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Old 11-02-2011, 07:50 PM   #11 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Waspswatter View Post
How would you clean up the undercarriage? I have some ideas, but what would you recommend? Some of that junk under there hangs pretty low. It'd be hard to make a fiberglass bellypan or something like that.
My belly pan bulges downward to clear some hardware. For some cross-wise suspension arms I kinda wish I would have just cut away the belly pan to clear them. It's always a judgement call and a compromise, but you should get good benefits either way. And it's easier working under a truck than under a Civic!!

For cars, most of us use coroplast. It's like corrugated cardboard but is extruded plastic, so doesn't rot. Cuts with a knife. Large spans may need framing for support. Buy 4x8 sheets from sign shops; I paid $20/sheet. Pick up free material right after Election Day - lots of campaign signs are made of coroplast. For a current project I plan to use some 2.7 mm. Lauan plywood, primed with oil base house paint, slightly thinned. About $7.50/sheet, and quite stiff. Cuts pretty easy too.

For ideas and info - Look around in the Aerodynamics subforum. Just search for truck belly pan, pickup belly pan, jeep belly pan. I've seen a few threads by guys who did belly pans under trucks, and at least one under a Jeep. You'll find various solutions to the different issues you'll come across.

I know one used regular plywood for a belly pan. I think he didn't even prime it - but I had some plywood mods on my old Volvo that I primed; worked out pretty well. A beloved family member ruined the mod before the weather did.

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Old 11-02-2011, 09:04 PM   #12 (permalink)
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Cool! I can see I'm going to spend a lot of time on this site. I just had a few thoughts, what about chicken wire and paper mache'? Maybe fiberglassed when the shape is right? Hehe, don't worry, I always spend more time planning a project than doing it, so I'm not going to go out and by the materials until I'm sure I know what I want. Besides, I'll work on my hypermiling and save the body work for next year.
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Old 11-02-2011, 10:13 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Yeah - getting a bit cold for working outside. That hasn't always stopped me but it sure puts a damper on it.

Hey, you can list and describe your truck here - this gives you a place to provide info on your Ranger. At top of the EcoModder page, click Garage (part of Garage & Tools). On the top gray panel there, click "Add new vehicle". You'll be on your way. Then afterwards, next time you go to "Garage" you'll see your car in the top panel and you can start entering gas log entries. It's a good way to track how it's doing.

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