Hello from Ohio
 

Greeting everyone! This is a very cool site- I have been a "lurker" for a long time and am excited to finally join.

I have a '99 F150 4x4 that I use "as a truck"- I haul stuff in it and use it for camping excursions. The current highway mileage is horrendous ( it's a 4x4). I've seen alot of really interesting work with pickups on the site - particularly with bed toppers - so looking forward to learning more.....

Also interested in building my own car at some point- fashioned after the Oldsmobile Aerotech Concept car. Curious what that shape is capable of in CD :)

Welcome to the site.

According to Pat Durkin, Peterson Automotive Museum, Cd = 0.12:

"Powered by a turbocharged 2-liter Oldsmobile Quad 4, it was driven by A.J. Foyt to set a new closed course record lap of 257 mph. Cd = 0.12

Petersen Automotive Museum - Los Angeles, CA"

• source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paddyspig/9073042790/

.12 is impressive! I guess the only thing close is that VW XL1 car...

Welcome, study the aero forum. That is probably your best gains on the highway.

Welcome!

Some useful places to go while you're still new:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...-mpg-5170.html

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ower-6341.html

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ehicle-83.html

Seein's how you're trying to wring better numbers from a full-size 4x4, you've got an uphill climb, but looked at another way, a gain of 1.0 MPG represents a much larger percentage boost for you than, for instance, me.

Start a garage page for your truck, it helps with keeping track of how the various mods perform. Tell us more about it so we have a better idea both of the truck's "mission profile" and what kind of options are on - and off - the table.

Jump in, the water's fine.

Thanks much! Right now I'm pretty fascinated with the "Aerocivic" thread. You are right about the truck-- and it's probably not going to be a terribly inspiring story, but I would like to know what the "basics" might do for it, as well as things like smooth wheel covers, a turbulence-taming "aero" bed topper, and even a belly pan? ( would like to keep the current ride height)

Do you have to haul items that you couldn't fit inside a van or an SUV? If you don't have this compromise, a camper shell would likely be quite good.


Bed toppers can do wonders when it comes to aerodynamic improvements in a truck.


Many folks on this board are also interested in building a custom car at some point, including me :thumbup: