Autospeed article: adding a chin undertray to a 1st gen Prius

[Peter7307]

The webmag "Autospeed" is aimed more at general auto information including better performance as well as better milage.
It is not a "hypermiling" focused magazine.

Pete.

[Raysp30]

Anyone have more ideas on the front wheel deflectors? Optimum shape, placement, etc?

I have a bit of styrofoam that I'll be using in mine. Once my testing is done, I'll cover the styrofoam in bondo and permanently attach it. See my post on the permanent grill block to see where I'm at now.

I'm thinking of a ramp-like shape that slopes out on the sides as well. This should move the air out to either side and down.

[MazdaMatt]

Would it be a waste of time to put a chin tray on a car higher than the bottom edge? I have installed an air dam (home depot garden edging, looks very NASCAR) on my Del Sol and I don't think i could attach a chin tray to the bottom of the garden edging. Would attaching the chin tray to the bottom of the bumper (6 inches above the chin tray) be completely useless?

[MetroMPG]

MazdaMatt: probably useless, yes. You're going to have detached, turbulent flow coming off the air dam.

Raysp30: shaped deflectors like the kind the Autospeed author tried will be better than the flat "spat" type OEM's typically use. (But more likely to be damaged on stuff inside approach angles, and harder to build).

Aero concept cars usually go with shaped deflectors, eg:

[whokilledthejams]

That's basically what I did to my xB. Combined with the grille block, I basically gained 4-5% at highway speeds. It's no 10%, but it's not too shabby.

[123456]

Originally Posted by Green Machine

Yikes!! My Aveo has absolutely NO chin undertray!! I can see clear up to the hood from under there. With grill blocks, maybe I can top their 10% WOO HOO!! Weekend project!!

thats ironic, because my spectra5 has a chin undertray running from the bumper to the steering rack OEM!

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

From the Australian web magazine Autospeed -

Some of you may have seen these already...[INDENT]Modifying Under-Car Airflow, Part 1

Modifying Under-Car Airflow, Part 2

A seminal paper was recently written by Volvo’s Dr Simone Sebben (SAE paper 2004-01-1307). It covers the computer modelling of undercar airflow,

The car is unnamed but it is likely a soon-to-be-released Volvo, ie a current, aerodynamically designed car.

Chances are, it was the 2006 Volvo C30 and the later C30 / S40 / V50 DRIVe models - which are more FE variants based on the PSA 1.6 diesel version.

Designing the rather short C30 on the same platform as the S40/V50 was an aerodynamic challenge to give it a good Cd.

The C30 DRIVe has a partial bellypan - the only Volvo that I know to have one (not counting the cosmetic "offroad"-plates) - while wheelspoilers have shown up on DRIVe models (and scores of other cars).

Link

[htvfd460]

I love the final line in the second part. {I was thinking of Dogfish Head's beer} What a laugh i got from that!

[Roman]

I don't have any undertary under mine VW Golf/Rabbit from '83. This is going to be my next mod.

Tnx for the nice article...

[KrautBurner]

I know, I know.....
its an old thread


but I'm having trouble finding anything on the 1st gen prius (mine is a 2001)

I'm probably gonna do this
and I am leaning towards doing the grille blocking
but I'm afraid to limmit the air flow to the cooling system