Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > EcoModding Central
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 06-13-2017, 05:21 PM   #111 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 70
Thanks: 2
Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by freebeard View Post
I like the fender. I was trying for that with my Very Light Volkswagen (I'll spare you the drawing).

I would just add a [filleted] canard moustache to the inside of the lower front edge.

That's an interesting periscope/ventilator setup on the bubble top. Not sure about the door cut-line.
Integrated roll bar is a plus, but I forget how you enter, I seem to think it was fighter aircraft style. The model was displayed with the canopy off too giving a good look at the interior. It was quite large, highly detailed and well finished

The canopy looks like a 1 piece affair with no other opening parts, so vents would only work on the move. That wont go well without aircon in warmer climes. It also makes egress problematic if you roll it.

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 06-14-2017, 11:32 AM   #112 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
JRMichler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Phillips, WI
Posts: 1,013

Nameless - '06 GMC Canyon
90 day: 37.45 mpg (US)

22 Maverick - '22 Ford Maverick XL
90 day: 41.9 mpg (US)
Thanks: 188
Thanked 466 Times in 287 Posts
I would build a pickup truck about the size of an extended cab Ford Ranger. Bench seat in front, sideways seating in the back. The back seats should be reasonably comfortable for two adults to sit in for a couple of hours.

Engine would be the latest and greatest four cylinder gas engine with 120 to 150 hp. Two wheel drive. Six speed manual transmission with gear ratios similar to the new Chevrolet Colorado. Lots of attention to low friction in the driveline and wheel bearings.

Ground clearance at least seven inches. Front like the Airflow Bullet Truck. Rear view cameras instead of outside rear view mirrors. Belly pan, possibly integrated into some form of unit body frame/belly pan design. Enough room in the rear wheel wells to use tire chains. Turning circle less than 36 feet. Trailer hitch with 2" receiver.

All LED lights. Kill switch. Large AGM battery. Alternator disable switch. Integrated solar panels to assist in topping off the battery. The AC would NOT be wired to the defroster. Electric PS with capability to disable. Electric power brakes, or better yet, brakes that do not need power assist.

Aero topper with hinged lid similar to mine, except better. Car top carrier to fit the cab. Topper lid strong enough to support a car top carrier.

I would expect to average (close to) 50 MPG in summer with a rig like that.
__________________
06 Canyon: The vacuum gauge plus wheel covers helped increase summer 2015 mileage to 38.5 MPG, while summer 2016 mileage was 38.6 MPG without the wheel covers. Drove 33,021 miles 2016-2018 at 35.00 MPG.

22 Maverick: Summer 2022 burned 62.74 gallons in 3145.1 miles for 50.1 MPG. Winter 2023-2024 - 2416.7 miles, 58.66 gallons for 41 MPG.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-14-2017, 01:46 PM   #113 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
freebeard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: northwest of normal
Posts: 27,562
Thanks: 7,738
Thanked 8,554 Times in 7,041 Posts
Would this be a Ranger with an engine swap and snowplow airdam, or a vacuum-bagged carbon fiber monocoque?
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-14-2017, 02:22 PM   #114 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
JRMichler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Phillips, WI
Posts: 1,013

Nameless - '06 GMC Canyon
90 day: 37.45 mpg (US)

22 Maverick - '22 Ford Maverick XL
90 day: 41.9 mpg (US)
Thanks: 188
Thanked 466 Times in 287 Posts
Vacuum bagged if course. Got to get that swoopy styling.

And one more: The air dam area must be designed to bust through snowdrifts and plow piles.
__________________
06 Canyon: The vacuum gauge plus wheel covers helped increase summer 2015 mileage to 38.5 MPG, while summer 2016 mileage was 38.6 MPG without the wheel covers. Drove 33,021 miles 2016-2018 at 35.00 MPG.

22 Maverick: Summer 2022 burned 62.74 gallons in 3145.1 miles for 50.1 MPG. Winter 2023-2024 - 2416.7 miles, 58.66 gallons for 41 MPG.
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to JRMichler For This Useful Post:
freebeard (06-14-2017), gumby79 (06-14-2017)
Old 06-14-2017, 08:19 PM   #115 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
oldtamiyaphile's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,510

UFI - '12 Fiat 500 Twinair
Team Turbocharged!
90 day: 40.3 mpg (US)

Jeep - '05 Jeep Wrangler Renegade
90 day: 18.09 mpg (US)

R32 - '89 Nissan Skyline

STiG - '16 Renault Trafic 140dCi Energy
90 day: 30.12 mpg (US)

Prius - '05 Toyota Prius
Team Toyota
90 day: 50.25 mpg (US)

