Modding "The Party" (aeromods on 2011 Ford Fiesta S sedan)

[radioranger]

why not make a opening in the lower grille and cover with a screen so at slow speeds more air will flow through and faster you go more air will bypass but still get some cooling

[RiderofBikes]

Originally Posted by radioranger

why not make a opening in the lower grille and cover with a screen so at slow speeds more air will flow through and faster you go more air will bypass but still get some cooling

The way i have it setup, is so i dont have to fiddle with it later on, it takes not even 2sec to adjust the openings before i leave or on my various stops to account for temp changes and or A/c needs, this is also why i want it to be controlled from the cabin like i plan to do (whenever) i get around to a wedge front end

[radioranger]

I was just looking at a magazine from 1969 when Mickey Thompson set a bunch of speed records with the newest Mustangs, looks like the all had flush mounted grilles for aero and cooling, seems to be there should be some optimum size of screen that flows always some air but at higher speeds bypass's most for better aero , that way you couldnt get caught overheating in a traffic or other situation, ,also you could shape screen pretty easy to mod even further . gonna test on my 98 escort soon as I can

[RiderofBikes]

the only thing i don't have a clue on would be on how to mount the screen, cause i thought of that scenario for creating a wedge front end to create a template so i could make a solid piece from. There aren't any easy ways, id love to be able to just screw the mesh onto the bumper then lay some glass over it and call it done. But holes are out of the question as of this point. i'll stick with this for now and hopefully by next spring i may try something different. who knows

[RiderofBikes]

hehehe, I'm BAAAaaaack!

It feels, too long away from my own thread mostly lurking around the forum for a bit. Winter struck, and work changed. Had a few good days past couple months, and decided to do some much needed revisions.

First project was dealing with that darned Kamm. But during my progress, i wasn't able to take any pictures. but the finished product was well worth the effort in short time period. I can open my trunk(completely) without undoing any tape!

Anyways, onto one of the bigger projects i just completed over the weekend! yeah, it was rained the nightbefore, so damp and chilly I was.. Again, WELL worth the effort.

A bit overdue... The old one wasn't done as well, and it didnt hold up as good as i thought it might. I present my new FULL Belly Pan!!!

I started out tracing and cutting my rounded front edge, and access panel openings for oil filter, and oil pan draining.


I specifically didnt cut them all the way through, so they could be left open to vent pressure from the engine bay if needed, but i can just bend them back more to do maintanence

Sticking with my carpentry skills, layed up a basic wood main support 1"x4"x8' down the middle of the car, creating a clean face for Zero obstructions of the panel and bagen to mount the other supports.


Mostly held to the car with multiple zipties for good measure, and the supports running sideways, are attached to both of my sideskirts with screws.

I made an slight error when cutting the access panels, as the side they are on, i had to mount the panel with the paint and name facing down... not that its a huge deal, i just wish i had that cleaner look underneath...


Flat and smooth all-the-way! and held up too 90mph. First coast, sustained 60mph for .6mi. When before, id bleed 1-3mph every .2mi

Only held in with 12screws/washers. I still need to patch up about 5" on both sides of the panel to finish the gap left, because the car is just a tad wider than 4ft span of the panel.
Once i had the panel centered and mounted, i then cut out the space required for turning the wheels.

Luckily, for once, I did this in One time consuming take! That just means, i have 1) 8x4 panel left for whatever else i want to do! YAY
Thinking partial wheel skirts next...

And heres some other misc things done. Rotated tires after 40kmi, Replaced front brake pads, Patched up the rear wheel wells for decreased turbulance to aid in diffuser effect.
Before

After


Revised Full Kamm, and took off hubcaps, and made flat covers for the time being until i get some Moonies(monies)! lol

[HyperMileQC]

Originally Posted by RiderofBikes

This is a really good idea! Really like how simple it is.

[RiderofBikes]

Originally Posted by HyperMileQC

This is a really good idea! Really like how simple it is.

Keep It Simple Stupid, was the motto for my HS FIRST Robotics club. I still stick to those terms at times...

