Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Aerodynamics
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 01-07-2009, 08:23 PM   #1 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 356

Silver Turtle - '02 Ford Focus Zx3
90 day: 38.83 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Turtle --- My New Metal Rear Underbody Diffuser ---

So, I just finished 15 minutes ago, with a cut finger

Made of 30 gauge sheet metal (Would have probably done 26 gauge if I were to do it again), the total cost was of $35.12. The sides are flush with the tire (actually, a little more "inwards"), the pictures make it show in some angles as it would be extruding past the tire and rim, but it does not.

I painted the top and sides black (with spray paint, and two coats of clear) so that it would look a little more like all those exotic cars carbon diffusers ... Ok I tried I tried ...

I still have to do the middle, but that will be tomorrow as its dark now. But I am VERY happy with the results so far. It is going to be FAR superior to the little dinky things of coroplast that I had on there before. Haven't gone on the freeway yet but the rivets should hold everything in place and everything should be good to go.

(Pictures are from phone, sorry!)















  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 01-07-2009, 08:27 PM   #2 (permalink)
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Safety Harbor, FL
Posts: 119

Lil Sulf - '94 Toyota Corolla
Team Toyota
90 day: 47.62 mpg (US)
Thanks: 2
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Wow, you car looks......normal.
Nothing like my rear-wheel-skirted, grille-blocked, side-mirror-deleted coroplast-gorillatape car.
__________________

And that's without a Scangauge o.O
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2009, 08:36 PM   #3 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 356

Silver Turtle - '02 Ford Focus Zx3
90 day: 38.83 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sulfuric View Post
Wow, you car looks......normal.
Nothing like my rear-wheel-skirted, grille-blocked, side-mirror-deleted coroplast-gorillatape car.
That's my number one objective with this car; yet it has a grill block, front tire deflectors, front underbody diffuser, vortex generators, ALL LED lights, etc etc etc.

I want for people to think green in a way that many don't, which is that any car can be "green" while being "normal" or good and sporty looking
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2009, 09:40 PM   #4 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
gascort's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Saint Louis, MO
Posts: 548

Gascort RIP - '93 Ford Escort Wagon
90 day: 43.01 mpg (US)

WifesCruze - '11 Chevrolet Cruze LT
90 day: 31.1 mpg (US)
Thanks: 14
Thanked 25 Times in 16 Posts
I like it. I'm in Sulfuric's camp: Coroplast and Gorilla tape. But my wife wants nothing to do with appearance-altering mods. You present a good compromise!
Do you have a Scangauge to verify results?
__________________
Gasoline, Wind, Solar, Gravity Hybrid-to-be! http://www.scientificmethodfueleconomy.blogspot.com/
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2009, 12:23 AM   #5 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Maui, Hawaii
Posts: 813
Thanks: 5
Thanked 34 Times in 26 Posts
Looks like you should pull in the sides
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2009, 06:44 AM   #6 (permalink)
Pokémoderator
 
cfg83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,864

1999 Saturn SW2 - '99 Saturn SW2 Wagon
Team Saturn
90 day: 40.49 mpg (US)
Thanks: 439
Thanked 532 Times in 358 Posts
basslover911 -

I think winkosmosis is right, but I still like it. It makes me think of the Prius.

CarloSW2
__________________

What's your EPA MPG? Go Here and find out!
American Solar Energy Society
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2009, 02:23 PM   #7 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
aerohead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sanger,Texas,U.S.A.
Posts: 16,306
Thanks: 24,436
Thanked 7,384 Times in 4,782 Posts
diffuser

What is it's angle with respect to the ground? And do you have a bellypan leading up to it?
__________________
Photobucket album: http://s1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj622/aerohead2/
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2009, 08:17 PM   #8 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 356

Silver Turtle - '02 Ford Focus Zx3
90 day: 38.83 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by aerohead View Post
What is it's angle with respect to the ground? And do you have a bellypan leading up to it?
The ones behind the tires (the ones on the pictures) are not steep at all, probably around 3 degrees.

The middle one (which is finished now) is more like 7 degrees or so.

Also, I don't have a complete belly pan yet (I have the oem one in front but nothing in the middle of the car yet). I am going to see how durable this diffuser is and if everything works good I will make the middle one in about two months or so (Since that one is bigger and is going to be a little more, probably around $40 or so).
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2009, 08:19 PM   #9 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 356

Silver Turtle - '02 Ford Focus Zx3
90 day: 38.83 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
In regard to the sides, I wanted them as close to the edge of the tire as possible as to catch all the air coming out of the spokes of the wheel and try to straighten it out a little before going into the wake.
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2009, 08:28 PM   #10 (permalink)
Cd
Ultimate Fail
 
Cd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Austin,Texas
Posts: 3,585
Thanks: 2,872
Thanked 1,121 Times in 679 Posts
Nice !

Functional, yet 'cool' to the uninitiated. 'thumbsup'

I'm a little concerened about pedestrians and children. If they brush up next to your car, will they get cut ?

  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread




Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How to decide whether to remove rear spoiler to decrease drag, improve mileage MetroMPG Aerodynamics 130 02-10-2015 09:50 PM
Rear Wheel Skirt using water heater drain pan cfg83 Aerodynamics 45 02-20-2012 03:08 AM
rear diffuser fabrio. Aerodynamics 30 05-17-2010 01:36 AM
Window trim hurting aerodynamics? And a solution for my rear doors. Sean T. Aerodynamics 36 10-19-2008 08:58 PM
tigra AERO PROJECT rear end question fabrio. Aerodynamics 19 03-31-2008 01:01 PM



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com