Project: The Anal Probe

[jtbo]

Originally Posted by Sven7

That would be hilarious. Maybe they'd offer me a job lol

Since I couldn't wait to see how the boat tail would look, I made a bit of a sketch model. I feel less guilty working on the computer than out in the garage.

In short, the rear end of it will be so small I'll actually need to make the sides and top of the boattail clear so people can see my taillights. And this is just a 24" (60cm) extension!

clip

I think that it might be better to just add LED tail lights, problem with clear boattail still is that snow/dirt/whatever stuff can accumulate to side that blocks taillight visibility. If you make lights to be at 'end plate' of boattail then it might look better for watching eye too.

[Sven7]

^ That sounds like a good idea. If that materializes I'll have to learn a little about wiring.

Originally Posted by kach22i

I was asking about automatics, not manual transmissions.

Nice portfolio shots Tyler. Maybe you can Photoshop out the handicap symbol in the parking garage shots. That one photographer looks like real character in his short shorts. Any close ups of the girl?

Please take the transmission discussion to PM. I don't want it cluttering up this thread.

Thanks, i like the blue against the red though and am too lazy to PS it out! "That one photographer" is my friend Bobby who came along for the ride... not exactly sure what he was doing. I'll share the "real" photos when I get them. The real photographer needs to edit them first.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by moorecomp

Reminds me of the way car companies try to disguise new models when out in public. I can see it already....Motorweek gets new spy photo of Fords top secret eco hybrid.

I had two or three people over a five year period ask me what kind of car my Geo Tracker was when it had the zebra stripe paint scheme. It was already a 14-19 year old car. Maybe the notch-back top added to the confusion.

Link to photos for context.
Zebra Tracker pictures by kach22i - Photobucket

I can see Tyler's car getting a comment such as: Is that for a movie?

[Cd]

Nice redo on the splinter paint scheme.

[Sven7]

Ok so I'm about ready to start the modding. I'm going to install some angle iron on top of the rear belly pan to make sure it makes the 15* cutoff and then move on to boat tail structure. Thinking of securing it inside the hatch and below the bumper to triangulate it out. I'll make some crossmembers between them for stiffening and then build off that triangular prism to apply the cardboard skin.

I also was reading Darin's boat tail prototype thread and how the car WITH the 4' boat tail was shorter than a Camry. I went on Wikipedia and found out I can go 36" back and still match the length of a regular cab SWB Ford F150 pickup. So I entered that length into Alias and modified the 3D model for a longer tail. I want to mount the license plate on the back of the tail, but realized quickly that making it 36" long would not give enough space for the plate! (and this tail is 13* all around) So it's probably around 32" long here. I think I'll try this. It should give no more than 2-3 square feet of wake which I think is pretty muf*ggin good.

Gotta pick up some trailer lights too. And research how to install them :P

[Sven7]

Whipped it up in a couple hours tonight. There are not really any convenient mounting points to hook it up to, and I thought I had more angle iron. It looks terrible and probably does not perform much better (the angles aren't right). I've yet to see the tufts while driving. Might not even bother.

The real deal will have to wait until summer.


Boat Tail Mockup by Tyler Linner, on Flickr

side


Now to GO TO BED! Ugh

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by Sven7

It looks terrible and probably does not perform much better (the angles aren't right).

No, it looks awesome!

Silly, yes. Ghetto, yes. As effective as possible? No. I'll bet its effects are easily measurable, though. Don't start with tuft testing- that thing was made for A-B-A coastdown testing.

That is an awesome hack of a boat tail. Nice work.

[MetroMPG]

Ah, CAD work is fun (cardboard aided design)...

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Ah, CAD work is fun (cardboard aided design)...

Funny one.

The project photos well, don't be so tough on yourself Tyler.

[Sven7]

I'm going to take it out to the island today to draw and if I don't get pulled over I'll think about keeping it. It'll need to be modified to be able to see the tail lights clearly. Thanks for the kind words, everyone.

(Might do some ABA this weekend before I rip it off. Stay tuned)