Honda Insight Tail Extension Project

[jime57]

Yeah, I just can't help to speculate on the FE improvements either. We could have a lottery;-) My guess is about 10% improvement. I'm basing this on Metro's 15% with his boattail on a car which had a much worse rear section. The Insight is already pretty good, making improvement more difficult. That's my guess anyway.

A 10% solid improvement would be huge in my opinion. It would allow pretty reliable lean burn operation at 60 MPH in most terrain and that in itself would be a huge improvement. Anxiously waiting ;-)

[3-Wheeler]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

I was wondering about that. It's been too cold out for epoxy to cure this week, but there's a chance there could be a few warm days next week. If the season for glassing hasn't passed, it's really close.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the mpg results. The cold weather might take some of the pizazz out of the mpg figures, but I hope you can still get some incredible figures out of your car.

Robert,

That West System epoxy is some pretty tolerance stuff, I will have to say! It still will setup almost completely hard over night with the outside temperature at 45°F or so, as I have found out this week.

As far as pizazz, yes, I've missed the best part of a hot summer working on the car, so my average mpg figures are lower than they could be. For the past two years, the car is parked in the garage all summer while foam/glass work is being done.

I'm looking forward to sit above lean burn of 75 mpg at 55 mph on the highway. My car has always seemed sluggish at that speed for some reason, and as you know, I've already done the EGR/plate cleaning process.

Jim.

[3-Wheeler]

Originally Posted by jimepting

....It would allow pretty reliable lean burn operation at 60 MPH in most terrain and that in itself would be a huge improvement....

Yes, jimepting, that has been my situation as well. It seems difficult to maintain lean burn at 55 mph, especially while encountering small, low grade hills.

And for that reason, if high MPG's are on order for the day, then the backroads at 45 mph are called for to maintain lean burn.

I'm most interested to see what type of improvement there is at 55 mph.

In the winter time, some of the backroads get real choppy, and I am forced to take a different route to work, which typically means higher speeds. Hopefully the tail extension will make this easier to accomplish.

I will be doing a series of coast downs on the way to work as well. This involves taking a obtuse drive to work, but the road is little traveled, so it is safer for this sort of thing. I can compare similar coast downs from last year with 70% under-body coverage, and see what the difference is, now that the car has 90% under-body coverage and the tail.

Note: that my coast downs also consider outside temperature, which has a large affect on the coast down numbers. I log this info in the coast down spreadsheet.

Jim.

[silverinsight2]

Found this on Insightcentral

[wyatt]

FYI, the above picture is only available to InsightCentral members, and it looks great!

[3-Wheeler]

Sorry, but I would have preferred that SilverInsight not post the InsightCentral picture here until I was ready to update everyone.

I posted at IC because of an LED question, not because of the tail.

Also, I'm still working out issues with the custom electrical connectors to the rear lights on the car, and would like to post pictures of that. There are many pictures to size smaller to allow posting here, and that will take some time to prepare.

Jim.

[MN Driver]

"until I was ready to update everyone"

I'm waiting patiently.

[silverinsight2]

Originally Posted by 3-Wheeler

Sorry, but I would have preferred that SilverInsight not post the InsightCentral picture here until I was ready to update everyone.

I posted at IC because of an LED question, not because of the tail.

Also, I'm still working out issues with the custom electrical connectors to the rear lights on the car, and would like to post pictures of that. There are many pictures to size smaller to allow posting here, and that will take some time to prepare.

Jim.

Sorry Jim, but she sure looks pretty!

[Varn]

I used West systems epoxy for several years. Eventually I became sensitized to it and it makes me break out.

I have tried UScomposites epoxy I have used about a half gallon with the fast hardener. Fast is about the same as west medium (edit: West 206) Price point, a gallon kit is $64 and shipping. So far no hives.

[Varn]

What is the deal with not showing this group a picture of your Hondacar? It is only a car.