New Ideas for The Eco-Wall

[DifferentPointofView]

Okay, so normally I would ask for some suggestions on how to help improve my aero, but I've decided to do it differently. I'm gonna ask you what YOU'D do to it and I'll collect my ideas from there on.

So you have my vehicle, A 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ) with a stock Cd of .44, and you want to do some DIY stuff that you can easily take off and make the vehicle back to stock whenever you want to. It's 2wd, and, has some weight in the back that you cannot remove (my audio equipment). Not much done, just removed roof racks, inflated tires up to max(actually a lil over), and a few more things (everything listed in EM Garage).

What would you do?

[Peakster]

I was real close to buying a red Jeep GC like yours 1.5 years ago instead of the Geo, so I can totally relate with you mean when you say you want to keep your Jeep and get good FE too.

If I bought that Jeep instead of the Geo and found this website somehow I'd:

- add a grille block from inside the engine bay
- somehow lower the Jeep a few inches (since lowering a vehicle has a significant improvement in Cd.)

And yeah, that's about it since you already got rid of the roof rack and upped the psi.

*Jealous of Jeep*

When are you going to start your gaslog??

[Lazarus]

You got some great ideas in your garage. I agree with Peakster. Grill block, and a front belly pan right away and work on the rest of the undertray later. If you can drive without it a mirror delete or at least on the passenger side and some kind of rear wheel skirts. Might also consider a higer temp t-stat. Did you get the vacuum gage? If not I would put one in.

[popimp]

I think we need to see some gas logs so we can gauge any improvements on the mods that you make.

[MetroMPG]

A few thoughts:

1) I'm with popimp: recording your fuel consumption has to be the very first step.

2) next most important step: install efficiency instrumentation of some kind to hone your driving technique.

3) I'd also consider a block heater or 120v interior space heater, so you can stop idling the Jeep to warm it up.

4) Look at the latest crop of GM SUV's: they all have significant air dams below the front bumpers. You could make a removable one so you can still have your approach angle for playing in the mud.

[MetroMPG]

Oh and ...

5) A muzzle for your brother so he can't bug you about your efficient driving techniques.

[trebuchet03]

The whole removable part is so tricky

On the far extreme side of things.... Get a new tailgate and install a boat tail to that (on top of air dam and such). When you want to switch back - change back to the stock (unmodified) tailgate

[MetroMPG]

Could also build a semi-boat tail on a strap-mounted bike rack. (Or just use the bike rack attachment method for ideas to make your own approach).

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Could also build a semi-boat tail on a strap-mounted bike rack. (Or just use the bike rack attachment method for ideas to make your own approach).

Yeah Totally - I think I eluded to something like that on some other forum Perhaps it's time to give it another shot

[MetroMPG]

I've had a Flea-sized hatchback rack hanging on a hook in the garage for a couple of years. But I'm betting - by the pace my own mods get done - someone else is going to do it first