Air deflector/bug shield
 

Hello all,

I don't think I have posted in the Aero forum before and I am not a very technical kinda guy so please bear with me.

I have a '97 Ford Ranger with a DIY upper grille block. The leading edge (?) of my hood is about 45* from vertical and the windshield is about 4' behind that and also about 45* from vertical. Not particularly aero in my mind but hey what do I know. That's why I'm asking here. Would/could it beneficial to fashoin an air deflector (sort of like the old bug deflectors) to help move the air across the hood and windshield and over the cab more efficiently? An angle trying to hit the top of the cab or possibly half way up the windshield. Not the deflector mind you, just the air flow. Something to help "smooth out" the air.

Thanks for the advice.
Hat_man

i would imagine the drag induced by such an air deflector (since you would have to move a bunch of air) would out-weigh any benefit of avoiding the transition between the hood and windshield, and then the windshield and roof.

I don't think bug deflectors help. They direct air upward, but that also creates vortices and turbulence behind the wake.

A 1997 Ranger's front end looks pretty aerodynamic to me anyway.

Thanks. I guess it just seemed rather steep to me. I had read here (somewhere) that cleaning up the front of the vehicle first really helps the "flow" at the back end. Guess I just wanted to start there and work my way back.

Airflow at the rear is most important as it causes most of the drag.
It's also the most difficult to properly sort out.
An aerodynamic cover for the bed will help, reducing the size of the wake.

On the front, an air dam and grille block will help.