bubble-front

[MazdaMatt]

I am pretty new around here... just a few weeks of lurking under my belt.

I see a lot of discussion of boat-tailing, and I understand that the tear-drop shape is the best aero shape. Has anybody actually rounded out the FRONT of their vehicle to complete the teardrop? ie, run a big round window from the nose to the roof and a-pillars?

Not something I'd ever do, but an interesting mod for some of the ridiculous cars like aerocivic. (using "ridiculous" in the best possible way, of course).

[SVOboy]

Basjoos used to have a second windshield, but I don't know what happened to that idea. Just doesn't seem too practical to me.

[MazdaMatt]

Haha... "practical". Who said anything about practical?

What did the second windshield look like?

[whokilledthejams]

Unless you live in the Atacama desert, you're going to have precipitation to deal with. Needless to say, a second or relocated windshield is going to be hell to keep clean, if you aren't ambitious enough to rig up one or more wipers.

Needless to say, it's a compromise that I don't think is unreasonable to make when a car is used for more than land-speed-record attempts.

[Cd]

From what I

[basjoos]

Here's what my second windshield looked like. It improved my coasting performance (this was before I got the SuperMID, so I have no precise numbers), but had problems with fogging up on the inside during cold wet weather and the visibility through the clear vinyl wasn't optimum.


When I get the time, I plan to reglaze it in lexan, design a better defogging system for the inside of the glazing, and install a low drag windshield wiper (for use when I'm stopped, when I'm moving the rain mostly flows around it without hitting).

[MazdaMatt]

You, Sir, are hardcore. If that front piece is just a bent-over lexan sheet, why not use lexan to fill the side gaps instead of loose vinyl?

For my track-only Del Sol I purchased a one-piece fiberglass bumper/hood/fenders. It is a very smooth part with no grill and flared fenders. I recommend this part to you because it was actually in the shape of a 93 civic, not from a del sol. You would have to find a method of mounting it, but it isn't that tough.

This obviously doesn't adress the line from the nose to the roof, but if you dno't want the second windshield it would be a VERY solid aero mod.

[AnDoireman]

basjoos, I've always been very impressed by your civic - What are your thoughts on at some point using perhaps professionally made fibreglass panels when you're happy with your aeromods, to give it a smoother finish, as well as looking better?

Edit: Wow. Just read a bit about your aerocivic in the "garage" section. 0.17cd! That's insane.

[aspera]

I just accidentally posted almost the same thing in another thread as MazdaMatt did in this one. The only thing that I added was that Basjoos could mount the one-piece higher than normal to shroud the wipers.

The second windshield idea reminds me of something I read about cars in Siberia. They place a second layer of glass over the stock windshield to prevent frost. I would think that a second glass windshield mounted for a teardrop profile could be kept fog-free by cutting some holes in the hood. Holes towards the front of the hood (downstream of the radiator) would be a good spot. The heat from the engine bay should keep the glass warm. You'd want to paint the hood black to reduce glare or maybe even flock it.