Just starting on wheel skirts, need opinions/ideas

[AndrewJ]

If you're going to do some coastdown testing with and without the skirts, you might as well take the few extra minutes to record your data and plug it into the spreadsheet in this Instructable.

Then you'll know (roughly) what your Cd was before and after the skirts.

I did the same tests on my car to find my before and after drag coefficients. (0.33 and 0.25 respectively) There are more details in my "5th Gen" thread.

[cfg83]

AndrewJ -

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

If you're going to do some coastdown testing with and without the skirts, you might as well take the few extra minutes to record your data and plug it into the spreadsheet in this Instructable.

Then you'll know (roughly) what your Cd was before and after the skirts.

I did the same tests on my car to find my before and after drag coefficients. (0.33 and 0.25 respectively) There are more details in my "5th Gen" thread.

Thanks for pointing that out. I couldn't find that instructable (I was looking in Makezine, ).

CarloSW2

[aerohead]

the curves make sheetmetal a real challenge.Ron Fournier's Race Car Fabrication book shows alot of tricks he uses.Tedious,but great results.On my HONDA,I made cardboard and masking tape mockups over a freshly waxed ( at least three coats of carnuba ) surfaces,then I did wet layups of fiberglass cloth and polyester resin.After building up multiple layers,and after a good cure,I peeled the skirts off the car,soaked them in a stock tank to" dissolve" the cardboard,then finished the units with automotive primer and spray paint.The composite system allowed me to fashion extremely complex shapes in a reasonable time.The materials came either from the paint section at HOME DEPOT,or Auto Zone.The plan was to use weldplates and dzus fasteners to attach them.I never made it that far,ending up drilling and screwing the things to the car,having again,run out the clock and heading out on a non-negotiable deadline for travel/testing.

[Chris D.]

Originally Posted by aerohead

On my HONDA,I made cardboard and masking tape mockups over a freshly waxed ( at least three coats of carnuba ) surfaces,then I did wet layups of fiberglass cloth and polyester resin.After building up multiple layers,and after a good cure,I peeled the skirts off the car,soaked them in a stock tank to" dissolve" the cardboard,then finished the units with automotive primer and spray paint.The composite system allowed me to fashion extremely complex shapes in a reasonable time.The materials came either from the paint section at HOME DEPOT,or Auto Zone.The plan was to use weldplates and dzus fasteners to attach them.I never made it that far,ending up drilling and screwing the things to the car,having again,run out the clock and heading out on a non-negotiable deadline for travel/testing.

What I was thinking of doing was getting some of that pink foam insulation, carving it to shape and hitting it with a bunch of laquor then laying glass over that for 2 layers, then pupping that off and building it up a few more layers from the backside and inlaying some metal attachment points of some sort..

I don't want Dzus screw heads on the outside..

I'm thinking a hinge up top and 2 wingnuts on the bottom sides for attachment..

After this tank, If I see a bit of an increase in MPG, then I'll go for it..
I tell ya what tho, I have alot of people curious and asking alot of questions..

I mark my current MPG on the windows with window chalk.. and people slow down to read that and see the mockup skirts and they either smile and haul ass after, whop out the camera phone or drive a little ahead of me and adjust their speed for better FE..

Saw some people laughing and taking pictures of it in front of a pizza place..

So I desided to at least write something on them to give people a heads up on whats what.


This coroplast isn't very forgiving and its starting to crease..
I used a heat gun to persuade it into shape and that was o....k...

[AndrewJ]

"Aero Testing Mockup"


I love it!

I went to the hardware store the other day and bought some 3" letter stickers, enough to spell out "55 MPG" on the back of my car. I then fielded more questions about my car in one day than I normally do in 2 weeks.

Definitely seems to generate some public interest

[Chris D.]

People are definatly noticing..
I'm hoping that an underbelly pan will yeild some numbers,
I'm thinking this mite be the next way to go with this...

Either that or grill blocking..
I've got a front cooling flap concept I'm going to play with on paper..

[Daox]

I think the bellypan is the way to go with any truck. Keep up the good work and keep us updated!

[alohaspirit]

Looks like you didnt go ahead with those skirts


No mpg gain?

[Chris D.]

I just never updated the thread..

[alohaspirit]

Originally Posted by Chris D.

I just never updated the thread..

could you?

Im interested in your results