Another Hopeless Case. Ram Van 3500.

[96CX]

Originally Posted by rumdog

Looks good, great use of plastic siding! How did you brace it? Geez thats faily low! Rear Wheel skirts would look good also.

I've got metal brackets behind them, screwed to the body underneath-- basically where running boards would be screwed on. I had to drill some holes in the bumper, but even those are pretty minimal and you wouldn't notice them if I took the airdam off.

Actually got these painted a few days ago, but have been busy with other stuff and only just now have gotten around to posting pics. They look SO much better in black than in vinyl siding yellow.

Rear wheel skirts are also in the plan, though I'm not sure what I'll end up making them out of, maybe coroplast, maybe something else I can find at the salvage yard.

In other news, as I've been driving it here and there, and at low speeds, I've noticed a low moan from the back drivetrain somewhere. After putting it up on jackstands and crawling around with a stethoscope, it seems to be coming from the pinion bearing in my differential. Yay. Anyone know what happens if I don't fix it and just live with the noise?

[Fat Charlie]

Damage spreads.

One thing gets a little loose and rattles around. The more it rattles, the harder it hits, causing more damage and allowing itself more movement. It uses that space to hit harder, and next thing you know things all over the place are taking hits.

It's a bummer, on that D-60 you've got two pinion bearings, plus the pinion seal. Only one bearing's shot now, but every revolution is taxing the bearing that's left.

[96CX]

In other news, after two non-functional bluetooth OBDII dongles, I broke down and splurged on a scangauge (e). It's very nice. I only took it out for a spin today, so it'll be a couple weeks before I get it fully broken in, but it looks like it'll be super helpful.

[96CX]

Update after most recent fill-up:

Previous actual mpg calculation from normal driving prior to installing the aero was 12.8.

Just filled up yesterday and the numbers came out at 14.5mpg! I'm not blown away, but I can be very happy with that. "Normal driving" = 10 mile occasional commute on 35mph main roads/55mph highway. I bet it'd be even a little better in an all highway/road trip driving situation.

[ALS]

Originally Posted by 96CX

Update after most recent fill-up:

Previous actual mpg calculation from normal driving prior to installing the aero was 12.8.

Just filled up yesterday and the numbers came out at 14.5mpg!

I wouldn't be complaining or depressed over "only" getting an increase of 13%

That is like a 35 mpg vehicle getting another 4.5 mpg.

You have no idea the amount money and time an automobile manufacture spends in a wind tunnel and computer time to get an increase half of that.

[96CX]

We'll be taking a 400 mile round trip (basically all freeway) this weekend. We'll see what she can do then. Should be fun!

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by ALS

You have no idea the amount money and time an automobile manufacture spends in a wind tunnel and computer time to get an increase half of that.

Any manufacturer except, apparently, Dodge.