Suggested Aerodynamic Mods for a Cobalt

[rjacob]

The flashing is simply a roll of aluminum sheet metal, 10 inches wide, by 10 feet long. I figure I will stretch it out, and run in down my table saw to cut it to 5 inches wide.
For plastic, check out lawn edging stuff. Check out this air dam:
1999 Honda Civic Left Front View Photo

[stevey_frac]

Originally Posted by rjacob

The flashing is simply a roll of aluminum sheet metal, 10 inches wide, by 10 feet long. I figure I will stretch it out, and run in down my table saw to cut it to 5 inches wide.
For plastic, check out lawn edging stuff. Check out this air dam:
1999 Honda Civic Left Front View Photo

See, now if i could make it that pretty, my wife wouldn't even protest!

I think i'm gonna be on the lookout for some lawn edging stuff.

[stevey_frac]

Here some pictures. I have no idea how they are going to show up.

One of the car in general.

One of the grill openings.

One of the current hubcaps

And one of a lip that runs down the side of the car that might make for a good spot to mount a side skirt

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi Steve,

You could block the upper part of the upper grill for sure, and probably the whole upper grill. Are the lower outside bits already blocked? A mud flap delete would help the aero...

[stevey_frac]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Hi Steve,

You could block the upper part of the upper grill for sure, and probably the whole upper grill. Are the lower outside bits already blocked? A mud flap delete would help the aero...

Nothing is blocked yet. The mudflaps are actually part of a piece that bolts right up into the wheel well. So removing them means cutting them off, which i'm not sure i want to do yet.

I'm not sure how i want to go about blocking the grill. Id like it to be as clean looking as possible.

I think i'm gonna take a run at it tomorrow.

[stevey_frac]

Well... It's now official. I'm an ecomodder.

Full upper grill block complete. Coroplast. $3.99 from home depot. I'm gonna watch the temperature on my way to work tomorrow, and if i notice it's getting really toasty i'll remove some of it.

If temps remain cool, i'll block off the lower grill to.

I've looked it over, and TBH... The cobalt is surprising well built for aero. At least as far as most production cars go. The stock Cd is 0.32. The car comes stock with a fairly decent underpan. It could use a chin pan, and a diffuser, which i'll take a better look at this weekend. The coupe actually arcs back fairly gently to the hood.

As for the mudflaps... if i fabricated a boat tail behind the mudflaps, that would help aero would it not?

-Steve

I'll put up pictures tomorrow when it's brighter.

[winkosmosis]

I think the lips along the sides are pinch seams, which would mean they're part of the structure of the car. If you drill holes in them, you might weaken then, and there's also the risk of rust.

[stevey_frac]

Originally Posted by winkosmosis

I think the lips along the sides are pinch seams, which would mean they're part of the structure of the car. If you drill holes in them, you might weaken then, and there's also the risk of rust.

Yes, i've since backed off the idea of the side skirts. I don't think there would be any noticeable gain unless i used them to divert air from the rear tires.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

I would only do a partial lower grill block -- you do need some air to get to the radiator! And if the lower outside "grills" are open, I would block/cover them. What does the space between the grill and the radiator look like -- is it open or (partially) closed?

You could do a test of wheel covers using tape, and if it works, then buy/make yourself some smooth wheel covers. You're starting with a pretty clean looking car, with a good overall shape.

[stevey_frac]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Hi,

I would only do a partial lower grill block -- you do need some air to get to the radiator! And if the lower outside "grills" are open, I would block/cover them. What does the space between the grill and the radiator look like -- is it open or (partially) closed?

You could do a test of wheel covers using tape, and if it works, then buy/make yourself some smooth wheel covers. You're starting with a pretty clean looking car, with a good overall shape.

The lower outside grills are closed. From the factory. The upper grill block actually dosen't cover right to both edges, and leaves a bit of room open on the right side.

The space between the grill and radiators is wide open, Like. Nothing there at all.

For the wheel covers i was looking at getting moonies from HubcapMike, but he wants around $150 for them, shipped to Canada, which seems a lot for hubcaps. I can almost buy new steel wheels for that. I'm trying to see if anyone around here sells them locally.

-Steve