(Project) Boat tail-4 Door Sedan VW Mk2 (1990 Jetta GL)

[JethroBodine]

Mike( blownb310) - Thanks for the pics. I still think your car looks BAD-A$$! For a stock body, I really like the looks of that Del Sol, too. I knew I improved and figure it is down to the tail improvements, and hopefully will keep me in the 50s over the winter. I did notice a bit of the "ice racer" came out on one particular 90 degree corner just before you passed me.

Neil- Upper grill block was the very first mod I did to the car back in April. The lower is going to get some attention for the winter, probably just a quick covering with the space under the license plate left open for hill climbing cooling. I lost the drivers cover about a week after I made them. Another will be made soon( taking a week off for winter prep around the house).

The more I drive the tail, the more I like it. It's like driving a completely different car. Where I would normally have restarted the engine, I'm still 5-7mph above my lower limit.

I did a quick comparison of the versions 1.0 and 1.1.



I knew it was off a bit, but all in all, getting better.

[Weather Spotter]

1.1 just looks better then I saw the overlay and its dead on (better then mine).

I know what you mean when you say it is different driving with it on. this last weekend I took the family on a two hour drive in there SUV. It felt weird not costing to the known stops. even when I would let off on the gas I could feel the aero drag.

I like the trasistion you did from wheels to the tail. can you give me some details on how you did it I want to copy it on my tail.

If you are ever headed to Michigan let me know I would love to see the car in person/ swap stories

[blownb310]

Originally Posted by JethroBodine

Mike( blownb310) - Thanks for the pics. I still think your car looks BAD-A$$! I did notice a bit of the "ice racer" came out on one particular 90 degree corner just before you passed me.

You're welcome Ken. I don't remember what I did in that corner you saw me make, but I'm guessing I widened the radius all I could and took the "racing line' through it. Sharp turns are not the car's forte with those front wheel fairings.

Weather Spotter and all, although there currently aren't any pics of the underside of Ken's car, I can tell you that the aluminum underbody pan he built is really nice. The fit is good and the seams are very smooth. Well done Ken!

[JethroBodine]

Weather spotter- I won't be doing any traveling before next June, as I've used all my vacation and sick time this year after my ankle surgery. That being said, it might be kinda cool to see how many "tail-draggers" we could get together at one time!?!?!? Maybe even some publicity out of it? Ecomodder video at least. Just two would be cool, too.

I guess that would be appropriate to put the build pics of the rear fairings in this thread, as it smooths the air toward the tail.

Mike- Perhaps the sharp left turn that you might have kicked up a little dirt?

[Weather Spotter]

I would be interested in a boat tail meet some time in the unknown future.

I should make a full belly pan but a lack of good mount points is hindering me. I also need some good material to make it from.

[NeilBlanchard]

Driving in the winter will be helped by good aero, since the air is denser. You will probably improve on the minimum you have gotten in the past.

I think there is a "terminal velocity" on a given hill when coasting, and there probably is a maximum coasting velocity no matter how steep the hill is. A skydiver with those loose jumpsuits and spread eagle goes ~120MPH and no faster.

My xA gets up to ~77-78mph on the Route 2 hill down from Arlington Heights into Alewife when cresting the hill at 50-55mph. That is one long steep hill...

[JethroBodine]

Neil- I'm so new at this, my minimum is EPA. Last winter I drove a Jeep Cherokee, that I was happy to get 19mpg.

Rear wheel fairings- My hope with these was to get the air flowing smoothly from the kilts to the impending tail.



I cleaned everything off the rear panel and scuffed the surface for adhesion.



I then taped from the wheel kilt to the rear of the car, figuring that would be the start of the tail, using the sticky side out by overlapping the ends( leaving the sticky side in is baaaad).



Then I filled behind the tape with gap sealing foam from Home Depot.

After allowing the foam to cure, I removed the tape and started shaping by cutting parts off with a sharp knife( I keep all my knives very sharp). If you have access, an air saw with a hacksaw blade in it is AWESOME!



Sand, smooth over with lightweight body filler( bondo), sand again.




Paint whatever color makes you happy.

There are a couple things I should mention. Use aluminum or other metal directly behind the wheels on bottom. I live on dirt roads, and the aluminum side of mine is standing up better than the foam side. The foam may expand after covered on a really hot day as it could still have a pocket of uncured foam. I layered one of my sides too thick and when I cut into one such pocket while shaping, it started oozing out like a snake coming out of a hole in a tree. I do like this method as it is light, the foam sticks to anything, and it is easily sanded or added to.

[JethroBodine]

Baby's first snow.



(Snicker) Smooth as a baby's tail( couldn't help myself).

Get to try out the handling in the snow before I put the studded snow tires on. Should be fun. If it is still snowing after work, I'll see if I can get someone to video it going down the highway.

[blownb310]

The handling could be interesting in slippery conditions Ken.

We got an inch or two in Albany as well.

[CigaR007]

Do you feel a change in handling due to the slight shift of the weight distribution ?