how to help my matrix part 2 (front end)
 

After looking at the front end of my car:
http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...GEDC0150-4.jpg

http://i835.photobucket.com/albums/z...GEDC0158-1.jpg

And looking at the aero civic's front end, I might want to do something similar.

Ground rules:
1. Must be un doable.
2. Must not damage the stock bumper.
3. Should look somewhat well done (not bumpy, patched, or lots of screws).
4. Must have hood release access.

I am looking for ideas on shape and mount points.
Should I deflect air around the sides or top? If sides I might round out the front (curve in from the sides), have a flat bottom and slope the top down.
How far out should I make it?

...3-inch height garage-door seal as "spoiler" below the bumper.

...use pop-rivets and washers to mount unto existing facia/bumper material.

I might do that, but I have a partial belly pan, so what will it gain me? Besides, the snow we get here makes the current belly pan act as a snow plow several times a winter.

bump for some ideas please :)

Time to resurrect this thread. What's the best front end shape?

best
 

I'm not sure there's a 'best',as there is enough variation in front end designs with production vehicles that you've got to work with what you have.
From the available literature,the bulbous nose appears to best satisfy crosswind-averaged driving.Something like the Schlor Car,or this years Bochum University's Solar car.A perfect semicircle when viewed from above.
You could try something radical with cardboard and masking tape and see if it 'showed'.
The designers say that there is no magic radius or anything like that.Once you have attached flow,you're there.I can't imagine that the Matrix/Vibe front end would have any 'issues.'
Projecting the nose forward would allow a nice minimum dimension,airtight, Korffesque radiator inlet duct.

so if I understand this right, I need to make the front end a half circle (top view) and a smooth under side, and slope the top to match the hood?

Where would the best spot be for an air intake for the radiator?

Where should I make a hole to let the air out of the engine bay?

when looking at the aero civic it seems that the nose is not rounded much from side to side but from the top down. It Also seems that his is designed to send air up and over rather then any other way.

thoughts or recommendations before I start building?

I think the Aero Civic uses those curves because of the restrictions of building with coroplast. It's very difficult to get complex curvature (bending two ways at once) with the materials we aeromodders typically use. You could surely make a Schlor-esque nose from fiberglass or even vacuum molding, but if it doesn't work that would be a lot of wasted effort.

In short, do whatever Phil did :)

well I bought a roll of aluminum flashing to use as a building material. $35 for a 14" by 50 foot roll. I also have some wood I will bend into a curve to use as the frame, if I can find a good mount point.

At this point I am thinking of going flat from the underside of the engine belly pan to front of nose. then curving it up to match the hood and just below the lights. Some place I will put a grill opening that is ducted to the radiator. It will also be remotely operable :)

How far out should the nose go?