Retro aeromods: Datsun 240Z factory bolt-on "G-nose" good for +5.5% mpg and +5 mph

[Frank Lee]

Stiletto kits!!!



I know the guy that came up with them. There never were that many- I think 14? I saw one with a big ol' nasty fastback on it too, kinda like the pointy crx project, in lime green!

Now do you see why long noses have scarred me for life?

[Daveedo]

Is that Joe Dirt's car?

[hypermiler01]

That G nose really is awesome. Wonder if you can still get one?

[Jetta90GL]

I've never seen the wing part of the kit before, I always knew there was something missing.

[MetroMPG]

Stiletto... wow! I mean, wow.

I wonder why Car and Driver didn't test that instead of taking the DIY route on the Crisis Fighter Pinto!

[davidgrey50]

There was a rather more elegant version of extra-nosy Pintos - the Pinto Pangra. "Inspired by" the De Tomaso Pantera. No, really.

[Otto]

One main reason the Z car aerodynamics were not better is the overhang of the nose, which trapped the bow wave rather than shed it. The car would ride nose-high at speed. Spoilers helped, but the nose really needed a facelift.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

My theory about the nose is if it is pointed, the point must be in the right place (i.e. right on the stagnant point) otherwise you end up with issues. A blunt nose, on the other hand lets the air flow where and how it "wants" to and doesn't cause as many problems if it is not located right...

[evolutionmovement]

When I last owned a Z-car in the mid nineties, replica G-nose kits were still available. Never liked the look of them, personally—the nose is too long. I just like the light covers on the standard nose (it's not like the headlights did much more than a midget running in front of the car with a candle and a reflector could do anyway). According to the other thread with the wind tunnel testing, the flared fenders on the ZG kit (ZG being a Japanese market car with the G-nose, the fenders, and a spoiler) actually reduce drag.

[Cd]

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ting-8922.html

If you look at the data from the testing, you will see that using headlight covers actually matched the Cd of the car with the longer G-Nose. ( .467 ... eek ! ) Front end lift was minimized, but less air made its way under the hood of the car.

I'm not sure if this is too accurate, since they used several cars, and some had flares and such.

While looking at the cars involved in the test, it appears as if the car that had the G-nose, as well as the car tested right afterwards with the headlight covers both lacked flares - so the test should be relatively similar ..... except that looking at on test # 19, a stock 240Z has a better Cd that either ( .454) and of all things, when test with wheel flares the Cd went down ???

Hmmm. I wish they had stuck with just one car.

BTW
I had one of these cars. It was like driving a parachute. Let off the gas and it was like having an air-brake activated.