Binky the Civic Build Thread

[JulianEdgar]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Hi there, JulianEdgar.

While we wait to see if the OP has been scared off, my point was that the information, correct or not, is overly [non-]specific.

kach22i probed for a use case. Another user [couch]Tyrant at large[cough], took up your torch. I think it was a strawman argument.

Irrespective of the merits of any particular suggestion, it needs to be pertinent to a specific case. Surely you appreciate case-by-case A-B-A testing.

I am not interested in (re)joining your semantic games.

Some people want the correct information to be disseminated, others just want to play sophisms.

[M_a_t_t]

I don't know if this is an option for you right now, but what I currently do is I drive my car (the mercury) when the roads are clear and there is no forecasted snow/ice. If there is I drive my van. If having 2 vehicles is an option, now or eventually, you won't have to worry about snow and aero mods.

I can get a decent amount of snow where I am, but not as much as you describe. I won't be able to be much more help.

Good luck with it.

[kach22i]

I think it wise to Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS-Method) for this young man.

Suggestions (good ones) have been made.

If anyone here is proposing some advanced fix for a problem that probably doesn't exist such as forward body positive pressure design flaws in the Honda Civic SI, then please post what you have. Your solution? Net gain?

Aft body and trailing edge extensions seemed to have worked before, but not sure if this body style will be very welcoming to it.

For instance, a rear deck-lid Bonneville style horizontal extension is probably just going to be a big snow shelf possibly.

https://ecomodder.com/forum/showthre...any-10434.html


https://ecomodder.com/forum/showthre...lty-10468.html


https://www.dragzine.com/project-car...iting-bullitt/


A little more info, some argue that it's about refilling the Aerotemplate- Part-C (or against).

https://ecomodder.com/forum/showthre...nit-33989.html

Do the grille block but keep an eye on your temperatures, warping your heads by overheating will total this car. I personally do not like grill blocks, because it is cooling system dependent and most of my cars/trucks have not been friendly to this (antiquated cooling systems).

The wheel spats are cool, but getting into where the snow is, maybe not right for this project.

Buy a big push broom and do the rear deck-lid extension, and report back. Just don't cover up your rear bake lights.

Originally Posted by Vman455

This is way too simplistic....

I was doing my best to keep it as simple as possible and acknowledge that front end, middle body and aft section are all part of a complete composite picture.

What changes (eco-mods) do you propose to "positive pressure" the front of a 1997 Honda Civic SI?

[JacobLeSann]

Lol, sorry for not replying quick, I’m either at work or in the shop. I made a response post but it must not have uploaded. I’ll go and do it again, I guess.

I’m young, but I’m not a stranger to aerodynamics. I’m good friends with an engineer who flies planes and is currently working on both a diesel aircraft engine and a world record attempt HPA streamliner. He’s passed much of his knowledge to me as I design a velomobile. A car is definitely a different animal, but the basic principles are still at play. I know from my time as a cyclist just how much faster you can get by tucking in, to reduce frontal area. The magpies outside my window sure aren’t shaped like cones, that’s all I gotta say.

On my list currently: Grille Block (adjustability is a good idea), underbody panel, wheel discs, wheel skirts, a wiper deflector, and some gap filling work here and there. I may leave the bigger modifications for when the cycling season comes around, as the car won’t need to be driven.

I sometimes have the option of other vehicles, maybe I’ll consider that. My mom’s Ford Flex is around, but the brakes are problematic, apparently.

I think wheel covering will actually be beneficial in snow. From my experiences growing up in snow, I’ve gained a pretty solid understanding of how it likes to stop a car. Discs would keep it from getting inside the rim, which normally make the wheels wobble like hell. Skirts would help keep it out of the wheel wells, and with disc covers I doubt any snow could build up enough to push the skirts off. If it helps to streamline air, it should help with streamlining powdery snow. Unless I hit packed and frozen snow, but thankfully things get plowed before the roads become a foot taller, lmao.