Though i will admit, i have a bit of excess on that panel, but its tucked in and out of harms way. just screwed over the existing wheel well liner, and zip-tied to the spring so it doesnt fly and get caught in the wheel. I was going to try and do this too the front wells, but there surprisingly tidy enough so left them alone. The road noise from the rear has quieted down a bit as well.

[RiderofBikes]

Ok ok, so after a year or so hiatus, I'm back... but luckily didn't stop my quest!
I will mostly post pics in the beginning in multiple entries as I play catch-up with my free-time. I'm gonna try and post in chronological order as best i can starting just (what i think i did) from the last pic above...

After completing and using the cloroplast full Kamm, I decided to try and get something a little more permanent done during the end of last summer... Didnt turn out so well, as i never got to finish.

^^made a wood skeleton frame and wire mesh for contours for fiber-glassing



^^Laid my 6oz cloth(home depot) out and crossing the layers as best i could with excessive overhang

Also NOTE, the rear diffuser was changed as well, i however don't have pics for it.




^Resin drying, different views, and that sexy D-pillar contour ^_^

[RiderofBikes]

Sadly, i would of left the whole mold/fresh fiberglass canopy taped to the car and do some testing but i had to actually use my car as a car for once... and has never been back on since, tho i do have a good shell to work on and tweak and pliable in ways for me to reinforce at a later time to recontuor to the car form...

A couple weeks later, i had a second wind and started working on full wear wheel skirts and rear wheel boattails. Well, this went just as well as the full Kamm, was just able to make usable shells to reinforce at a later time.





^Utilizing the same wire mesh(BEST design tool EVER!)

After forming my shape and contours, i took the mesh off and laid fiberglass over them for the basic shapes.
The wheel skirt mesh, were left attached to car car for proper alignment and correct shape on layup...
The "mold release" i used over the mesh for all fiberglass work was aluminum foil(prevents epoxy run-through, and allowed me to really press the epoxy in bonding the 2layers for initial layup )



^I was never able to start on the side-skirts.. I was indecisive of shape and mounting routes

At this stage i was unable to remount anything as they just weren't rigid enough for daily driving and never caught back up due to losing job and getting ready to move after lease end. Also just having bought a 1981 GL1100, so priorities changed. while mostly enjoying 2wheels again too.

[RiderofBikes]

Soo... Fall/Winter came along and you can imagine the lack of activity during this time... ON the good news tho, which i think really points out and enhances the Utilization of steady safe/sane "over inflated" tire pressures, non-aggressive driving style in the life span of my OEM Kumho Solus KH21 185/60R15(apparently not avaliable anymore OEM per Tirerack) Now being referred to the KH25, which is more or less the same tire. I went 72.5K miles!!!! I was in need of new tires half way through winter though Rotated only once @ 40K mi, never balanced, and factory alignment!! Job well done 35,000mi Kumho's!!

I did ALLOT of research!! and allot of contemplating and decided as for replacements i would try to find the "best" LRR tire for a reasonable price for the 15" wheel while also going up in size.

I eventually found the Yokohama Ascend in 195/65R15http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes
fundamentally calculated the RPMs per mile, load bearings, load capacity, PSI rates, weight, reviews, cost, etc...


I found that based on that tire size/friction chart floating around here was a good compromise being LRR too, cause after-all i figured that i still use this car for its intended use and basing i didn't want to compromise on the overall sporty handling nature of the Fiesta.

These tires are BEAST, and also the most quiet tires ive ever had on ANY vehicle... Also realigned when mounted

On the downside, they are overall bigger than expected. I had to remove the rear wheel liners that i installed, as they rubbed even without suspension compression(granted very clean wheel wells). Removed the OEM airdam wind deflectors right infront of the front wheels cause they rubbed during turning, and it raised the car at least a full inch in ride height. WITH THAT SAID, It did Fill-in the wheel wells better and this thing cruises like a luxury tour car.
The extra sidewall is a bit more flexible in tight twistiest, but soak up bumps and potholes for breakfast. It's honestly a very good compromise. AND not to mention, i think within the first 3K mi I started seeing about 1-3mpg increase if driven right, in winter... so i was back up to ~40mpg with 8inches of snow!

Also, these have a 85,000mi Warranty, so lets see how long i make these last!