External Mirror Removal (with tuft testing)

[aerohead]

My two brothers and I actually went to the Bob's, on Sherman Way, in Canoga Park in a 'race car.'
It belonged to my middle brother's friend Craig, a '56 'Van Nuys' pillarless Chevy two-door.
They'd just run it at Lions Drag Strip, towed it to our house; the owner took off on my brother's custom Zundapp motorcycle, and we restored the driveshaft and took off for Bob's drive-in, with open headers, loping in to a spot.
After we ate, we pulled onto Sherman Drive, heading towards Fallbrook Avenue.
On the one-two shift, the front wheels came off the ground. My oldest brother was riding shotgun, and we thought he'd soiled himself!
I can't believe we weren't arrested.
It's amazing that we survived our youth.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by aerohead

It's amazing that we survived our youth.

Reminds me the day I tried EOC in a downhill stretch of the BR-101 when I was 17. No power steering was not much of an issue, but the lack of vacuum for the brakes made me regret it. At least I wasn't involved in an accident.

[Vman455]

Originally Posted by M_a_t_t

We know what the truck is (because of the garage entry), but you didn't mention it or show a picture of it for those who don't and read the blog.

Good point; I changed the blog post to add the make and model year.

[aerohead]

I recently drove a friend's '93, 2WD, 22-R, M-5, cab-high aluminum topper, with nasty roof rack, holding garden trellis, topped-off, from Denton, TX, to Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Bed and tailgate was fully-loaded with metal yard furniture and garden tools.
I tried to hold it at 100-km/hr. No official weight.
The truck has HANKOOK H-rated tires @ 44-psi all-around.
Temps were in the 40s-F.
Wind blew the entire trip. Trees stripped of leaves, and no windmills or flags made it tough to estimate wind direction/ magnitude.
I didn't run any electrical accessories or A/C.
At 322-miles I chickened out, and turned of the highway for fuel.
Tank mileage was 28.2- mpg.

[67-ls1]

Originally Posted by aerohead

Here are a few values attributed to dual side mirror drag:
GM, PRECEPT/ EV1,1999, Cd 0.015, ( 9.2% and 7.6% respectively )
Ford FUSION, 2006, Cd 0.015( 4.6% )
Audi A2, 1999, Cd 0.0103 ( 4.37% )
SPIRIT-I, 2014,w/ Toyota OEM dual mirrors, Cd 0.0235, ( 9.63% )
SPIRIT-I, 2014, w/ Toyota OEM dual mirrors folded, Cd 0.175, ( 2.45% )
SPIRIT-II, 2017, w/ SCCA racing mirrors, Cd 0.010, ( 2.98% )

Are these values for “dual side mirror” or for the addition of a second mirror?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

It sounds like replacing the stock mirrors for the racing ones, while keeping at least one mirror at each side.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by 67-ls1

Are these values for “dual side mirror” or for the addition of a second mirror?

All values are for dual mirrors.

[MetroMPG]

Like Vman455, I've been rolling with various exterior/interior mirror configurations for many years now (15?). Currently, on my Mirage, I've replaced the outside mirrors with internal convex ones placed close to the glass.

Another potential disadvantage: while interior mirrors preserve much of the side view (some even expand it), you lose the ability to look directly down the side of the car itself. That can make reversing into tight spaces a real challenge.

Also makes it harder to spot cyclists when pulling away from the curb in a line of cars, if the cyclist is riding close to the cars.

You would of course adapt for safety's sake (eg. with exaggerated shoulder-checks, or cracking open the door when reversing in close quarters).

But I'm planning to modify my outside mirror blanks to add exterior mirror "slivers" - mostly to aid reversing into tight spots (by tight I mean just inches to spare from the side of the car).

Retractable/pop-out mirrors would also be fun... and more aerodynamic.

[67-ls1]

Originally Posted by aerohead

All values are for dual mirrors.

So approx half those figures for removing the passenger side mirror? Is the juice worth the squeeze?
I’m not trying to be smart, I just wonder how such minute changes translate to mpg’s.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by 67-ls1

So approx half those figures for removing the passenger side mirror? Is the juice worth the squeeze?
I’m not trying to be smart, I just wonder how such minute changes translate to mpg’s.

* Yes ,the values imply a 50% reduction from losing one.
* Right! With a Cd 0.80 JEEP CJ from the early 70s, you're not going to see any remarkable difference. Volkswagen's XL1 would be a different tune.
* A good reason to noodle on a vehicle-specific basis.
* I'm a big ' safety first' advocate, and personally, will suffer higher drag for the sake of good situational awareness.