Aero RV Belly Pan(s)

[orbywan]

Originally Posted by aerohead

How about Vanna White,she'd be a natural!

That works for me.

[orbywan]

Pan 8 is in, will need some trimming but it’s done for tonight. Decided to use a straight ramp going down to the differential level on this side, instead of the concave ramp I used on pan 7. I like it a lot better and I think the air will like it better so tomorrow I’ll re-do pan 7 the same way.

Cut some 4X4’s and picked up the rear of the vehicle a little so I don’t completely destroy my neck. With it up higher in the air I could see the level of the gas tank behind the differential. The air will now go from the coroplast, past the rear axle, and then arrive at the gas tank at the same elevation as it left the coroplast. Ramp 7 was quite a bit above the level of the gas tank so it would have to go from the coroplast, go past the rear axle, then drop down about 2 inches to the gas tank level and continue on back. I think this will allow for much smoother airflow. There’s some uneven areas by the duallies, but I think I can blend that in when I build the wheel fairings.

Tomorrow I’ll redo pan 7 and start on the transition from the rear side of the differential back to pan #10. The critical area will be going from the gas tank level back up to pan #10 at the rear, which is about 3 inches above the gas tank level. That area is a pain to get to, but it’s the last one! Yeah!

[aerohead]

She's lookin' like a Ferrari underneath there!

[orbywan]

Originally Posted by aerohead

She's lookin' like a Ferrari underneath there!

Thanks, it's not as slick as yours but you have a few years of experience on me. Your truck and trailer look like they are coming along nicely, I hope things cooperate and you get ready to go without working till 3 in the morning like I usually do. I hope it all works fabulously.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by orbywan

Thanks, it's not as slick as yours but you have a few years of experience on me. Your truck and trailer look like they are coming along nicely, I hope things cooperate and you get ready to go without working till 3 in the morning like I usually do. I hope it all works fabulously.

Sometimes I literally shot the top coat,cleaned the spray gun and drove away on a 2-week roadtest with the paint still drying on the project.
I feel like I'm too old for that sort of thing,but I just never know what it will take to 'complete' something.
I do take comfort in reading that some of the major design houses will do all-nighters before a major international car show,with no sleep for designer or crew.

[orbywan]

Originally Posted by aerohead

Sometimes I literally shot the top coat,cleaned the spray gun and drove away on a 2-week roadtest with the paint still drying on the project.
I feel like I'm too old for that sort of thing,but I just never know what it will take to 'complete' something.
I do take comfort in reading that some of the major design houses will do all-nighters before a major international car show,with no sleep for designer or crew.

Ha. Yes, I've been there once or twice. I've got the rest of this weekend to finish this belly pan, then it goes out the door whether it's done or not. It's been taking up my main service bay for way too long. The wheel fairings and other will have to wait until business slows down and the weather cools off. I'm tired of losing weight the hard way. I've got some killer abs from getting up and down from that creeper about a thousand times, though.

[orbywan]

So, I adjusted pan 8, and completely rebuilt pan 7, photos are below. If you’re tired of seeing belly pan photos you’re not alone, I can’t wait to get this finished!

Tomorrow we’ll join the rear of the differential with pan 9, which will transition into pan 10, which was installed when the boat tail was built. That area is a pain to get to, but it’s the last one! Yeah!

[orbywan]

Pan 9 is in, yeah!!! Not a moment too soon. I still have to go back and do some venting for the exhaust, and the wheel wells are pretty rough but I think it’s time to make a test run or two and see how it does. Improving the looks doesn’t do any good for mileage necessarily, but we sure covered up a bunch of butt ugly.

When time and energy permits I’m going to fabricate an articulated cover for the drive shaft opening that is spring loaded and rests on the pan surface. If the rear suspension goes up, nothing will happen, the cover will remain at rest on the main cover. If the rear suspension drops, the differential center will contact a rubber bumper on the cover, and the cover will drop with the differential. When the diff goes back into place the springs will pull the cover back to the main pan surface. I’m going to do that because I think the driveshaft opening is going to let a ton of air into the space between the body and the pans at the back and I’m guessing that’s not good.

I still have to move the pan and tilt camera to the new back wall, and install some running lights up high so it’s DOT legal. The wind hardly ever dies down completely here this time of year so it may be a week or so before I can do some testing.

I think I’m going to wait to install a front air dam until after the first test. I started this July 31st and it’s Aug 20th so it took three weeks of my spare time and about $250 worth of materials. Was it worth it? Hopefully it will be fun to find out the answer to that question.

[KamperBob]

Orbywan, I love your project. Just wondering how big are washers under screw heads.

[orbywan]

Originally Posted by KamperBob

Orbywan, I love your project. Just wondering how big are washers under screw heads.

Thanks. There are no washers under the screw heads. I'm curious to know if they are necessary so I'm leaving them off for now. I can always add them later.