Modding an 06 GMC Canyon

[d3vi1d06]

i have the flat bed cover by leonard on my colorado, is this an ideal cover?



also, plan to lower it?

[ChazInMT]

JR. I have just noticed your AeroCap. Amazing build quality, excellent job!!





You Are The Man!!!! Is there a build thread just for it?? It would be interesting to see it in progress if you have any build snaps. Also to see what it looks like underneath.

Again, Great Job!

[JRMichler]

I added some construction photos of the topper to my profile:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-jr...ly-driver.html

I did a short speed run last summer at 65 MPH. Mileage dropped from 32-33 MPG to 28-29 MPG. That was the end of that test.

Finally have the summer 2011 average gas mileage with the aero topper - 34.87 MPG. That's for a total of 3771.0 miles and 108.16 gallons of gas.

Overall summary of improvements to date:

Baseline - driving "normal" - before winter 2007:
Winter: 21 MPG
Summer: 27 MPG

Dec 07 thru Summer 08 - DWL, new tires, 47 PSI
Winter: 23.24 MPG
Summer: 29.70 MPG

Dec 08 thru Summer 09 - kill switch
Winter: 24.68 MPG
Summer: 32.14 MPG

Dec 09 thru Summer 10 - Grille block
Winter: 26.78 MPG
Summer: 33.80 MPG

Dec 10 thru Summer 11 - Aero topper replaced Leer topper
Winter: 28.11 MPG
Summer: 34.87 MPG

Summer mileage is for 3 months in summer, winter mileage is for December through February.

[d3vi1d06]

Very impressive...

your leer topper... was it a tonneau cover?

also, have you considered the torque converter lockup mod?
or the Corvette syncro mod, or any transmission mod?
overall i can see maybe a 20+% increase in mpgs. 10% in just the torque converter mod alone.
research has revealed that you would need a seperate tranny fluid cooler, and remote Filter for the torque converter lockup mod. this is due to the increased heat.

also, have you considered lowering the truck? cut the front springs, and remove a leaf from the rear...

i recommend going to coloradofans.com they have lots of technical info on our trucks.

[tru]

your framing for the shell looks awesome, did you stretch some type of fabric over it and then fiberglass it? or did you use another technique?

have you weighed the finished project?

[JRMichler]

The Leer topper was their Model 100R. I don't know how the aerodynamics of that topper compare to a tonneau cover or open bed.

My topper is in four separate pieces bolted together. The front panel weighs about 5 lbs, the two side panels about 15 lbs each, and the lid about 35 lbs. The lid can be removed in 5 minutes: pull electrical connector, pop off two gas struts, pull hinge pin, and lift off. I have done it by myself, but it's much easier with a helper.

Construction is plywood glued to frames. The only metal is the bolts holding the pieces together and the aluminum hinge. All the wood is glued. The wood was sealed with epoxy inside and out, then painted white on the inside and hardware store Flame Red on the outside. It's not an exact match for the truck, but is close enough.

I am not going to lower the truck. The chin spoiler has been knocked off several times already. It's currently held on with wire ties and black Gorilla tape.

I really like the fact that I can stand bent over under the lid when it's open. That comes in useful when packing the bed full of boxes and stuff.

I've been to coloradofans.com. Got the electrical schematics from that site.

[ChazInMT]

D3, why would you need to add a cooler to something that is supposed to help your mileage???? Am I the only one who questions this? I mean, more heat would mean more friction being generated somewhere it seems to me. What could cause this? Just questions my skeptical mind pops up when I read, "Save 10%, but add a cooler for the heat", usually these are two diametrically opposed events.

Hope I don't sound too much like a troll here, I'm just trying to understand it. Thanks.

[oil pan 4]

Wow, looks like I need some aero modds.

[tru]

Originally Posted by JRMichler

Construction is plywood glued to frames. The only metal is the bolts holding the pieces together and the aluminum hinge. All the wood is glued. The wood was sealed with epoxy inside and out, then painted white on the inside and hardware store Flame Red on the outside. It's not an exact match for the truck, but is close enough.

very nice, how thick of ply did you use for the skin?

[d3vi1d06]

Originally Posted by ChazInMT

D3, why would you need to add a cooler to something that is supposed to help your mileage???? Am I the only one who questions this? I mean, more heat would mean more friction being generated somewhere it seems to me. What could cause this? Just questions my skeptical mind pops up when I read, "Save 10%, but add a cooler for the heat", usually these are two diametrically opposed events.

Hope I don't sound too much like a troll here, I'm just trying to understand it. Thanks.

there is a topic on this forum about the torque converter mod.
i researched the vehicle specific parameters, and it seems that the stock transmission cooler on our trucks would not be up to the task of removing the extra heat caused by the torque converter constantly being on. that said, an after market transmission cooler would remedy this, especially.

if you are questioning this, then you are questioning the validity of newer transmissions implementing better cooling devices, for the added heat of torque converter lockup.