Belly pan or vortex generators?

[crexcrex]

Originally Posted by i_am_socket

perhaps with a cleaner junction between the body and the skirt you wouldn't have such an air-brake effect.

This looks like a job for cardboard and tuft-tests!

I readily agree that that aerodynamics requires a streamlined affect and roughness and sudden breaks will boost drag as for French air brakes I find the term totally inapplicable as rear skirts as well as front reduce air and wind turbulence. I have used skirts on the rex for over two months and impressed by the reduction in turbulence as well as the increased coasting distance inclusive of the reduced gas consumption.

I certainly am not bieng critical, simply voicing my opinion and my experience with skirts or wheel pants which are used on various vehicles as well as planes.
crexcrex

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by edbso

Well it is official campers two tanks of gas later and the skirts are nothing more than French-Air-Brakes.



All on the same stretch of highway, all at 65 mph on cruise control

Previous high mpg 42.434 mpg (CDN)

With the French-Air-Brakes on 36.702 mpg (CDN) temperatures warmer air on all the way.

With French-Air-Brakes removed 40.055 mpg (CDN) even hotter temperatures and air on all the way.

Well that was a very interesting and counter productive experiment.

I will be skirtless from now on.

My thought is that the skirts could not effect the mpg by more than 1 1/2 %,as this is what is claimed by the folks with the PhDs that researched them.And this would be a difficult thing at best to nail down,without the aid of a wind tunnel.There can be so many variables when doing on-road testing!My recommendation is to hold onto them a while longer and see what your results are like with a greater history on the car.Also,should you do future mods to the back of the car,the skirts would be part of a comprehensive package.50% of your drag is still behind the car.The skirts look great,you've got alot invested in them,and in so many ways.Consider a little more running time before you toss 'em.I struggled an entire winter with the bellypan on the T-100,only to be finally rewarded once things warmed up in the Spring.It was a long frustrating wait but the 2-mpg was worth it.

[NismoMax80]

um back to your lexan pan....

any details you can help me out with? cutting, attachments, shaping?


awesome work with everything. the screening is very interesting for underneath.

[edbso]

Originally Posted by NismoMax80

um back to your lexan pan....

any details you can help me out with? cutting, attachments, shaping?


awesome work with everything. the screening is very interesting for underneath.

Urethane Construction Adhesive and large headed sheet metal screws are your friend. The lexan is drilled smaller than the screw, essentially all you do is to make a starter hole. Sometimes I would be screwing into plastic body parts and might not even use a pilot hole just pres hard.

I have cut lexan with a shark exacto type knife but easier to use are large metal sheers Just follow my my felt tip pen tracings. Cut, trim and retrim. Once you get started it becomes easy. I cut a 2" diameter oil drain hole and a 5" oil filter hole.

Looking at my mpg chart there are a couple of abnormalities. Perhaps, and just perhaps the tank of gas with the skirts on was from a dealer selling "small" gallons?? It was the second largest tank fill I have ever had and I did not run it too long after the empty warning light came on. It was a Buffalo station. If it was local I would complain to the authorities. I just don't know. I agree that skirts even sticking out 4 or 6 inches (which they weren't) should not make that much difference.

My last tank of gas is another anomaly. I have a 11.5 to 1 compression ratio and I think that the station was pumping regular for premium.

Heading out on a long trip this week and am leaving the skirts off. Will try and post some mpg figures.

[edbso]

Note the clear rim wheel air dams.

Note grill air dams.

Note tight fitment of tires to body (little space).

Note to that to get maximum mpgs it has to be pushed!

Note also the Micheline tires.....











Do not be asking where or how I got these and do not save to your computer.

[azraelswrd]

Wow! Now there's a head turner... love those thin tires!

[Xringer]

At first glance, those tires don't look like they would work very well in snow..

Since there is very little room around the tires in the wheel well, I wonder
how much movement (in the shocks) the wheels have when you hit a speed bump?


I like the job they did on the rims. Those little plastic inserts are neat.
Maybe us EcoModders should be using clear tape?

This outdoor duct tape tested so well, I decided it would be better than the clear stuff..

[COMP]

i have been using clear tape

[NismoMax80]

so how does the engine intake air, or the radiator cool?

those tires are going to rub like crazy when hitting bumps at speed.

also don't brakes need some air flow to cool?

finally i find it hilarious you post pics online and tell others to not save them. they belong to the entire Internet now. lol

[edbso]

No ... it is hilarious that you find that hilarious;-)