Aerodynamic tests and modifications on the MR-2 Spyder

[freebeard]

My roof is aluminum and I can hear squirrel's scampering around overhead.

I used to live next to a quarter-acre of corrugated steel roof, and when it rained I'd open the window and listen to the chiming sound.

Why do you want metal instead of Tesla's non-solar glass tiles? AFAIK cheaper, and better impact resistance.

[Autobahnschleicher]

The underside of my car is just a layer of sheetmetal anyway, so I figured it wouldn't get any worse with another layer of it.
Anyway, whatever material I pic, it needs to hold up to speed as well as salt and I need to be able to remove it relatively easy for oilchanges and inspections.
Good thing is, my car has plenty of great mounting points, so I likely won't need to fabricate much of a frame for it.

[Autobahnschleicher]

This tank will likely be less efficient than the previous one for the first time since I started tracking.
Finaly good weather has arrived in germany, so I'm having a little fun with the top down.
And top down+higher speeds+using brakes more is not that fuel efficient.

[Autobahnschleicher]

Not exactly increasing my fuel efficiency, but I've restored my headlights.
They where realy yellow and hazy, wich looked terrible and the haze caused some glare as well as weak headlights.
Sanded them down, polished them, primered them, clearcoated them, sanded them and polished them again.
Looks almost like new now.

[Autobahnschleicher]

Let's ressurect this:
I've paused further modifications for a while, however as I'm driving my car more recently, I'll try squeezing out a bit more fuel efficiency again.
Next up:
Partial grill-block tests.
I will close up the frontand side air intakes using duct tape for testing this weekend and try wiring in an indicator light for the radiator fan.
(or unplug it and have an eye on the temperature gauge)
In this car duct tape is a reasonable option as:
1. it is also silver
2. the grill is pretty small in height
3. I will limit myself to not go faster than about 100 km/h at any point, mostly cruising at about 90 km/h indicated speed in the right lane
For a more permanent grill block, I will probably use black plastic sheets.
However I might get myself a 3D-printer in the near future, so perhaps I can go with more advanced shapes and rework my VGs on the roof as well.

I assume my commute is too long for a complete grill block, so I will start with a partial grill block.
The areas I'll block off will be:
1. The small intakes on the sides of the front bumper
2. The main intake will be blocked off except below the licence plate
3. The side intakes (behind the doors) will be blocked off entirely

Expected side effects of this:

1. faster engine warmup
2. higher engine bay temperatures (will need to open up the side air intakes when it's not cold anymore)
3. will need to avoid stop&go traffic or engine bay/water temps will skyrocket

Because my Spyder is EUDM, oil temperatures will not be an issue as mine has an oil/water heatexchanger.
USDM/JDM versions do not have one, and I highly suggest installing some kind of oil cooler in them.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Autobahnschleicher

.............
Because my Spyder is EUDM

Please explain, I tried looking up this term but limited results.

[Autobahnschleicher]

Originally Posted by kach22i

Please explain, I tried looking up this term but limited results.

The MR2 Spyder as sold in the european market has a water/oil heatexchanger sandwiched between oilcooler and motor block.
You can see it here in the german shop manual for the 1ZZ-FE engine for the MR2 Spyder.
This oilcooler was not fitted to the american or japanese market MR2 Spyder.
Although there was a TRD water oil heatexchanger for the Spyder, a retrofit isn't as easy since it requires modifications to connect to the water cooling system.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Autobahnschleicher

The MR2 Spyder as sold in the european market has a water/oil heatexchanger sandwiched between oilcooler and motor block............

I have to wonder why Porsche didn't go this route on the old air-cooled 911's for cabin heat, they take a whole case of oil for an oil change.

These hardtops look interesting.

https://www.spyderchat.com/threads/f...hardtop.39801/




Something like the below might have a better chance of following the aero-template though.

File:MAZDA HR-X('91) 02.jpg
From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...(%2791)_02.jpg


Or this approach?

https://www.projectownersclub.com/bl...oc-project-car


Inspiration?

https://autospies.com/news/Should-To...e-Supra-98390/

It’s very much a work of Photoshop. Specifically, it’s the work of digital wizard, Rain Prisk. But that doesn’t mean we don’t want it to happen. Consider the petition (also known as the comment section below) to bring it to production officially open.

[Autobahnschleicher]

Originally Posted by kach22i

These hardtops look interesting.

Yes they do, and I might fabricate something like that in the future.
However as of now I do not have the time nor the ressources to do major fiberglass construction.
However I did manage to stick the flow to the rear window via vortex generators as a quick and dirty fix...

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Autobahnschleicher

.........
However I did manage to stick the flow to the rear window via vortex generators as a quick and dirty fix...

Congrats on trying something different.

Toyota MR2 Rendering Resurrects Fabled Sports Car
https://www.motor1.com/news/499870/t...car-rendering/


https://www.motor1.com/news/366495/t...-porsche-help/

Speaking with AutoIndustriya during a press drive of the new Supra in Japan, none other than the car’s Chief Engineer, Tetsuya Tada, talked about a hypothetical resurrection of the MR2 following its demise in 2007. When asked about the automaker he’d like to work with for a potential fourth generation of the sports car, his answer was “Porsche.