Dodge Dart Aero mods

[aerohead]

At any given driving velocity your dynamic pressure is fixed.The only way to get more cooling is to streamline the ductwork leading to the radiator.
You'd need a minimized size,perfect inlet which is radiused like a velocity stack and an airtight diverging duct leading to the heat exchanger.

Without a wind tunnel,I don't think we can 'guess' our way to a better extractor unless you can duct that as well.If so,then follow good racing applications.

[woodstock74]

So taken many steps back in the last few months. And work pressure means I haven't been able to address anything.

First: the hubcaps are off. I had terrible luck getting them to stay on, many mad dashes out into fields to retrieve after seeing them fly off the car. The last foray 2 were too damaged to continue and I've been thinking what the long term solution is and a complete redesign is being contemplated. I need hubcaps that are captured by the wheel nuts, I distrust the other kind completely now. But that poses shape problems because the type that are captured by the wheel nuts they simply don't have a sympathetic shape. Alas, I've seen the pizza pan flat wheel solution and think I might go down that route.

Second: I had to get new tires. My dealer has the "Tires for Life" incentive, but I found myself in a pickle when I needed new tires immediately and I didn't have any time to do any research. So I've ended up with Goodyear Eagle LS' and subsequently I've seen a 10% or more decrease in MPG. WTF? Are these tires just dogs? The OEMs were Kuhmos and I didn't think much of them until this. Alas, I'm stuck with the Goodyears.

[kach22i]

I wonder if the hubcaps were being sucked off by negative air pressure.

That is to say, the air flowing past was being accelerated lowering the pressure because of velocity and causing lift.

Brilliant in-fill solution with those insert tabs, I might have to emulate it one day.

[woodstock74]

Originally Posted by kach22i

I wonder if the hubcaps were being sucked off by negative air pressure.

That is to say, the air flowing past was being accelerated lowering the pressure because of velocity and causing lift.

It could have been a contributor and drawn the hubcaps away from the rims over time such that at low speed, and a harsh bump, was all that it took to dislodge (that's what happened in all cases, fortunately).

[woodstock74]

Installed an intake.



Still working on hubcaps Mk...whatever, lost track of the number...purchased ones that are captured by the lug nuts, just need to modify them. Have some underbody ideas in the works, just a matter of thinking them through, finding the time, and then executing them.

[Xist]

Warm air intake?

[woodstock74]

Originally Posted by Xist

Warm air intake?

No, just a replacement for the factory airbox. This is a K&N knock off. So eliminates the factory airbox, has a cone filter, and a "heat shield". Draws air from the same source, just below the right hand headlight, via the collapsible frame rail. However, as that's just a heat shield and is not sealed to the inlet that draws air from below the headlight, yes, there's the possibility of some warm air draw. However, it hasn't been designed with that in mind, other than accidentally.

[Xist]

Right, heat shield, that should help keep the temperatures down.

[woodstock74]

Originally Posted by Xist

Right, heat shield, that should help keep the temperatures down.

Well no one claimed it was a cold air intake...

Seeing it installed now, at some point in the future, I envision templating and then fabricating side extensions to close up the gaps. But it will be fiddly inasmuch as the geometry is complex extruding to the outboard surfaces of the body, so a back burner project at best.

[Piotrsko]

Probably all major manufacturers make a lugnut that is threaded on the outside. I know chevy does. Finding a flat headed whatsit that would bolt the covers down using the wheel lugs shouldn't be all that hard. Or long nuts that have through threading.