Daox's 2003 Matrix Build Thread

[thevisionseeker]

Why not put the coroplast above the lip of your front bumper? What I mean is your bumper is designed to allow air flow and so if you put the coroplast on the inside of the bumper and above the lip (hard to explain but almost tucking it) the air would roll over the curve of your bumper and straight back against the coroplast. Right now even though its not much the piece of coroplast looks like it would hesitate the air flow just a bit. Also I think it would look cleaner.
Sorry I just thought I would ask. Also I was thinking about doing the same thing but I was thinking about finding the push pin things Toyota used for the bumper and panels already. Think that would work?

It looks good though. Do you know what kind of MPG you are getting after doing this?

[Daox]

Haha, I've answered that question on almost every forum I've posted on. The answer is that tucking the belly pan up and under the bumper cover lip will do next to nothing for aerodynamics. The coroplast is right around 1/8" thick and small bumps like that in a body have very little effect on aero.

The rear two mounting points are push pin type fasteners. I haven't got around to getting them for the front yet.

I also haven't gotten around to doing any testing with it to see what kind of benefits it is providing. As of right now I'm averaging just over 40 (click my sig pic to see my mileage log).

[trikkonceptz]

^^^ Sleep with one eye open .. I'm coming for ya ...

[reformed]

Any noticable heat distortion from the exhaust on the bellyban?

Looks great by the way. I'll be doing one myself soon and I've always wanted to ask someone who has done one firsthand if there are any heat effects. Thats the only thing I'm worried about.

[MetroMPG]

Somehow I missed this thread. Nice clean installation, as usual.

[Daox]

The exhaust pipe really isn't close to the bellypan at all. In the Matrix the exhaust manifold is on the back side of the engine close to the firewall. The bellypan ends before the exhaust really exits the engine bay. In the picture below you can see where the pipe comes out of the engine bay. The bellpan goes to the back of that ledge that has all the holes in it.

[malibuguy]

very nice Daox, i took a gander at this for some ideas for the Caliber, i actully had it on the lift today at work to see what i could do

now i need to find some coroplast...i have a buncha sheet aluminum, but its for the Malibus

heres a pic of the Calibers underside...i kinda wish i tucked the muffler up higher now...

[Daox]

Little update. In preperation for my comming vacation trip to Wyoming this comming week I'm going over the Matrix to make sure she's ready to go. However, winter took its toll on my good 'ol foam board grill block. The nice satin black finish was totally worn off to a paper like material under it. Needless to say it looked kind of silly on an all black car. So, I took the night to remake the block in coroplast.

The old grill block. Still worked fine. I guess I'm just picky about looks.



The new grill block. Looks strikingly like the original. It has a few minor tweaks and fits slightly better.

[SVOboy]

Nice!

[edbso]

Looking good, hope that you get to The Bear Tooth Highway.



close to 12,000 feet here.

I'll have the Matrix there this August.