4 lugs, i thought it was odd that they wouldnt use the same setup so as to limit the amount of different parts being produced and increase interchangeability. i dont know how long they have been using the current style wheel, maybe they are older than i thought

[Bror Jace]

I Googled up a bunch of images to see if I could veriufy this one way or another ... but they have a cover that hides the lugs.

Edmunds didn't give the bolt pattern either.

[johnpr]

i searched for images before i posted last to see if i couldnt find one, the last one i had found was on e-bay and was listed as being off a 2006. alas i didnt bother saving the pic because i knew i wouldnt waste the time/money on an adapter or redrilling the rim

[KJSatz]

Looks like they have a 5 bolt pattern based on the image from this auction. The first gen civic hybrids had a 4 bolt pattern, however. It also makes sense...I know in Canada a lot of dealers would put the hybrid wheels on LXs for example.

2006 civic hybrid wheel:eBay Motors (item 330218279888 end time Jun-01-09 19:06:20 PDT)
http://i13.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/e0/03/cd7b_1.JPG

I know this might be a major resurrection but as an 8thcivic owner I am interested in these projects...for example, how are the mods treating the people who have done them?