Camo van aero aids

[Varn]

I plan on doing some body work on my Windstar. Probably will include a small tail modification. I don't want to loose any utility This tail fin will be glued to the tail gate and should not interfere with opening and closing of the hatch. The paint should be easy to duplicate as it is Krylon camo.

My mini van has been a great car. It is a 99 Ford. It continues to get about 19-22 mpg even with 160,000 miles. It is still running the original exhaust system. I put a transmission cooler in at 90,000. I purchased it with 75,000 on it. It doesn't burn any significant amount of oil not enough to worry about. I don't have to add any between oil changes.

[SturnellaNeglecta]

If your kamm-style back work as well as it looks in this mockup it should be pretty effective. I would think almost anything would be an improvement over the bluff rear end of a minivan.

Your paint job is spectacular, by the way!

[skyl4rk]

Where is the van in that picture?

[Varn]

Yeah the paint job is from having mismatched body panels after the last deer strike two years ago. It was originally a metallic blue grey color like so many that year.

I probably will use some pink board foam sheeting and make the tail. I'll use duct tape up against the body to act as a mold release. Spray glue on the foam then lay on dry composite. Paint on some epoxy. It is a pretty simple process More time will be spent with getting the finish smooth.

I am not sure if it is enough to make any real difference. I am not willing to add a long tail. Too many issues in parking. The long straight sides and roof probably account for a lot of wind shear in cross winds anyway.

[navivovas]

Beutiful painting!!But,what color is signed in registration papers

[Varn]

"Camo"
The colors fade pretty quickly. The paint is my wifes creation. She painted one of her motorcycle with the same scheme.

Originally Posted by navivovas

Beutiful painting!!But,what color is signed in registration papers

[navivovas]

Originally Posted by Varn

"Camo"
The colors fade pretty quickly. The paint is my wifes creation. She painted one of her motorcycle with the same scheme.

Looking good! In Bulgaria,this painting will be a great problem with law.Here is posible only two colors.More of colors or pictures on car is posible with special permision....

[Varn]

Here is my rough cut layup. In the photo the center will need to be braced up and the angle flattened before I add the composite. I used 2 2'x4' squares of pink board.

I layed it up by overlapping the top This will make a near perfect butt finish. It may take me a couple of weeks before I can get a chance to do it in carbon.

When I mount it I am going to make a flange like is shown in the AR-5 tapes.


It will probably be 18" front to back.

[cons]

I think it might be a bit too steep of an angle. The top photo looks much better. For a kammback, I think you want to shoot for 10-12 degrees. This looks like 30 ish.

[Varn]

I would agree that the angle came out a bit steep. That is why I said it would be need to braced up before finishing with composite. I was not clear in my recent post that I used 1/4" fan fold material. I set it aside as there is no way the foam would survive even one trip.

I have been noticing a lot of van shaped vehicles which have a similar almost flat wing on the back over the window. Not sure if there is any reason but for style.

The past 2-3 weeks I have been making a concerted effort to reduce my acceleration. I am holding the engine to 15-1600 rpm while accelerating. 1700 is the rpm at 55 mph. I drive this car about 7500-8000miles a year. Probably half is commuting at 55 mph with no traffic lights but 3 stop signs per round 11 mile trip and the other half is open road.

I have made an upper grill enclosure and moved my rear mud guards to in front of the front wheels.

Probably my driving change will attribute most my mpg increase if any.

Originally Posted by cons

I think it might be a bit too steep of an angle. The top photo looks much better. For a kammback, I think you want to shoot for 10-12 degrees. This looks like 30 ish.