jeep aero mod ideas - Page 2 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

johnpr · 03-23-2008, 07:56 PM

i hate to say it but 2WD has been an option on jeeps for years

mostly for the people who use them just for getting groceries or going to the beach (and lets not forget the old mail jeeps)

anyhow, i have been considering a sun/moon visor, i would have to make one myself (no company offers one for the wranglers that i have found), i am curious though as to how much it will help. the windshield angle has been something that has been bothering me, hence the removable extended windshield idea for when i tow it but i have been trying to think of something more permanent. i will try to incorporate a sunvisor of some sort into my design, i sounds like a practical idea.

thanks guys for your input, definately adding some more stuff to think about. i wonder .cd if you know what kind of range the electric powered jeep gets? i do have longer travels so right now it is impractical but something i want to consider nonetheless.

DifferentPointofView · 03-24-2008, 03:10 PM

Red, I don't know how much of a difference it makes, but not only is the water going upward, it's also gonna be hit by air molecules at highway speed, which makes it curve more that what the water is. So *maybe* it will push it enough to hit the tip of the windshield. Otherwise I'm not certain. The angle definitely gets steeper at the tip. If that wasn't there, maybe it would work with the sun-visor.

Quote:

i will try to incorporate a sunvisor of some sort into my design, i sounds like a practical idea.

That, and you get less sun in your eyes

I'm thinking theres no one that makes one because wranglers and the like don't really... have a roof to mount it on... If you could clip it on the windshield part at like, the sides it might work. I don't know. it's sorta tricky with a roofless suv.

Red · 03-24-2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DifferentPointofView

Red, I don't know how much of a difference it makes, but not only is the water going upward, it's also gonna be hit by air molecules at highway speed, which makes it curve more that what the water is. So *maybe* it will push it enough to hit the tip of the windshield. Otherwise I'm not certain. The angle definitely gets steeper at the tip. If that wasn't there, maybe it would work with the sun-visor.

That, and you get less sun in your eyes

I'm thinking theres no one that makes one because wranglers and the like don't really... have a roof to mount it on... If you could clip it on the windshield part at like, the sides it might work. I don't know. it's sorta tricky with a roofless suv.

Yeah, its hard to tell. I wanted to try another method to test but I couldn't find any volunteers at the time. Requires two vehicles and a bunch of flares doubt it very legal though.....

Well it could mount to the top of the windshield frame. Most light bars do something similar, but they tend to bolt to the bottom hinge.

aerohead · 03-28-2008, 04:18 PM

soften every leading edge that you can,especially around the top and sides of the windshield frame.Close all the gaps which allow air into the front wheels.An airdam which extends as low as the bottom of your lowest suspension member will give you a lot of the good a bellypan might.Allow some radius at the outer edges of the dam,or you'll have separated flow.Side body extensions including the front fenders which extend as low as the front airdam will allow air to go "around",rather than "through" the chassis.Don't do the grille-block until you've done these things,as you need to lower your cooling "load"first,or run the risk of overheating.As mentioned by other members,the hardtop will do you no good if you can't get a handle on separated flow in the front of the JEEP.If you can get the flow attached,the roofline can save you big time money.Model yours after the military version of the HUMVEE fastback.The flow will separate,and you can help that with a rear spoiler.You'll have a simple shape,easy to build and get on the vehicle.Rather than the dramatic upsweep,as depicted in your graphic,allow the bottom of the vehicle angle up at no more than 2-3 degrees,starting out,then further back,allow it a steeper angle to clear driveways,hill-climbing and such. Darin has posted a photo of CAR and DRIVER's Crisis Fighter Pinto article of 1974 in the blogs.Follow that lead on the JEEP and you'll be thumbing your nose at the gas pump.

johnpr · 03-28-2008, 04:45 PM

thanks for the advice, i'll work on some of this first

crexcrex · 08-27-2008, 04:42 AM

It wasn't too long ago when the price of gas hit an all time high of 1.00 per liter and that is when the jeep that i modded parted company, may it rest in peace as a Honda!

Unfortunately i am a sculptor of rock and in this instance a brick on four wheels inspite of the efforts to get better gas mileage pushing it over a cliff was a temptation that haunted me. That one 86 Cj 7 258 six banger with a five speed tranny. Fastback hard or soft tops, going doorless dumping excess steel and throwing on puny 235's was nothing more than a excersise in futility, from 16 miles per gallon to a paltry 26 highway city? 19...........

The days of the jeep are numbered after all it is not only a fuel sucking pig, they also ruin what nature remains. I readily admit that i was foolhardy and drove a brick no if's and buts.

A fuel efficient jeep? not in your lifetime even if you were a green 16 year old.

My thoughts are simply to sell and become a fuel sipping lunatic and buy whatever you decide, perhaps a dodge power wagon?

By the way the Jeep wave applied to those who had cj's, not tj's, yj's or cherokee's and as far as it is a jeep thing! it simply means that tearing up the contryside was a macho thing to do. How many did i own before i saw the eco lite? 18 genuine cj's fives and sevens two mb's and more.

keep your jeep if you can afford the gas, ecomodding a jeep? zero
wish you luck

crexcrex · 08-27-2008, 04:57 AM

Aerohead is running at the lip don't let his idea's give you false hope after all when they built a tank it was not for fuel efficiency. Now if you will tell us all what the jeep weighs, i know but not everyone else does'nt don't forget to include your add ons re winch etc, so your total weight is? and the number of horseies under the hood plus your gear ratio.

Turning a bush warrior into a street machine, why bother buy a car and free yourself from a brick!

sweatbrah · 08-27-2008, 05:05 AM

so basically if you want better mpg ...swap with a diesel.. 2.8 or less and you will see 30 mpg on freeway...and if you want to get off the paying at the pump make your own biodiesel... yes yes lots of work and money for such a project but its the only way in a jeep and still keep your jeep functional...

crexcrex · 08-27-2008, 05:23 AM

A good swap would be a diesel and if you want to get the mileage up there get rid of a lot of the dead iron that is taking a free ride and doing nothing for fuel efficiency, If i could a few years ago get 26-28 from a 258 six banger, you may well kick 35................

The cost factor and time and effort has to be worthwhile to you otherwise get with the program and buy what is affordable and possibly modded for economy
best of luck

sweatbrah · 08-27-2008, 06:30 AM

haha yah honestly.. Something practical hasn't crossed my mind yet haha.. it's a lot of work and money but heck if you love your jeep as much as I do I would want to drive my jeep on and off road and diesel is just perfect specially if you run biodiesel .. Save some bucks... But been looking at building an ev bike or car ( not sure what kind.. Probably something inpractical haha) still planning both out cause I have a short drive to school and it would be a fun alternative plus a rad project