.
It's been a year since I installed the boat tail and I'm pleased to say that it has held up and performed well. However, there is still room for more improvement. Not to mention, the lack of any type of eye appeal whatsoever.
It's time to kick it up a notch or two.
I'll use this for inspiration.
First, I needed to address the uneven air flow on the sides.
(tires, body roll, front and rear bumpers)
So, here's what I have to work with.
This will give you an idea of the amount of body roll in the original design.
It will be plumb and vertical when finished. With the entire front wheel slightly recessed within the wheel arch.
Time to get to work.
So, with my trusty 1/2" foam insulation board and a razor. I cut and shaped some body panel fillers.
First things first, the door panels.
The foam that you see in the wheel arch is there to gauge how much the side needs to come out to be vertical. It will be left in and used as a front wheel arch gap filler. (there's also a piece of foam in the rear wheel arch)
Next, a piece to bring out the rocker panel was fabricated. Along with the pieces that are needed behind the front wheel.
(note the section left out on the door panel and the quarter rounded piece on the floor. These are needed in order to open the door)
Next.
Rear fender cover and skirt.
When I built the tail it was a rushed job and I didn't take fully into account the rear bumper. It stuck out past the side of the boat tail slightly so I took a piece of aluminum flashing and tried to cover it up.
Not very pretty.
So, I fabricated a full fender panel that would cover the problem area and blend the tail and side of the car together. Plus, allow for a full skirt.
(this was a pattern used for initial mock up only)
Final version installed on the car.
(note tabs for mounting skirts)
Now, on to the under belly of the beast.
And again, the inspiration...
What I'm working with.
From the front.
From the rear.
I built the under pan out of foam, with stucco screen in the high heat exhaust areas. The screen also helps to remove hot air from the engine compartment.
Front view.
Rear view.
Screen for exhaust and cooling.
Wheel spats.
VW XL1 uses full boat tail wheel spats front and rear. (you can see them in the above pic from vw)
If there good enough for VW, there good enough for the Metro...
Building them was easy. Just cut the pieces out and glue them together.
If you look at the under pan pictures, you can see them. However, I'll try to take some better pics this weekend.
Next, the front bumper.
Here's a pic of what it looked like to begin with.
I made a 3 piece wrap that covers most of the bumper. It also ties into the belly pan and the new side profile.
And last but not least, some pics with the rear skirts installed.
Well, that's about it.
Except...
I think it's time to rename "little blue".
Before...
After... (with a little paint)
Well, that's my redneck inspired version of a
Geo XL1...
Which, now.
Is it's new name...
So, what's it like driving now...???
Stay tuned...
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