09-06-2012, 08:12 PM
|
#1 (permalink)
|
|
EcoModding Enthusiast
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 48
Thanks: 7
Thanked 14 Times in 8 Posts
|
Honda Civic Remove Rear Bumper or add a belly pan?
So after weeks of procrastinating I now have a 4x8 sheet of black coroplast, and had planned on starting on the rear, as it is like a parachute, as some have said in the past.
So just looking for recommendations on whether to do the pan or just remove the entire back end all together.
At this point looks don't really matter. So I am leaning toward just removing the bumper and seeing how much it helps.
Gonna take it into the shop tomorrow to get the clutch replaced, so it probably won't happen until next week sometime.
Opinions welcome!
-Dave
__________________
|
|
|
|
 Today
|
|
|
|
Other popular topics in this forum...
|
|
|
|
|
09-06-2012, 09:58 PM
|
#2 (permalink)
|
|
The Dirty330 Modder
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: North East Ohio, USA
Posts: 642
Thanks: 10
Thanked 67 Times in 59 Posts
|
IMO if you can remove the rear bumper without destroying it or its mounts I would say test it if it ends up being better u can always take coroplast and make a cover to make it look nicer
__________________
"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing."
- Henry Ford
|
|
|
|
|
09-06-2012, 10:32 PM
|
#3 (permalink)
|
|
EcoModding Apprentice
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 235
Thanks: 154
Thanked 62 Times in 35 Posts
|
or just remove the part that is making it "parachute" this mod is obviously not reversible but i did something similar on my old barina:
i didnt have it on long enough to see if there were any gains though |
|
|
|
|
09-06-2012, 10:54 PM
|
#4 (permalink)
|
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Warren, MI
Posts: 2,456
Thanks: 782
Thanked 669 Times in 411 Posts
|
It's not a parachute so much as a trapped cushion of air. Unless the rear bumper hangs down below the rear axle.
Do the belly pan.
__________________
He gave me a dollar. A blood-soaked dollar.
I cannot get the spot out but it's okay; It still works in the store
|
|
|
|
|
09-07-2012, 03:16 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
|
|
EcoModding Enthusiast
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 48
Thanks: 7
Thanked 14 Times in 8 Posts
|
Thanks everyone for the replies. I had sometime last night, so I pulled it off, 10 screws in total I think. Unfortunately I had the day off today and did not get my regular drive in. In theory I think it'll help, but does look a bit funny. 
Was also thinking about cutting up a used one, found em on eBay and locally for about $100, so I'll wait.
I'll post some pics I took with it off, with a few angles, soon.
-Dave
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
09-08-2012, 01:10 AM
|
#6 (permalink)
|
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sanger,Texas,U.S.A.
Posts: 16,256
Thanks: 24,382
Thanked 7,359 Times in 4,759 Posts
|
rear bumper
Quote:
Originally Posted by blackcivic96
Thanks everyone for the replies. I had sometime last night, so I pulled it off, 10 screws in total I think. Unfortunately I had the day off today and did not get my regular drive in. In theory I think it'll help, but does look a bit funny.
Was also thinking about cutting up a used one, found em on eBay and locally for about $100, so I'll wait.
I'll post some pics I took with it off, with a few angles, soon.
-Dave |
I've never seen HONDA do a bumper which was too low.If anything,they weren't low enough.
One way Subaru got their 1986 XT down to Cd 0.29 was to radically lower the bottom lip of the rear bumper even with the bottom of the spare tire well in the trunk(which itself was lowered even with the belly of the car).
Had they gone lower,I can see where that could lead to higher drag.
I would follow their lead.It may not be sexy,but it's very scientific.
It highly likely that removing your bumper will punish you at the pump.
__________________
Photobucket album: http://s1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj622/aerohead2/
|
|
|
|
|
The Following User Says Thank You to aerohead For This Useful Post:
|
|
|
09-13-2012, 02:47 PM
|
#7 (permalink)
|
|
EcoModding Enthusiast
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 48
Thanks: 7
Thanked 14 Times in 8 Posts
|
As promised here are some pics.
Rear end with bumper cover off
From the driver side
From the passenger side
And the bumper shot from the top, really more for me and my pan plans, but hopefully others will find it helpful.
I also have some more close up shots, let me know if you have interest.
-Dave
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to blackcivic96 For This Useful Post:
|
|
|
09-13-2012, 04:17 PM
|
#8 (permalink)
|
|
(:
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762
Thanks: 1,585
Thanked 3,555 Times in 2,218 Posts
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by blackcivic96
In theory I think it'll help...
|
What theory is that?  |
|
|
|
|
09-13-2012, 04:32 PM
|
#9 (permalink)
|
|
Cyborg ECU
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Coastal Southern California
Posts: 6,299
Thanks: 2,373
Thanked 2,172 Times in 1,469 Posts
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by blackcivic96
I also have some more close up shots, let me know if you have interest.
-Dave
|
I happen to have shots with the bumper on, muffler off, that I took with a bellypan possibility in mind. Here they are:
james
__________________
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.
|
|
|
|
|
09-13-2012, 11:19 PM
|
#10 (permalink)
|
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: northwest of normal
Posts: 28,520
Thanks: 8,073
Thanked 8,870 Times in 7,322 Posts
|
Leave the bumper on and add skegs like the newer Prius ...es.
|
|
|
|
|
