Just made these. feedback required... (Miata/MX-5 front tire deflectors)

[caferacer51]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your comments so far!

I had a go at making the grill block I pictured in post #14, I tried to use the same materials as the wind deflectors, but I found that that material would accept a bend across one plane, but when I tried to bend it across another plane it cracked (is it 'plane' or 'plain'...?)

So back to my materials research...

Also looking at some of the feedback on the wind deflectors, especially #16 from euromodder, there may be a question as to whether they are simply trapping air and pushing them onto the rotating tyre itself...?

So there could be a much smaller/simpler/lighter version in the pipeline...





On the plus side, all the holes I'm drilling in my front bumper will soon be adding up to a serious weight loss...

[BamZipPow]

Try mounting a flat piece (similar to a mud flap) on the inside of the wheel well but in front of the tire. As the air hits the flat piece, it will spill outwards and away from the tires. If you need more aero performance...you can use this as a support base/platform to work off of.

[Varn]

Your green line is suspiciously familiar.


Hoping for better weather so my projects can continue.

[euromodder]

Did you spot any gains in fuel efficiency with the deflectors ?

[caferacer51]

Originally Posted by euromodder

Did you spot any gains in fuel efficiency with the deflectors ?

Not able to say I'm affraid, financialy I'm only putting fuel in the car to commute. Which means there are just too many 'variables' to get a credible comparison.
The motorway I use is very busy/undulating making an A-B-A test impossible.

The modifications are more based on looking at other peoples designs (Thanks Varn...) and semi-educated guesses. Bit of a shame really, I'd love to have the time/space/money/flat roads to do some proper testing!

I'd also love a scan guage, but my car being 1990 doesn't help and MPGuino seems to be near mythical nowadays...

So for the time being I'm just relying on your feedback and opinions!

Cheers!

[caferacer51]

Originally Posted by BamZipPow

Try mounting a flat piece (similar to a mud flap) on the inside of the wheel well but in front of the tire. As the air hits the flat piece, it will spill outwards and away from the tires. If you need more aero performance...you can use this as a support base/platform to work off of.

Good call this one, the material will be just what I need and easy to trim.
Will need to get a subtle colour and brace myself for all the comments....

"Eh mate, you know you got your mud-flaps on the wrong way round...?"

Think they're fairly cheap on fleabay too?

[Joenavy85]

Originally Posted by BamZipPow

Try mounting a flat piece (similar to a mud flap) on the inside of the wheel well but in front of the tire. As the air hits the flat piece, it will spill outwards and away from the tires. If you need more aero performance...you can use this as a support base/platform to work off of.

i just figured out how to do the air dam on my Jeep.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by caferacer51

Not able to say I'm affraid, financialy I'm only putting fuel in the car to commute.

It's only a 1-time effort to fill it up completely.
Which is unlikely to become much cheaper anytime soon.
After that, you can be filling up as you burn fuel.

It gives you an opportunity to properly keep track of your fuel use, which is essential if you want to see your improvements over time.

The motorway I use is very busy/undulating making an A-B-A test impossible.

I purposely don't test modifications (nothing beyond a short functional check, that is).

The testing is in the regular driving, and the fuel economy it returns.
If you keep track of your fuel use, you'll spot the effects over time if they're there.

Don't feel bad because you can't attribute X % better fuel economy to mod Y.
That doesn't really matter.

[ron]

i know this is an old post but the differance with polycarbonate and plexiglass is ,polycab is used for military bullet proof wind screens (tuff stuff), plexi is the lid for your soda

[Xist]

caferacer51, I understand not wanting to drive any more than necessary, but that makes this project difficult. You mentioned A-B-A testing, but the other tenet of ecomodding is tuft testing, with its own complications, but at least you would be able to see at a glance if it is working.