An "AeroStang" perhaps?

[kach22i]

A belly pan would cover the underside of the engine which is quite the gaping hole.


More underbelly






The rear under area is a disaster aero-wise.


It's a nice car on the topside though.
Automobile 2 - Odds And Ends Photos by kach22i | Photobucket

[ciderbarrel]

Originally Posted by Swordsman

If I baby it for half a tank (max 55 mph, easy acceleration), I've pulled off 28.9. Oddly, the first half of the tank seems to determine the overall performance. Dunno if this is a calculation error on behalf of the computer, or more to do with the shape of the tank, or some other factor.

My computer in my 05 Mustang GT is +/- 0.1 MPG vs my hand calculations, due it rounding to the nearest tenth.

[Swordsman]

Originally Posted by ciderbarrel

My computer in my 05 Mustang GT is +/- 0.1 MPG vs my hand calculations, due it rounding to the nearest tenth.

Wow, better than I expected.

Kach, thanks for all those pics! I see you mentioned conveyor material... I'm assuming the standard garden trim / garage door seal from Home Depot must not be stout enough for the front?

(I think the "missing" panel is your friend's handiwork. I have a a single full panel there, and that looks like a pretty clean edge. Or maybe that's a change Ford made after '05.

~SM

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Swordsman

......I see you mentioned conveyor material...

Do some forum searching to find out what you like best.

Conveyor belt material is what the track guys use because it takes a lot of abuse. Some may use aluminum as it is soft and will burn or burnish away quickly enough.

In the past I have used sheet metal with garage door seal, and garden edge trim with vinyl cove wall base.

With your situation and being so close to the road, you are similar to the race car or track car solution in my opinion.

[UltArc]

A grille block will really work well. It may need adjustment per season, but a Scanguage will show you your temp and you can see what it really is operating at. The hottest I ever got my engine was 220F, and I have not had any issues with it. A belly pan can take maintenance if not done thoroughly, but if you put the time and work into it, it will be solid and stable- and at least for me, it works wonders.

I would suggest a Scanguage to help see actual vehicle mpg, and definitely start pen/paper for your tank results. I keep track of mine in real life, SC, Ug, and car readout. UG is always off because I have never set it up, but one can see the difference between the way I drive and the readouts.

For what you described wanting in your first post, a 2011+ v6 Mustang will do all of that for you. With it getting closer and closer to 2015 release time, you might want to switch to a 2014 (being sold cheaper with the new model coming out) or just wait it out for the 2015. A lot of people speculate April 17th will be the release, I don't know when, but it should be coming up.

[freebeard]

Here's an example of using conveyer material to make wheel stakes. It was done for someone with a pickup truck. On your Mustang, they would be tire width, 3-4" deep and as long as you care to go. These, ahead of and behind the wheels and with a full bellypan would really clean up the underside.


Here it is applied to your situation (roughly):


The belt would be rivetted on the two sides but not across the width, so the belt material can flex. The free edge next to the tire would probably assume a curve shape. Go long and let them wear off on the bottom

[ciderbarrel]

Originally Posted by ciderbarrel

My computer in my 05 Mustang GT is +/- 0.1 MPG vs my hand calculations, due it rounding to the nearest tenth.

When I had the CAI still installed, it was way over. Usually .5 - .8 MPG over.

[kach22i]

Thinking outside the box, and looking at two NASA projects for inspiration.

The Dryden aero-truck, and the tail-cone of the space shuttle for free flight testing.

Industrial Design - Transportation Photos by kach22i | Photobucket


Crazy?

[Shortie771]

Originally Posted by kach22i

Thinking outside the box, and looking at two NASA projects for inspiration.

The Dryden aero-truck, and the tail-cone of the space shuttle for free flight testing.

Industrial Design - Transportation Photos by kach22i | Photobucket


Crazy?

Not crazy, but I think that the big problem is that the air will seperate before it ever gets to the trunk of the car due to the steep angle of the rear windshield. That would make any benefits of the tail cone pretty limited. My personal opinion (which doesn't mean much) is that if he is going to put the effort into a tail cone, he might as well just do a full kammback for even get better gains. Probably about the same amount of work.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Shortie771

Not crazy, but I think that the big problem is that the air will seperate before it ever gets to the trunk of the car due to the steep angle of the rear windshield. .......

I think the less than 22 degree angle rear window is just fine aero-wise.

Previous debates concerning truncated tail cones (greater than 22 degree tangent line) seem to agree that if placed on a long enough body of a certain ratio (forget exact number) they work.

Vehicle Configuration Diagrams & Measuring Protocol | Utah Trucking Guide Online - UtahMC.com


Book Excerpt: Space Shuttle Owners' Workshop Manual | Wired Science | Wired.com


The real question in my mind, is the Mustang long enough. I have serious doubts, but it could be a matter of scaling.

Old thread - for reference:

NASA - Dryden Flight Research Center Truck Aerodynamic study.
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...udy-24748.html

Good PDF from the above thread, also mentions 22 degrees, Figure-2 on page 4

See here:
http://wire.epfl.ch/files/content/si...A%202007-6.pdf