t_vago's compound curve foam board pickup aeroshell

[KamperBob]

Originally Posted by aerohead

I gleaned an article about Volvo's 3CC concept coupe from the Feb.2005 Popular Science,p. 17.
This car has a roofline of generous plan-taper which Volvo credits with a 12 % drag reduction.
Since my cover has this taper and gave a 13% mpg improvement,the article helps explain the difference between Ford's 10 % straight-sided aero-shell of 1988.

Phil, would it be possible to attach or link some pix so I can see what you are saying?

[Varn]

Thanks for the link. That is a very impressive mileage gain. They claimed a 12% reduction in drag, I presumed that was aero drag, No?
Volvo PS article.

Originally Posted by aerohead

I gleaned an article about Volvo's 3CC concept coupe from the Feb.2005 Popular Science,p. 17.
This car has a roofline of generous plan-taper which Volvo credits with a 12 % drag reduction.
Since my cover has this taper and gave a 13% mpg improvement,the article helps explain the difference between Ford's 10 % straight-sided aero-shell of 1988.

[t vago]

That's a pretty nice setup there.

[winkosmosis]

Originally Posted by t vago

That's a pretty nice setup there.

I was JUST about to post a picture of that car.

[euromodder]

There's a slight hint of that taper in the later Volvo C30.
Volvo could get away with that taper on the C30 as it's only a 4 seater.



Despite that and several more extensive drag reduction measures, it only returns the same FE numbers as the sedan S40 and wagon V50, due to its shorter length.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by KamperBob

Phil, would it be possible to attach or link some pix so I can see what you are saying?

Bob,I don't have the image with me,and it may be a couple of weeks before I'm back on the computer,but I'll do it asap.
Short of that,Pop Sci may have some resource online for images don't know.Or maybe GOOGLE IMAGES.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by Varn

Thanks for the link. That is a very impressive mileage gain. They claimed a 12% reduction in drag, I presumed that was aero drag, No?
Volvo PS article.

yes,it's a air drag reduction.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by t vago

That's a pretty nice setup there.

The roofline dates to Jaray's 1922 Patent application,finally issued in 1927.It pretty much makes the roof 'vanish.'
Rumpler also used this roof on his water drop limousine circa same time period.The roof dropped the Cd of the open cabin 1921 car from 0.54,to o.28,as tested in VW's modern tunnel

[t vago]

...No, I did not give up on this project...















Hopefully, by next week, this should be completed.

the aerocap has a fairly strong aluminum base frame that bolts onto the existing tonneau cover rails using 6 bolts (3 per side). The FoamulaR ribs are glued into 2 inch wide aluminum channels that are riveted and epoxied onto the base frame.

I don't think this cap will fly off the truck, like the last one did.

[ChazInMT]

Looks great! I'm glad you resisted the urge to taper it down too much in the back leaving 10 inches or so it looks like above the tailgate. Good Job!!