That shelf is interesting, and could be a perfect option for my trunk. The rear windshield angle and it’s transition to the trunk is a problem area, and the Canadian regulations are restrictive of heavy modification, so working around a boat tail that doesn’t compromise the trunk’s lighting and functions is kind of an ordeal. On the other hand, I tend to be really obsessive with cosmetic appearance and just can’t figure out a slick design for the rear.
Bonneville cars are something I’ll be studying, thanks for the links and photos.

My friend was joking with me that with a paneled underbody and a slightly upswept curve below the stagnation point of the nose, my car could go sledding. Not serious, but I do wonder if a nose can be shaped to maintain good airflow while keeping snow from being scooped up. A nose like the Aerocivic’s would be like using an upside-down chisel. On that note, I’m weary of trying those wheel deflectors you pictures. I know mudflaps pack up with snow immediately and it loves to turn to ice. To the detriment of possible aero gains, I’m planning to keep all mods above the current ground clearance, except the underbody. For snow, but also for the terrible roads here, and curbs, etc. When I drive more in it and really see if the underbody gets scraped, I’ll consider mods below it.

Thank you all, lots of replies, and probably the fastest forum I’ve seen. I’m a busy guy and I’m very scatterbrained as well so expect me to answer sporadically.

The car is a ‘97 2 door Civic, standard transmission with a 4 cylinder engine.

I’ll try to figure out how to post pictures on here and get some up.

[JacobLeSann]

I don’t have a computer and struggle with tech stuff in general so expect these to come out sideways or upside-down, haha. The body isn’t much different from stock. Sorry for my forge and other junk being in the way, sure ain’t feeling like moving it.

[JacobLeSann]

Actually, the rear wing recommendation led me to Progress Auto’s 205MPH Civic.
It’s pretty much my car, with a lot of aero work and engine tuning, etc. Wonder if it could be a good reference.

[JacobLeSann]

http://www.pure-tuning.com/pages/news/landspeed.html

Besides the lower skirting, all the rest is quite doable and useable, though I sill think a nosecone is cooler and could possibly be better in the snow. I mainly just love concept cars from the Rocket Age, and would love to have a front like the Mustang I. A rear wing seems like a very solid idea.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by JacobLeSann

.........
I think wheel covering will actually be beneficial in snow. From my experiences growing up in snow, I’ve gained a pretty solid understanding of how it likes to stop a car. Discs would keep it from getting inside the rim, which normally make the wheels wobble like hell. Skirts would help keep it out of the wheel wells, and with disc covers I doubt any snow could build up enough to push the skirts off..........

I'm in Michigan, and we get a lot of slush with our rapid Freeze/Thaw cycles.

I've never lived with wheel covers, but have to periodically remove chucks of ice built-up in he wheel wells similar to the below photo.

https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/ga...202329#photo-1


By all means research wheel covers and wheel opening covers.

I'd like to know if your initial intuition is accurate as it runs counter to mine.

Thank you for posting images of your car.

There are different solutions for hatchbacks and sedan/coupes in my opinion.

An aft greenhouse addition is out of the question because of Canadian law?

Good thing you know that ahead of time.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by JacobLeSann

http://www.pure-tuning.com/pages/news/landspeed.html

Linky no worky.

[JacobLeSann]

Actually, you’re right about that. I’ll rethink the covers. We get that same exact problem. Discs will still be beneficial, but it will indeed be annoying to clean up, no doubt.

The police here abuse their power and ticket you for made-up laws, and then stick you in legal limbo if you try to stick up for yourself. I gotta pick up a subpoena today for a trial I was the victim in a whole year ago now. The justice system is a failure here, but I digress. So far as I can tell, there are no real regulations on modifications to the body paneling, only on safety-related equipment. Were I to make a boat-tail, I’d need to make it from Lexan to keep the lights shining through it and in view at all angles. Same goes for the nose, but that one is a bit easier to work with. The trunk shape is kind of hard. But if by aft greenhouse you mean a rear wing like the pictures you’ve sent, that should be fine legally as it doesn’t obstruct any real functions of the car. I’ll probably go down that route.