How Aerodynamic is this Van (aftermarket shell)?

[kach22i]

I don't know the interior functional requirements of this van, and if the increased area is useful to them.

I would venture to guess that sheets of 4'x8' material for the exterior plastering could be stored up on end, but why lying them flat on the floor would not also work.

The exterior looks pretty good, but some nit-picks to discuss with you all.

First, the aft roof taper is only half of what I think would support attached flow. Meaning I think they could have, should have sloped it more, but realize this would make it a few inches higher at the front roof high point.

Secondly, no chin spoiler front air dam. Some piece of plastic looks like it's garbled up in the front suspension, not sure what the heck it was/is.

Thirdly, no underbelly aero attempts, it's the wild wild west down under there - a lost opportunity.

Some of the details are wells done and even intriguing. Others show signs of distress, like the rusting sheet metal screws someone added to prevent the fiberglass panel from peeling away.

On a score of 1-10 I'll be generous and score this an 8.

I mean, they tried, right?

It is rather handsome without looking too weird or awkward, I mean, it's gotta be able to sell it's looks to someone, right?

There was a lot left on the table, but what they did do is rather admirable in my opinion.

Your two cents?

More pictures in the link:
2015 Misc by George Kachadoorian | Photobucket








Details:

[Piwoslaw]

I think they just needed slightly larger dimensions and tweeked the aero a bit while they were at it. Whoever designed it at least knew that a square box is not the way to go.

Originally Posted by kach22i

First, the aft roof taper is only half of what I think would support attached flow. Meaning I think they could have, should have sloped it more, but realize this would make it a few inches higher at the front roof high point.

Tapering would have reduced the functionality of the rear hatch, and I'm sure that is one of the reasons for the whole shell.

Also, this van may not do enough miles at highway speeds to notice a huge difference from more radical improvements. The plastic shell's weight reduction would help in stop & go traffic?

Still better than nothing, though.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by kach22i

I would venture to guess that sheets of 4'x8' material for the exterior plastering could be stored up on end, but why lying them flat on the floor would not also work.

Then you use up just about all the floor space

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by euromodder

Then you use up just about all the floor space

Yea, my buddy did some creative engineering of shelves and platforms in his E-150 and got it just right for his handyman jobs.

2x's under raised the floor platform, shelves off the walls/ceiling.

However we could not carry more than a half-dozen sheets of 4x8 product before the thickness got so high that it hit the underside of the shelves above.

I'm sure this is a dedicated truck with the ability to carry more sheets of 4x8 than my buddy would normal go through. Any large order can be delivered to the site by the lumber/supply yard or you can even rent a truck from the big box places these days.

Does anyone know what this plastic shield near the oil pan is?



You can see it dangling down in this front view.

[aerohead]

I'd seen it online and grabbed a pic.
My thought was that this roofline would be great for an R.V. tow vehicle.
The large radius is like what NASA found to be so beneficial.

[kach22i]

I did a reverse image search on that last image and came up with this:


Aerocell SRW
UNICELL Van bodies, fiberglass truck body, fiberglass van bodies

"You can get a lot more in this van more shelves for storage. And not having to be on your knees and crawling around makes all the difference in the world."

The Aerocell SRW bridges the gap between cargo vans and cube vans. Designed exclusively for the tough, dependable, comfortable and stylish single rear wheel cutaway chassis, this van body offers all of the same benefits as the original Aerocell: one piece molded fiberglass construction, seamless and glossy gel coat exterior, and aerodynamic styling.

The completed vehicle has the extra height and capacity cargo vans lack, as well as the aesthetics, drivability and convenience missing from most cube vans. The standard package size of the competitively priced SRW makes ordering simple. And all Unicell bodies are backed by a five year limited warranty.

No mention of aerodynamics, or fuel savings.

The rear door options in these PDF's are pretty cool.

http://www.unicell.com/Portals/66/pdfs/UNC_SRW_FORD.pdf

http://www.unicell.com/Portals/66/pdfs/UNC_SRW_GM.pdf

EDIT:
In the Ford PDF you can see the arc of the roof given the top of the dimension line, looks like just the last foot or so slopes down.

Also found this fuel calculator while poking around.

Aerocell Lifetime Fuel Savings Estimator
http://www.unicell.com/AerocellFuelCalculator.aspx

Notes: Fuel Savings are based on independently calculated coefficients of drag for Unicell model UCPM7916 and Unicell model UCAC7916. Unicell believes this calculator presents a fair estimate of the size of expected fuel savings under the conditions specified in steps 1 through 3 above. Unicell does not warrant the actual fuel saved in any particular application of any Unicell product.

I don't see any Cd or CdA information yet.

[aerohead]

They may be reluctant to share this sort of data.Automakers certainly are.
The new Ford Transit is supposed to be 25% more fuel efficient,so even with a mpg-saving shell,the old Econoline may quickly fall from grace in the marketplace.

[kach22i]

I'm at a new car dealership, they have Unicell literature here, but it is for the boxy stuff, not the aero-cool stuff.

Another brochure for storage systems in cargo vans.

All you need to start your own little service.

[Xist]

"aerodynamic styling"

Its design is probably exactly what would impress people who would not know any better. I did not think there was any noticeable aft taper, but people do not seem to understand that, which is my explanation for this:


and this:



I am pretty sure that anything else would result in people saying "You know that doesn't work, right?"
"Let me show you how I proved it does work..."
"No, it would obviously not work because..."

[freebeard]

I saw one of those one night in the grocery store parking lot. I took a picture but it came out too dark to post.

Originally Posted by kach22i

Does anyone know what this plastic shield near the oil pan is?

Ahead of a twin I-beam and behind the steering? It looks like it aligns with the back face of the radiator. Sort of a P-51 in reverse.