A different style of Kammback & mounting discussion

[MazdaMatt]

Originally Posted by modmonster

can the plexi be heat bent round by 180* to form a hook to latch on to the hatchback like a cycle carrier? if so this would make for an easy mounting, may not even need the duct tape!

You can drill holes in it and attach hooks... just thinking inside the box

[FunkSkunk]

yes, but that would add more weight because of the fasteners. I think i would be very clean if you could use the material to help with connection to the car. I think outside...

[MazdaMatt]

If you used 2 small alumium plates bent over instead of extending the entire ridge of the plastic to be bent over you'd probably save weight AND youd have a more rebust connection to the car (plexi would shatter if it ever was bound up)

[modmonster]

connection is still a problem for me. i really worry about air getting under this thing and ripping it clean off the car. to prevent this i want to bend the plexi into the hatch hinge seal and at the sides to. to do this on my car would require bending the plexi in two directions!

[cfg83]

modmonster -

Originally Posted by modmonster

connection is still a problem for me. i really worry about air getting under this thing and ripping it clean off the car. to prevent this i want to bend the plexi into the hatch hinge seal and at the sides to. to do this on my car would require bending the plexi in two directions!

Me too. If I can find the time for my Kammy, I will have some kind of layer that stops the air from sneaking under the kamm. I have "unique" problems because my hatch on my Saturn is plastic, but my roof is metal. I am thinking that I can use a flat magnet sheet on the metal roof that "bridges the gap" onto the Kamm back. The Kamm-back would have a thin metal strip epoxied onto it for the magnetic strip to adhere to. Here is a *rough* visual of what I mean.



The sides would require a different solution, but I am not too worried about them because they are very "flattish", so I know I can get a much tighter seal on them.

CarloSW2

[i_am_socket]

I don't know how a sheet magnet would be for grip on the kammback. I'd have a backup plan in case testing doesn't go as planned.

[cfg83]

i_am_socket -

Originally Posted by i_am_socket

I don't know how a sheet magnet would be for grip on the kammback. I'd have a backup plan in case testing doesn't go as planned.

The sheet magnet is not for adhering the kamm-back. It is only for covering the gap between the Kamm-back and the car's body.

Note: In order to lift the hatch, you would need to remove the sheet magnet to keep it from being creased and bent-up too much. This is not an ideal design, but I think it is a more secure design from the POV of keeping the air/wind out from under the Kamm.

CarloSW2

[FunkSkunk]

Is it really going to affect the aero that much? What about the sides? Can you fill it up with some foam insulating tape or rubber weather sealing? Seams like there should be an easier way that wouldn't involve removing items every time you want to open the hatch. I know I would get annoyed with it after a while and probably just leave it off.

just my .029 (I'm learning from all those gas stations how to get that extra penny out of people!)

[cfg83]

FunkSkunk -

Originally Posted by FunkSkunk

Is it really going to affect the aero that much? What about the sides? Can you fill it up with some foam insulating tape or rubber weather sealing? Seams like there should be an easier way that wouldn't involve removing items every time you want to open the hatch. I know I would get annoyed with it after a while and probably just leave it off.

just my .029 (I'm learning from all those gas stations how to get that extra penny out of people!)

Assuming I understand your question, I am not worried about the aero. I am addressing modmonster's concern about the air getting under it. Unlike other mods, a Kamm-back lends itself to being shaped like a wing if air gets under it. And it's angling downward, so it's also acting like a parachute in the sense that it is "capturing" the air.

I understand your PITA concern, but I also wouldn't want my work to go flying off my car and hit the fellow behind me. As part of a "v1.0" implementation, I would incorporate the magnetic sheet to be "overly cautious".

For the sides, I have a custom plan for my car that will incorporate foam tape/weather sealing just as you suggest.

CarloSW2

[FastPlastic]

Originally Posted by cfg83

i_am_socket -



The sheet magnet is not for adhering the kamm-back. It is only for covering the gap between the Kamm-back and the car's body.

Note: In order to lift the hatch, you would need to remove the sheet magnet to keep it from being creased and bent-up too much. This is not an ideal design, but I think it is a more secure design from the POV of keeping the air/wind out from under the Kamm.

CarloSW2

Could you use two sheets of magnetic material connected together with some sort of fabric? Making a hinge of sorts? Like the stuff they make cloth tops out of?