Premodded - '49 Ford Freighter
90 day: 13.48 mpg (US)

F-117 - '10 Proton Arena GLSi
Pickups
Mitsubishi
90 day: 37.82 mpg (US)

Ralica - '85 Toyota Celica ST
90 day: 25.23 mpg (US)

Sx4 - '07 Suzuki Sx4
90 day: 32.21 mpg (US)

F-117 (2) - '03 Citroen Xsara VTS
90 day: 30.06 mpg (US)
Thanks: 325
Thanked 452 Times in 319 Posts
Seriously thinking of selling my Jeep and building a long arm Miata:



Should roughly double my MPG and be more fun.
__________________






  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to oldtamiyaphile For This Useful Post:
freebeard (06-15-2017)
Old 06-15-2017, 12:38 PM   #116 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: KY
Posts: 1,346

IGL - '04 Saturn Ion
Team Saturn
90 day: 56.19 mpg (US)
Thanks: 63
Thanked 364 Times in 268 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by JRMichler View Post
I would build a pickup truck about the size of an extended cab Ford Ranger. Bench seat in front, sideways seating in the back. The back seats should be reasonably comfortable for two adults to sit in for a couple of hours.

Engine would be the latest and greatest four cylinder gas engine with 120 to 150 hp. Two wheel drive. Six speed manual transmission with gear ratios similar to the new Chevrolet Colorado. Lots of attention to low friction in the driveline and wheel bearings.

Ground clearance at least seven inches. Front like the Airflow Bullet Truck. Rear view cameras instead of outside rear view mirrors. Belly pan, possibly integrated into some form of unit body frame/belly pan design. Enough room in the rear wheel wells to use tire chains. Turning circle less than 36 feet. Trailer hitch with 2" receiver.

All LED lights. Kill switch. Large AGM battery. Alternator disable switch. Integrated solar panels to assist in topping off the battery. The AC would NOT be wired to the defroster. Electric PS with capability to disable. Electric power brakes, or better yet, brakes that do not need power assist.

Aero topper with hinged lid similar to mine, except better. Car top carrier to fit the cab. Topper lid strong enough to support a car top carrier.

I would expect to average (close to) 50 MPG in summer with a rig like that.
My plan to build a truck was to start with an old Ranger(likely a 93) and build a lightweight alloy frame and front suspension, swap to an independent rear (Ford 8.8" center section)... Engine would be a 2.4L ecotec (the LE5), tuned for lean burn at cruise, trans would be from the Colorado, and the differential would have a limited slip and 3.08 gears... With body panels replaced with hand-made carbon fiber ones, weight would be around 2500#, and with around 180bhp acceleration would be sprightly, and with aero as clean as possible (aero cap, belly pan, grille blocking, etc) 35-40mpg should be possible under the right conditions...
__________________
My current Ecotec project...


My last Ecotec project...
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2017, 03:51 PM   #117 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
freebeard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: northwest of normal
Posts: 27,562
Thanks: 7,738
Thanked 8,554 Times in 7,041 Posts

Other Rangers
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2017, 04:46 PM   #118 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 70
Thanks: 2
Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts
my flying car doesnt seem so off the wall now eh ...
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2017, 02:31 AM   #119 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
freebeard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: northwest of normal
Posts: 27,562
Thanks: 7,738
Thanked 8,554 Times in 7,041 Posts
I'd settle for an amphibian:



Electrically insulative basalt fiber hull with electric AWD and hydrojets.
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2017, 03:23 AM   #120 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 70
Thanks: 2
Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by freebeard View Post
I'd settle for an amphibian:

Electrically insulative basalt fiber hull with electric AWD and hydrojets.
When you get down to it its actually a very difficult thing to do, so while they seem a simple solution, for other than the Type 166 production they are rare. Yes you do need AWD and also a takeoff for a prop, because as the Germans discovered depending on wheels as paddles doesnt cut it.

So they built quite a complex two ended transmission necessary for 4WD, and had another problem accommodating the folding prop drive, probably off the end of the engine.

In that way it shares the same power issues as car/airplane, as it also needs the additional power takeoff. The thing that always troubled me though was that all the suspension and shaft seals, as all that stuff is underwater. Where the flying car is just the adaption of a body that can transform into a workable wing, but has half the transmission issues.

Even if you made it water tight for the body, which seems broadly achievable, I dont know about all the moving sliding shafts and axles, brake parts etc. In the end they are going to be a maintenance nightmare.

Beginning with a 166 layout using electrics as you describe, or hydraulics (I think I'd prefer the latter) are probably the best ways to go though.


Last edited by sidecar; 06-16-2017 at 03:28 AM.. Reason: additions
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com