Ford Escort ZX2 Aerodynamics

[freebeard]

redneck's is a good example to follow. It seemed light and stout.

So what happens between 85 and 90%? Prius tail lights?

I'd would think drop pants down behind the rear wheels and make the tail a half-circular arc. The outside follows The Template and the inside is an exponential horn to couple with the base pressure. aerohead can probably falsify this if necessary, I think the base [low-]pressure communicates forward through the horn and accelerates the air moving under the car. Produces downforce without drag. Maybe.

It could work, with red and amber LED strip lighting.

[BabyDiesel]

Originally Posted by freebeard

redneck's is a good example to follow. It seemed light and stout.

Exactly the reason to replicate his work

So what happens between 85 and 90%? Prius tail lights?

That is actually a great idea. If they will fit, I'll make them work! I might even try to fit a 3rd gen spoiler instead of making my own

I'd would think drop pants down behind the rear wheels and make the tail a half-circular arc. The outside follows The Template and the inside is an exponential horn to couple with the base pressure. aerohead can probably falsify this if necessary, I think the base [low-]pressure communicates forward through the horn and accelerates the air moving under the car. Produces downforce without drag. Maybe.

It could work, with red and amber LED strip lighting.

Could you explain this a little more, maybe with a visual representation? I think I know what you are saying. Go from how my car is shaped to more of a half-moon, looking at it from the front. Do this as soon as possible, right?

What do you mean by exponential horn and drop pants? Maybe it is because it's 2:52 a.m. is why I'm not understanding lol

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by freebeard

redneck's is a good example to follow. It seemed light and stout.

So what happens between 85 and 90%? Prius tail lights?

I'd would think drop pants down behind the rear wheels and make the tail a half-circular arc. The outside follows The Template and the inside is an exponential horn to couple with the base pressure. aerohead can probably falsify this if necessary, I think the base [low-]pressure communicates forward through the horn and accelerates the air moving under the car. Produces downforce without drag. Maybe.

It could work, with red and amber LED strip lighting.

I got in trouble at Bonneville with the CRX trying to get away with this.As it turned out,the stern pressure (because of the boat tail) was higher than the flow upstream under the diffuser,causing the air to flow forwards and tripping the flow.
If one had access to a full-scale tunnel,you might be able to carefully tune this area,but I don't think you could do it outside a wind tunnel.
Racers are using such steep diffusers,that there's no pressure recovery,and a low pressure does communicate forwards underneath to create some down-force,but with a drag penalty.Ferrari will spend $100,000 dinkin' around with this stuff to shave a fraction of a second off a lap time.

[freebeard]

What do you mean by exponential horn and drop pants? Maybe it is because it's 2:52 a.m. is why I'm not understanding lol

Sorry, I dropped the ball on your question. aerohead responded then when I remembered I had trouble finding the thread.

Anyway... examples from Luigi Colani



http://www.carstyling.ru/en/car/1981_colani_2cv/


http://www.carstyling.ru/en/car/1970_colani_c_112/

Who else would hang the rear window wiper on the transaxle.

[aerohead]

I think the diffuser is too steep for mpg,but probably provides downforce,and this was intended.
I can't infer too much from the smoke images.

[BabyDiesel]

I think I'll stick to the template and go by the 2.5-5 degree rule That is an interesting concept though.

It is still raining too much here to perform any testing. Over 7 inches in a week, and 5 more expected by Sunday.

Stay tuned y'all!

[freebeard]

There's an electric racer that's been posted here that I haven't found again, that is basically a straight tunnel from the front axle line. Which is a problem when you start with an actual car with a trunk and gas tank. Went off the rails a bit there, sorry.

The most you could hope for is a forward rake and tapered side skirts, and a shallow tapered box shaped pant behind the rear wheel extending to the rear bumper line.

...and go by the 2.5-5 degree rule

I've never understood that, 2.5-5 degrees per what?

[BabyDiesel]

Originally Posted by freebeard

There's an electric racer that's been posted here that I haven't found again, that is basically a straight tunnel from the front axle line. Which is a problem when you start with an actual car with a trunk and gas tank. Went off the rails a bit there, sorry.

The most you could hope for is a forward rake and tapered side skirts, and a shallow tapered box shaped pant behind the rear wheel extending to the rear bumper line.



I've never understood that, 2.5-5 degrees per what?

I'll keep an eye out for it!

The 2.5-5 degree rule as I call it is the diffuser angle, along with the angle of the bottom of the boat tail in relation to a flat, 0-degree sloped ground. Having the angle in between this range gives the lowest drag.

[whatmaycome14]

I can't wait to see the work you put into this! I'm excited for you.

[BabyDiesel]

Originally Posted by whatmaycome14

I can't wait to see the work you put into this! I'm excited for you.

Thank you Zach! Have you checked out my build thread? Pgfpro did calculations one my car; fully optimized, it should get 108 mpg @ 45 mph And there is a lot of turbo talk going on too!