My MV Modifying a Dodge Caravan - Page 3 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

bteck · 02-23-2009, 01:42 PM

Metro:
Thanks for that post, i was having a little trouble finding exactly which one Aerohead was talking about. I am Curious why the 0.16 one has more of a bluff back, and the more boat tailed is a 0.18.

Malibu:
Your van is sweet, way less soccermomish than mine. Jealous.

Daox:
You are dead on man, wheels have two planar surfaces purpendicular to your flow direction, and the rim is usually an effective fan. I would say of any one thing on your car, Wheels might have the highest Cd. Case in point, solar powered racers have rounded tires, like a Road bike, or an old timey airplain, they are not radials like on a car, sure they loose some traction, but get a way better Cd, and lower RR. I have thought long and hard about what you could do to reduce this effect, there isn't a whole lot, besides airdams and sideskirts.

bteck · 02-23-2009, 01:46 PM

Tonight I am finnally going to Finish my Kammback, and work on remounting my internal mirrors, the Blue tape is cool and all, but it is time for a more permanent solution. I'll post pictures when I get all that done. Next I want to Belly pan, I am also thinking of extending my belly pan behind the rear bumper a bit, to help soften the flow seperation behind my sweet Ride.

malibuguy · 02-23-2009, 04:54 PM

hey bteck...thanks, that van was a ton of fun & i learned alot from that van, i hope to get another '94 or '95 & come back swinging & taking names :P

them 41te tranny's are sensitive to heat, make sure to have a cooler for it & what little airflow your allowing in, make sure goes thru it, i think most of the 4th gen vans have factory coolers now, but i may be wrong

aerohead · 02-23-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daox

Looks like we need to come up with a mod to delete wheels!

Is Luke Skywalker lurking out there? He'd be the one to consult.

bteck · 02-23-2009, 11:11 PM

Malibu:
Thanks for the warning about the tranny, I didn't know that, Mine is a 2005, so i bet it has a cooler, I might unblock the lowest grill inlet though, right now it is like 20 degrees, so I am not too worried about the heat.

Nevyn · 02-24-2009, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aerohead

Is Luke Skywalker lurking out there? He'd be the one to consult.

You could use his trick - get big mirrors and mount them on an angle so that the reflect the surface you are driving on. That's how George Lucas managed it.

bteck · 02-24-2009, 08:27 AM

Does anyone actually know where you can buy chloroplast? Just curious, seems like a lot of people use it for mods, but I have never seen it in a store.

Daox · 02-24-2009, 09:24 AM

Sign shops carry it. Also, plastic supply houses.

Nevyn · 02-24-2009, 09:42 AM

Some people are lucky enough to buy it at hardware stores. Most of us who go for coroplast check the yellow pages under "advertising." Look for a company that advertises "weatherproof signs" or something - ask if they work with corrugated plastic.

malibuguy · 02-24-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bteck

Does anyone actually know where you can buy chloroplast? Just curious, seems like a lot of people use it for mods, but I have never seen it in a store.

sign shops, i picked upa 4x8x1/4" sheet of black coroplast for 50bucks & change...that reminds me, i need some more

you should be able to gain alot with a underbelly tray on the van, have you been undernieth it?? tons of places for air to catch, at least do the front, past the subframe brace...which will also give you a good spot to attach the tray to