Fun with Volvo's (anybody photoshop)

[RobertSmalls]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

We're not ignoring you, dude.

I was ignoring it, until the thread title changed recently. Interesting idea.

Unfortunately, the old Volvo would need a lot more work than newer cars. Here's a picture of the 2008 Volvo C30:

Notice how the roofline starts to fall away above the driver's head. If you wanted to streamline the Volvo Amazon, you'd want to re-work the roof starting in front of the B-pillars. With the C30, you'd get good results even if you started behind the C-pillars.

Here, I slapped a streamlining template on the Amazon:

If you start cutting at the C-pillars, you get to the 20% marker on the template without increasing the length of the car, with a miniscule reduction in rear area. With an enormous amount of effort, you can reach 40% on the template without reducing ride height or increasing overall length. There would be a measurable improvement in drag, but still much worse than a streamlined body truncated at 70%.

This template has a fixed fineness ratio, so if you manage to lower the height of your roof, the template becomes less tall and less long.

Another strike against the Amazon: it's got 50 year old engine technology. Things have improved since then.

[Nonhog]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

The problem with a unibody is that you will have to jig the body before you cut or the durn thing will never come out straight.

Now...if you have a body jig, that's a different matter.

BTW, I like the big block, but right now I think the L92 is a hard engine to beat for all-around performance.

I understand what your saying I think I would use tube or angle iron and tack it up inside before chopping. Like the rust repair threads and custom chop top guys do.

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

Interesting idea.

If you wanted to streamline the Volvo Amazon, you'd want to re-work the roof starting in front of the B-pillars. With the C30, you'd get good results even if you started behind the C-pillars.


If you start cutting at the C-pillars, you get to the 20% marker on the template without increasing the length of the car, with a miniscule reduction in rear area. With an enormous amount of effort, you can reach 40% on the template without reducing ride height or increasing overall length. There would be a measurable improvement in drag, but still much worse than a streamlined body truncated at 70%.

This template has a fixed fineness ratio, so if you manage to lower the height of your roof, the template becomes less tall and less long.

Another strike against the Amazon: it's got 50 year old engine technology. Things have improved since then.

Thanks for the overlay and ideas ! As far as the 50year old engine I agree and am not ruling out an upgrade. however I've had old Toyotas that got really good (IMO) mpg, 35 driven hard basically no effort given.
(was much younger then)
That was a 72 Corolla with a 3kc similar in design to the Volvo B20.
My dad with the same car got over 40 mpg. Granted he tried hard to get that.
He also had fun with his 86 Chevy Sprint getting the best mpg possible.
I think I'll start with the B20 and see what happens.

[Frank Lee]

Cut the whole dang roof off, take all the pillars out, and drop it back on there. Then put a bubble canopy over the driver's head. Done.