A little about myself...
 

Hey, I'm Dane. I've considered myself to be environmentally conscious for a while now...I ride my bike more often than I drive, I've been a vegan for a few years, and I recycle and buy second hand stuff as much as I can. But only recently have I been interested in maximizing fuel economy from my car. I've been using idle stops for a few months now and make sure to keep my car in the best possible tune...but I would like to improve its efficiency even more. Its not exactly an economy car...a 1971 Datsun 240Z...but anything can be improved. I'm also a physics major in college...so I get pretty hyped up about energy efficiency and how to improve it since its a very physics oriented thing. I'm also of the opinion that many of the things that you do to a car to improve its fuel efficiency can also improve its performance in other areas...so its often a win-win situation.

Anyways, it will be fun to learn more and interact on the forum.

Hi Dane -

Welcome to the site. Nice ride, btw.

Glad to have a physics major join the fun.

Greetings and Salutations, Good to have you aboard. I'm new here myself, but I've already learned a lot.
Man are there already a bunch of aftermarket parts available for you. Aero headlight covers, full moon hubcaps, etc. etc. etc. Fun fun fun.
enjoy and god driving to you. S.

Where're you going to skool eh? Fellow vegan here, ;)

Welcome to the site.

Wooo physics :)

Mech. Engineering here :)

Thanks guys. I definitely love the Z, but its been a lot of work. I can't even keep track of how much stuff I've had to fix on that car...but its a labor of love.

As far as the aeromods go...theres a Z modification forum (www.hybridz.org) in which a bunch of the members (myself included) donated a bunch of money for a windtunnel test session to see which of the aftermarket products work and which don't. The Z doesn't have very good aerodynamics in stock form (Cd of about 0.46) and it also generates quite a bit of lift in the front due to the open grill and air slamming into the firewall at high speed. However, the testing showed that with the proper modifications, the Cd can be reduced to about 0.39, with significant increases in downforce.

Also, I go to school at Metro State College of Denver. Good to know there are fellow vegans here as well.