sc1 aero mods

[arcosine]

I am averaging 40 mpg in winter driving and I am not driving like an old lady (see fuel log). The SC2 cruise control won't work with the .605 fifth gear, other than that its not a hard thing to do.

The front skirts do rub, but only on turns. There is nothing behind them, the are curved out a little and bent under to make a lip, using the heat gun and gloves. The bungees pull it back against the fender.

Right full turn



Left full turn



Underneath front skirt (sorry camera battery died)



Left full turn close up


right full turn close up

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi Tony,

So the trick with this method is that the trailing lip of the skirt can't get caught on the tire tread? (When in the second picture situation.) Does make a lot of noise, or scuff anything?

[Cd]

In your fuel log, what is a " fox hunt " ?

[arcosine]

Neil,

Not much noise on turns, no noise straight ahead, no catching with bungees at 45 degs.

Amateur Radio transmitter hunt, Foxhunt, driving for minimum time to find fox.

http://www.chicagofmclub.org/foxhunts.html


also see link on page 3

[Cd]

How do you keep the skirt away from the tire when the tires are straight on ?
The material that you are using is flexible and I can't understand how that it is not just being pulled onto the tire.
Is there any bracing used ?
I might have asked this already, but what is between the tire and the shower liner to keep it from melting the liner ? ( when the tire makes contact )

Thanks. Really clever design !

[arcosine]

Its been on for 700 miles and no signs of rubbing a hole in it yet. Rubs only on turns, when speed is low.

[Cd]

Thanks for the reply. I just re-read through the thread and missed this :

" My next mod will be front fender skirts, I bought 4x8ft x 1/16 thick pvc plastic shower sheet for $15 from Menards. I'll rivet on 1/2 of a 700c bike rim for reinforcement, maybe bungie cords to keep it tight against the fender and a hinge at the top."

but you also said this " There is nothing behind them, the are curved out a little and bent under to make a lip, using the heat gun and gloves. The bungees pull it back against the fender."

so I'm a little confused about the back side of the cover and how it holds its shape.

Sorry for repeating myself in that last post.

A picture would be worth a hundred words in this situation actually. Any chance of getting a picture of the back side of the cover when the weather is better ?

[arcosine]

Recipe: Makes two skirts.

A black 1 1/4 dia HDPE irrigation tube from Menards is cut to length and formed into an arc by slipping a sawed off half 700c rim into it and heating in the oven at 220F for 15 minutes, the rim is removed and the tube is screwed to the inner fender. A piece of leathery pvc shower liner, 1/16 thick is cut to fit over the wheel opening, spray painted black and tie strapped around the top with 5 straps. On the bottom corners a screw driver is stuck through and bungee cords are tied in place with wire wrapping and the other end are stuck through the coroplast belly pan, such that they apply tension and hold the sheet against the fender, about 45 degrees angle. The bottom if the skirt is heated with a hot air gun to form a lip and corner radii. Some adjustment may be necessary. A 2 inch square block of EPS (pink foam) can be hot glued to the inside of the skirt at wheel center, if such a spacer is needed.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by cfg83

arcosine -

Oh yeah, we have talked about that before, but that might be a better side view than we have seen. I'll wait for aerohead to chime in.

Here's another picture from one of aerohead's albums :

Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - aerohead's Album: Other vehicles 1




CarloSW2

cfg,this is the photo I was intending to post at the EV-1 forensic re-construction thread.It's from the EV-1 brochure given out by the Saturn dealers.
It's the only 'true-length' image from Ft.Stockton,TX that I've seen,and direct measurements can be taken from it.The only reservation is that the back of the EV-1 IS a little dirty due to the backlight which GM insisted be that steep for outward visibility.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by arcosine

This is where we all need to be heading! The EX-181 had Cd 0.12 ( 1987 GM Sunraycer,1935 Douglas DC-3/C-47,2011 T-100 with boat-tail trailer?)