Another Massive Cardboard Air Dam!

[Handsome Jack]

****, maybe throwing away the windshield wipers was a bit hasty...

[Handsome Jack]

If I put off building an air dam till spring I could work on a belly pan instead and increase my winter fuel economy by using the car as a sled.

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by Handsome Jack

****, maybe throwing away the windshield wipers was a bit hasty...

That's what I've found. The wipers are largely out of the windstream already and Rain-X doesn't cut it, so I keep 'em. Mirrors are gone though.

Originally Posted by Handsome Jack

If I put off building an air dam till spring I could work on a belly pan instead and increase my winter fuel economy by using the car as a sled.

Works well for me.

[BamZipPow]

Originally Posted by Gasoline Fumes

After about 5 miles on unplowed roads:

Nice removeable grill block.

[BamZipPow]

Originally Posted by ME_Andy

Dang, how many miles on that T-100?

I think it was close to 300,000 miles before the wife decided to drown the engine with water. My current T-100 is almost ready to click over to 500,000 miles!

[aardvarcus]

Jack,

One option for a more permanent air dam is conveyor belt. It is available used off ebay or other surplus sites. Several members here including me have used it.

Basically you would attach it firmly at the top (i.e. where your duct tape is now) and let the lower end hang free. A solid attachment at the top (i.e. small bolts with backing) and curvature across the front will keep the bottom end stable for wind loads, but if you hit an obstacle it would just deflect and bounce back.

[kach22i]

I like the cardboard creation, the slight deflection up angle is nice.

Adding a splitter in a second step or phase would be nice, and it might even add strength is done right.

One material for consideration is thin PVC sheets, I think my sample is somewhat cellular and has some weight to it despite being thin. I have not used this on my project vehicle, purchase it for large scale modeling that takes advantage of it's floppy character and ability to bend. I'm not sure what happens to it below freezing though.

Certainly finding the best and most cost effective material is important.

My experience has been that if it looks vulnerable or frail it will be an irresistible temptation for some idiot to test it out by backing into it with their car for kicks when you are not looking.

Good luck.

[California98Civic]

Nice prototype. I put a big carboard one on once for tests. Made quite a difference!

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by Handsome Jack

Gasoline Fumes promoted the idea of using a splitter as well, and his numbers are fantastic. But, I haven't yet decided exactly how I want to build a more permanent air dam. I got a piece of 1/2"x12" AZEK plastic wood from home depot the other day to use as a splitter. It's pretty lightweight and very weather resistant. I was just feeling restless and wanted to see some immediate results when I got out the cardboard. I think I could go for a nascar look, real low to the ground but I don't think it will work that well here in Norther Michigan. The snow gets deep here.

At DARKO this year,owner Layne Christensen warned about airdams with too much downforce-induced drag (ei. 'splitters').
Even my nose,with zero splitter is a bit 'dirty' that way.
You don't want to overdo it!

[Handsome Jack]

I have removed the giant cardboard air dam. It may be of interest to other ecomodders to hear that a heat gun works very well at removing duct tape residue. I would heat up the gook that had stuck to the car and use a fresh piece of duct tape to lift it off, it worked very well. I've seen my mileage numbers go down considerably after removing the cardboard air dam and putting the snow tires on. I'm thinking that I may just drive it as is through the winter and start tweaking it more in the spring...