Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Aerodynamics
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 01-10-2015, 02:48 PM   #1 (permalink)
aero enthusiast
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 92

Blue beauty - '02 Honda Civic VX
Thanks: 157
Thanked 66 Times in 40 Posts
95 GMC pickup streamlined (aerocap and wheelskirts)



Hi fellow modders, its about time i joined you all and participated in this deadly site... ive been lurking for too long. I had been thinking bout an aero truck topper for year or too before i got 'er done...
It is made of wood with a rubber skin on top, was thinking of wood skin, but couldnt justify the time or extra weight. It has been on the truck for 3 months now and i love it. I drive out of town on highway most days of the week, and have noticed slightly lower revs at cruising speed of 100km/hr. I cannot test l/100kms as have a hole in top of my fuel tank, but it must help. Sure keeps the snow out of my gear, and get some good headturns!
I can also drive 110 with the topper up, and the next step is using it to push the air over the "new" trailer... and some rear wheel skirts of course.

What do you all think?
Feedback appreciated


Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	20150110_132831.jpg
Views:	898
Size:	40.7 KB
ID:	16752   Click image for larger version

Name:	20150110_132843.jpg
Views:	98
Size:	33.1 KB
ID:	16753   Click image for larger version

Name:	20150110_133004.jpg
Views:	311
Size:	48.5 KB
ID:	16754  

Last edited by rumdog; 04-19-2015 at 10:54 PM.. Reason: updated
  Reply With Quote
The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to rumdog For This Useful Post:
aerohead (02-25-2015), BamZipPow (02-26-2015), Cd (01-31-2015), MetroMPG (01-29-2015), skyking (02-28-2015)
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 01-18-2015, 11:01 AM   #2 (permalink)
Cyborg ECU
 
California98Civic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Coastal Southern California
Posts: 6,299

Black and Green - '98 Honda Civic DX Coupe
Team Honda
90 day: 66.42 mpg (US)

Black and Red - '00 Nashbar Custom built eBike
90 day: 3671.43 mpg (US)
Thanks: 2,373
Thanked 2,172 Times in 1,469 Posts
Hey, welcome! Nice pics too. I can't believe this greeting got missed given the cool project it presents. I'm sure people would love more details on the rubber covering and how you did it. I don't think I have seen that here yet. And what do you mean "hole in the top" of your gas tank? I hope that's just a missing cap, or maybe a lead foot!
__________________
See my car's mod & maintenance thread and my electric bicycle's thread for ongoing projects. I will rebuild Black and Green over decades as parts die, until it becomes a different car of roughly the same shape and color. My minimum fuel economy goal is 55 mpg while averaging posted speed limits. I generally top 60 mpg. See also my Honda manual transmission specs thread.



  Reply With Quote
Old 01-18-2015, 11:09 AM   #3 (permalink)
Not bad for a machine
 
dirtydave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Baltimore
Posts: 1,024

Maechunbu - Retired - '00 Kia Sephia 1.8I4 16VDOHC
Last 3: 45.28 mpg (US)

Slasher - '96 Chevy Corsica 2.2L 3speedauto
Duct Tape Aero Crew
Team Chevy
90 day: 34.76 mpg (US)
Thanks: 279
Thanked 242 Times in 179 Posts
Looks good! I bet it has a bit more power pulling the trailer now!
__________________




  Reply With Quote
Old 01-18-2015, 10:20 PM   #4 (permalink)
aero enthusiast
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 92

Blue beauty - '02 Honda Civic VX
Thanks: 157
Thanked 66 Times in 40 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by California98Civic View Post
Hey, welcome! Nice pics too. I can't believe this greeting got missed given the cool project it presents. I'm sure people would love more details on the rubber covering and how you did it. I don't think I have seen that here yet. And what do you mean "hole in the top" of your gas tank? I hope that's just a missing cap, or maybe a lead foot!
Thanks California98civic for the welcome. Its a fairly similar shape to many of the truck toppers on here, maybe with a longer overhang at the back. Which just happened as i built it because i used 10 foot strips of wood, then standing back looking at it, i decided to keep it long for aero benefit.
construction is using 1/2 inch ply and studs ripped into about 3/8" strips... see photo, then lots of PL premium and narrow crown staples. The rubber is hard to name as my buddy has a roll of it and gave me a big chunk. It is between 1/16th an 1/8th thick and has a grid of fibre inside it. It doesn't stretch much so had to have a join along where the side meets the top. I stapled it on with a T50 electric staple gun. Pretty simple construction, hardest part was figuring out the "arches".
And the gas tank issue is a leak! But in the top half of the tank... it will take 50 litres no problem, but i can't measure full to full. Shes not the most efficient vehicle on the site but i need the 8' box for work and now towing the trailer too. And the price was right! Free.

