Aeromodded Civic VX 72mpg (image heavy)

[ecoTex]

How do we get it on the front page? It seems to me, this would be of interest to a lot of folks. I guess the thread title is not very sexy.

[The donkey CRX]

I hate to add unsprung weight to my 21 lb tire and wheel combo so I got a wild idea to use vinyl sign lettering material to cover up the holes in my wheels. Unfortunately, it wrinkled over the holes, but maybe it will still add some aero until I can come up with another idea.

[Istas]

It doesn't look too bad/noticeable, and I bet it is an improvement. Good thinking too.

[Superfuelgero]

Originally Posted by The donkey CRX

I hate to add unsprung weight to my 21 lb tire and wheel combo so I got a wild idea to use vinyl sign lettering material to cover up the holes in my wheels. Unfortunately, it wrinkled over the holes, but maybe it will still add some aero until I can come up with another idea.

I would wait until later to try too much more. Next tuesday sounds about right. Theres always coroplast and lug nut attachment http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...orn-14306.html

[The donkey CRX]

Thanks for the links Xntrx, I will probably do some version of what they came up with.

[j12piprius]

Originally Posted by basjoos

If you are going to install a slant back nose to lower the stagnation point and already have a smooth underbelly, then an air dam likely won't do much to reduce your drag given its attendant increase in frontal area since you have already cleaned up the areas under the car that the air dam deflects the wind away from.

Most of the belly of my car is 8" from the ground, 20% is 7" from the ground, and less than 3% is 6" from the ground. If I'm understanding this correctly, the nose provides drag just like anything under the car, except the belly has more turbulence. Considering the drag would be equal, maybe a nose height of 7 or 7.5 inches would be good, low enough to keep drag away from the bulk of the belly, but not so low to create additional drag. With this in mind, a nose height of 6 inches would be too low is it creates more frontage & drag than is already under the car. Is this right?

[The donkey CRX]

John, I think you would have less drag if the bottom of your air dam was 7" or 7.5" from the ground (as opposed to 6" from the ground)

If you are planning on adding a belly pan later remember you will need to add the thickness of the frame and your belly material to the current "lowest point" under the car.

Much better to trim the final height of the dam after you know the final height of the belly pan.

[Superfuelgero]

Originally Posted by ecoTex

How do we get it on the front page? It seems to me, this would be of interest to a lot of folks. I guess the thread title is not very sexy.

Maybe if you had named the thread "The Donkey Show", it would get more interest.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by johnlvs2run

Most of the belly of my car is 8" from the ground, 20% is 7" from the ground, and less than 3% is 6" from the ground. If I'm understanding this correctly, the nose provides drag just like anything under the car, except the belly has more turbulence. Considering the drag would be equal, maybe a nose height of 7 or 7.5 inches would be good, low enough to keep drag away from the bulk of the belly, but not so low to create additional drag. With this in mind, a nose height of 6 inches would be too low is it creates more frontage & drag than is already under the car. Is this right?

I was told to project the airdam only as low as the the lowest protrusions under the car. I did that and it looked more like 4", but I do have my Civic on 13" wheels with 175/70 tires. Cars will seem to vary a little. Not sure why. Probably my measurements!

To my knowledge no one has shown where the balance point if for an airdam--the point at which the aero benefit gets outweighed by the aero penalties. There are informed opinions. And everybody recognizes there is a point at which you begin making more problems for overall drag. But whether 3" or 5" is that pivot point or not... I don't think anyone here has precise enough data. You'll have to judge what seems to be reasonable and workable.

[Xist]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

To my knowledge no one has shown where the balance point if for an airdam--the point at which the aero benefit gets outweighed by the aero penalties. There are informed opinions. And everybody recognizes there is a point at which you begin making more problems for overall drag. But whether 3" or 5" is that pivot point or not... I don't think anyone here has precise enough data. You'll have to judge what seems to be reasonable and workable.

Ace has 4" and 8"-inch lawn edging. I believe that mine is six. It would be simple enough to try different pieces, although that would be putting many holes in your bumper. However, they keep the roles together with loops of plastic going through holes in the edging. I did not like that.