My 2000 Civic HX Aero Project !
 

The goal is to make my commuter car average 60MPG!





I heard that smoothing out the front bumper is a big to-do, so thats where I started... used expanding foam in a can to fill the gap. then put 2 layers of Fiberglass and/or carbon fiber over it to smooth it out and give it some strength.
http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/3...ntbumper6i.jpg

bye bye Honda badge!
http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/1...ontbumper5.jpg

Ready to go!
http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/498/frontbumper4.jpg

All layed up!
http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/6...ontbumper1.jpg


A close up of the carbon fiber
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/545/frontbumper2.jpg

close up of the carbon fiber, and the fiberglass under layer
http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/8...ontbumper3.jpg

The mirrors were next..... i heard they were holding my MPG back... so I removed them both - made a cover for the passenger side, and one for the drivers side. mounted a cool little carbon fiber race mirror on the drivers side - got it from my neighbor for just 30 bucks!


passenger side. interior mounted convex mirror
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/383/convexmirror.jpg


drivers side view mirror
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1954/racemirror2.jpg

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8382/racemirror1.jpg

Also wanted to make a lip at the rear of the hood, to deflect wind off of the windshield wipers


scuffed up the surface of the hood, made my deflector piece, put a few dabs of bondo down on the hood as to initially mount and hold the piece. once that dried, i went back and used JB weld to glue the rest of the lip down to the hood.... more to come on this project...

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/3073/hoodlip1.jpg

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/5865/hoodlip2.jpg


this shot gives you an idea of the angle that the deflector sits at
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6743/hoodlip3.jpg


more work on these project is to come thru this next week........

Looking good ! I need to start using fiberglass and carbon fibre for my next aeromods !

You have been busy,looking good,looking forward to seeing the mods completed. Baited breath now.
I hope to make a windshield spoiler? for the beetle one day, thinking fiberglass but would use 1/8" aluminum sheet if i could source it somewhere affordable or salvaged.

I sense you will be making wheel skirts,for her.

Sixty mpg cruising on the freeway or with hypermiling like P&G?

I like the grill blocks. Mine on my Civic are a lot like this. There is more than enough cooling in the Southern California "winter" and a little less than desirable in the summer. In summer my fan comes on kinda often. Just keep that in mind because the civic radiator fan drains the battery, which recharges from the alternator, which generates power from the gasoline engine. On my car I disable the alt and plug in my deep cycle battery. My grid electric rates are cheaper than gasoline automobile-generated electricity.

Other mods that guys have suggested are a benefit: tire spats, and lowering the ride. A great airdam can be built using black lawn-edging. A boat tail, kamm back or some sort of flat spoiler or box void are other aero ideas I have seen suggested here and in the research posted here. I remember someone arguing that drag reductions could make it easier for the HX to stay in lean burn on the freeway. If you haven't yet, use the search functions here liberally.

Keep in mind to make your early mods reversible. I have changed or removed many of the mods I have made. Most modders seem to.

I'm subscribed, and hope to learn from your efforts.

Fuel log?

james

Good job and nice project. I'll keep my fingers crossed for 60+ mpg :)

yes, rear wheel skirts are coming up in the semi-near future; as is full underbody aero.

the goal is 60mph average for the tank. using pulse and glide, drafting, using all the tricks in the book to get me there - so long as I can average 60mpg, i'm a happy man.

tyre spats will be fabricated when i do the underbody aero. lowering the car maybe in the future, but i gotta burn thru this set of tyres first. then maybe new shocks, lowering springs, and an alignment.

no fuel log yet, as i've only owned the car a couple weeks now, and only have put about 200 miles on it, most of which was test driving it, driving it around to burn the old fuel in the tank, and driving it to get smog. only 130 miles ago did i put a FULL tank in, and start driving for max MPG. seems many of my mods will be before i have a 'base' mpg, so we will have to compare my first numbers to a bone stock HX.

You'll get there
 

Your goal then is exactly like mine. And you're on the right track. Look over my car's page here at EM for ideas and such (lots of info and links compiled there for my reference and anyone else interested). It may have one or two ideas to help. PM me any time you like.

Happy modding!

j

very NICE. LOVE THE CARBON FIBER!!!