Sized up the strakes so they are at the proper angle. Matched up the diffuser to the strake angle as well. I'm guessing it's close to 2°? I guess I should leave the back of the rear strakes open?
A quick paint job...
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Dark Aero-The world's first aerodynamic single wheel boat tail!
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I'd guess more important to close them at the front. I can see daylight through them in the pre-paint picture.
Since it's sheet metal, what's all the wood for?
It is enclosed from the front. The daylight you see is from either gap betweeen the quarter panel and the top of the stake or the exhaust cutout as I have to allow fer the exhaust pipe to expand and stretch as it heats up.
The wood is fer support and fastening points. One of the rules I have fer my mods is no drilling into the frame or body sheet metal.
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Dark Aero-The world's first aerodynamic single wheel boat tail!
Last edited by BamZipPow; 11-24-2014 at 09:24 AM..
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Been dealing with some popping and cracking noises that seemed to come from the front of the truck. I had to pull the diffuser out since my hitch receiver had broken the welds off of the receiver reinforcement and git that re-welded back on.
In the process I discovered that the 2x4 metal studs I used fer building the diffuser with had cracked from the frame flexing. Lucky fer me, it wasn't catastrophic! With the diffuser removed, the popping/cracking noises disappeared!
I ended up replacing those studs with some 2x4 wood studs and extended the length to include the extended diffuser. The trailer bottom gap cover will still be attached to the rear diffuser without any issues. I did add extra hinges to allow the diffuser more articulation when the rear axle goes up and down.
Broken studs...
New wood studs...
New hinges to allow fer more articulation...
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Dark Aero-The world's first aerodynamic single wheel boat tail!
Last edited by BamZipPow; 09-14-2015 at 01:25 PM..
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I could hear some extra scraping noises when I was backing up and also that my mileage hasn't been where it had been in the past so I started looking around the rig to see what might have changed. A quick peek under the rig I noticed that the rear diffuser had sagged in the middle rear below the rear axle.
Pulled the rear diffuser off and installed a slotted metal 90° angle iron to better support the middle load across the diffuser.
I also installed a rubber strap in the middle to better support the diffuser load from bouncing instead of relying on the rear wheel strakes to support the pounding from the diffuser.
I can now install my rear vent panel without any significant gaps.
Current rear view...
Hopefully this will reinstate my mileage again.
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Dark Aero-The world's first aerodynamic single wheel boat tail!
Last edited by BamZipPow; 09-14-2015 at 02:00 PM..
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