Dirty dave: thanks man, im pretty stoaked on how the shape turned out, and yea it must help a little pulling the trailer, but watch this space... i would like to have the topper 'up' to punch the hole for the trailer, semi style! I have tried it already but it needs a little refining (work)

The magnum is our new family wagon, and i am currently doing a mpg test on it stock, on a trip from saskachewan canada to los angeles... 2850 kms each way. So far im pretty happy, it rides nice and smooth and is returning under 10litres/100kms... doing the speed limit which is 80mph in places on I15. Its the "small" 2.7l V6. Would love to bellypan it and maybe rear wheel skirts etc. I do like the low stance and tapering shape, feels stable in the crazy crosswinds!
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	20150110_133028.jpg
Views:	724
Size:	37.8 KB
ID:	16791   Click image for larger version

Name:	20150110_132914.jpg
Views:	88
Size:	43.0 KB
ID:	16792  
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to rumdog For This Useful Post:
aerohead (02-25-2015), BamZipPow (02-26-2015)
Old 01-29-2015, 11:36 AM   #5 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Belated welcome, rumdog!

Very cool! That's a good looking cap - nice work. My only suggestion would have been to build in a radius at the side/top transition. Complicates construction, but ensures a smoother flow transition between those surfaces.

Are you going to stick around? Garage entries/fuel log?

---

Quote:
Originally Posted by California98Civic View Post
Hey, welcome! Nice pics too. I can't believe this greeting got missed given the cool project it presents.
I missed it too! (Just edited the thread title and embedded a couple of rumdog's pics to guarantee more eyeballs.)
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2015, 02:52 PM   #6 (permalink)
EcoRookie
 
23baseball3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 21

Joan ('95 Buick Skylark) - '95 Buick Skylark Custom Sport
Thanks: 6
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Nice cap! It looks so clean!
__________________
Dominic

Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. -Einstein

Team Buick
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to 23baseball3 For This Useful Post:
rumdog (01-31-2015)
Old 01-30-2015, 03:42 PM   #7 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
I'm curious about the hinge setup.

EDIT: never mind, I figured it out.
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2015, 10:42 PM   #8 (permalink)
aero enthusiast
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 92

Blue beauty - '02 Honda Civic VX
Thanks: 157
Thanked 66 Times in 40 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
Belated welcome, rumdog!

Very cool! That's a good looking cap - nice work. My only suggestion would have been to build in a radius at the side/top transition. Complicates construction, but ensures a smoother flow transition between those surfaces.

Are you going to stick around? Garage entries/fuel log?

---



I missed it too! (Just edited the thread title and embedded a couple of rumdog's pics to guarantee more eyeballs.)
Cheers MetroMPG, are you talking about the cab to topper transition ? Yes i know what you mean... maybe i can gap fill with a thick foam strip, but i don't want to touch the cab as it makes funny noises!
Yea for the hinge i used HD gate hinges and a 2X4 frame.
And yes i plan to stick around! I am still out of country in the magnum... back soon. Love this like minded community! And thanks for tweaking my photos
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2015, 06:59 PM   #9 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
I actually meant the transition from the "triangular" side pieces to the top surface.
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2015, 10:10 PM   #10 (permalink)
aero enthusiast
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 92

Blue beauty - '02 Honda Civic VX
Thanks: 157
Thanked 66 Times in 40 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
I actually meant the transition from the "triangular" side pieces to the top surface.
Ahh right, it is not as sharp a tranny as it looks in the side photos, i will take a pic when im back. But i hear you... smooth is good!
Next is rear wheel covers and side skirts, will look up the site for mounting ideas. I like the look of bamzippows

  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to rumdog For This Useful Post:
BamZipPow (02-26-2015)
Reply  Post New Thread


Tags
fastback, gmc, topper, truck

Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com