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Old 06-06-2014, 06:05 PM   #81 (permalink)
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Great work on this. The revised setup looks amazing. If you are done then all you need to do is color match the boat tail and that would improve the looks and reduce likely hood of being pulled over.

I have a couple ideas though. What about removing the bumper cover? Or does skirting the wheel make the extra width required to cover and boat tail the bottom make that moot?

Does the hatch open and lift the tail? If you could seal the tail to the body, and come up with a different attachment system, you could even remove the hatch to save weight. This might reduce the integrity of the vehicle in regards to security, safety, and body stiffness though.

The ultimate would be to make a 2 piece setup, with a fixed bottom and an opening hatch that could use the built in hinges. Then you could have a huge flatbed area for hauling stuff, especially if you remove the passenger seat.

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Old 06-06-2014, 06:56 PM   #82 (permalink)
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Awesome!
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Old 06-06-2014, 07:23 PM   #83 (permalink)
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From a fellow redneck to another..............

...........excellent work! It is a trick to build something that will last and not blow off the vehicle too. Excellent construction methodology and crafty execution of the fabrication. Looking forward to seeing your mpg results!

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Old 06-06-2014, 08:44 PM   #84 (permalink)
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I like your back yard.
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Old 06-06-2014, 09:57 PM   #85 (permalink)
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Nice fabs. Just showed my wife and she's impressed too. "I wonder what kinda comments he gets on the road" she says. Haha! Looks way cool.
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See my car's mod & maintenance thread and my electric bicycle's thread for ongoing projects. I will rebuild Black and Green over decades as parts die, until it becomes a different car of roughly the same shape and color. My minimum fuel economy goal is 55 mpg while averaging posted speed limits. I generally top 60 mpg. See also my Honda manual transmission specs thread.



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Old 06-07-2014, 01:15 AM   #86 (permalink)
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Fantastic, Absolutely Outstanding Sir! Maybe a front wheel opening like the one on Donkey CRX's vehicle that he did, copying the 1G Honda Insights...then enjoy! Just a thought...

:{)

Last edited by HHOTDI; 06-07-2014 at 02:25 PM.. Reason: rented fingers, my lease is about up. :{)
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Old 06-07-2014, 06:20 AM   #87 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aerohead View Post
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One thing comes to mind,and it's because of my experience with the CRX at Bonneville.
Where the nose pan angles down is an area which is really significant.Even with the full belly pan,we still don't want to encourage any air to go under the car.
Ford used an active air dam on it's Probe-IV,which lowered on the highway to block off this flow.
I made a flexible chin spoiler from polyurethane floor pad from BIG-LOTS which deforms at curbs.It slices the airflow off from the belly pan.And without the pan,I'm still seeing some of my highest-ever mpg.
I think you'd like it if you did it.
Fabulous project! It will be hard to wait on your new mpg numbers.
Thanks.

I originally planned on a NASCAR style bumper. However, time constraints dictated otherwise.

It's on the "to do" list.




>

Last edited by redneck; 06-07-2014 at 06:49 AM..
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Old 06-07-2014, 06:31 AM   #88 (permalink)
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Quote:
dutchboy

Great work on this. The revised setup looks amazing. If you are done then all you need to do is color match the boat tail and that would improve the looks and reduce likely hood of being pulled over.
So far I haven't been pulled over.

And as far as 'If you are done" goes.

I don't think I'll ever be done...



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Old 06-07-2014, 07:56 AM   #89 (permalink)
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.



Ok, here it is...




I started working on the car on 5/01/14 and finished working on it 5/10/14.

Then left on 5/11/14 (Mother Day) to go on my annual fishing trip to Niagara Falls N.Y.


Leaving on Mothers Day was definitely not my first choice.

However, I was 3 days late leaving as it was.
(the project took longer than expected)


So, 9:00 am, I get on the Interstate heading North. Traffic is bumper to bumper running 70-80 mph plus . In this first leg of the trip there be no fooling around. Just fall in with the pack and go. I was pleased to see the mpguino showing low to mid 70's mpg as I passed into N.C. Once I was on the other side of Charlotte the traffic subsided a little and I was able to glide. The car truly glides effortlessly now. Slopes that I would light foot on the way down now get no foot. Regular down slopes now accelerate sooner and last longer. As I entered Va. the mpguino was reading mid to upper 70's and climbing. Leaving Va. and going into W.V. the mpguino was reading 79 mpg and still climbing. I couldn't take my eyes off of it. When it hit 80 mpg I let out a big "whoop". Looking up again, it was just in time to see my exit go by. So, instead of going to the next exit (7 miles) and turning around and coming back (7 miles). I just took a different route instead.
Charleston W.V. here I come.

When I reached Pittsburgh P.A. I couldn't take it anymore. I wanted to see if the mpguino was accurate so I pulled into a gas station.



698.75 miles


8.58 gals.


81.44 mpg



Considering I drove faster than ever before in this car, I was "ecstatic" to say the least with the mpg.




From Pittsburgh to Niagara Falls, I pulsed and glided on every little hill and as close the posted speed limit as possible.


218.22 miles


2.54 gal.


85.91 mpg



Wow...

Now, I probably had a little tail wind the last 60 miles or so but still. Wow...



While there, I drove the car to visit friends, family and other various local places. Short trips with lots of signal lights. While there I installed a cheap Tach + Hour meter.



127.92 miles


2.19 gal.


58.41 mpg


1.5 hrs. engine on time





After being on vacation for 3 weeks.

It was finally time to go home.




On the way back, there was a additional 200lbs. of weight in the car.The extra weight affected the fuel mileage as the car had to work harder climbing the hills.

I didn't baby it, driving posted speed limits when possible. However, W.V. has some hills that knock the crap out of it. Climbing at only 40 mph or less sometimes. (remember this car only has 55hp and 55ft.lbs. of torque)

But then again, it goes like hell down the back side.


Totals for the return trip

875.05 miles

11.18 gal.

78.27 mpg

12.9 hrs. engine run time




Map Quest said it should take 13.2 hrs. to complete the trip. I assume that is at the posted speed limits. Add the EOC time it would probably equal out.


That would be 78.27 mpg at the posted speed limit... Awesome...




**Disclaimer**



I put new tires on and had a alignment before this trip. I also replaced a brake drum and turned the other. I either have a front wheel bearing or cv joint going bad or both. Also, my check engine light came on, on the way home. I think it may be the 02 sensor.


What effect these things had on the above mileage (good or bad) is unknown.
I just want to put these things out there, as I don't want to mislead anyone.


Also, there is a small but significant mileage discrepancy between MapQuest, TomTom and the cars odometer. I will address this in a different thread.



Overall though, I would call it a "aerodynamic success".




>
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Old 06-07-2014, 08:45 AM   #90 (permalink)
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Very impressive fuel efficiency results. I would say that your modifications are successful indeed!

Bondo

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