Win $100.00 in Free Gas! Design Contest: Ecomod my Ride

[Oldsmobile]

Lots of interesting ideas. I should mention, that some of the more radical ideas of re-shaping the body will probably backfire, as changing things completely will probably ad more weight.

I suggest just keeping to the current shape, with minor modifications to the front facia. Mostly just smoothing things out.

The largest single modification that would make the car more slippery is smoothing out the bottom of the car. This could be done with thin aluminum sheet.

Now as far as reducing weight goes, like I said, the interior is pretty important and for a good weight reduction, a complete redesign with new furniture would probably do the trick. Aluminum tubes and nylon mesh are your friends.

Cutting out big squares in the floor and roof and replacing them with aluminum sheet might reduce weight further. That might bring unforseen problems though.

[SVOboy]

You should check out newtonsfirstlaw's thread on his own car and his conclusions about the effects that (very simple) modifications have had on cd and fuel economy,

[XFi]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I think Andrew should win based on the name alone!

I would happily drive an H2 into the sunset if it were named Coche de José MarÃ*a González de Hermosillo.

The currently UnNamed Wagon is a Mexican too! Vin Begins with 2

GREAT ENTRIES!
TomO - The Savin' Wagon
Yaristock - Saggin Wagon
AndrewJ - Coche de José MarÃ*a González de Hermosillo

Thank you for the first three 'Official' submissions! (even named the UnNamed Wagon )I appreciate your ideas and thoughts.

Also, thanks to Oldsmobile and Lazarus for your thoughts and input! Since the EcoModder.com stickers are not out yet, all five of you have just won a 'Stop the Hose Job' Sticker if you so desire (same sticker that is posted in my signature). Just PM me a mailing address, over the next day or two, and I will send it out to you.
KEEP UP THE GREAT SUBMISSIONS!

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Oldsmobile

Lots of interesting ideas. I should mention, that some of the more radical ideas of re-shaping the body will probably backfire, as changing things completely will probably ad more weight.

Done properly, even additional weight is more than offset by the efficiency gains of drag reduction - unless of course you spend all your time below 20 mph.

• I wonder if you have seen... http://metrompg.com/posts/xfi-aero-car.htm

• Or: the EV World article about Phil Knox' pick-up truck

• Or: Another crazy aero-modded Metro - chopped & teardropped

• Or: Fantastic home-built aeromodded 1930's car

• Even adding a small partial Kammback, (Mighty Mira's car), while it adds a small amount of weight, will help.

The aerodynamic problem facing the Escort wagon (and any similarly shaped van or 2 box style car) is that the maximum projected (frontal) area happens very near the back of the car. If no body mods are planned, an Escort sedan would have been a better choice.

The wagon can be made better than the sedan. But you're right - it will have to be a radical change.

The problem as I see it isn't going to be added weight. A chopped/teardropped roof would actually remove weight, since there'd be both less glass and metal in the car.

The biggest problem is the sheer difficulty of a mod of that magnitude.

(Photoshop image coming, XFi...)

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by TomO

I'll get working on a photochop to display some of the exterior mods and post it up in a day or two.

Nice work, Tom!

[XFi]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Nice work, Tom!

Definately! I wish I could do that!

[XFi]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

(Photoshop image coming, XFi...)

Do you think a 'fast back' Wagon may be a way to go? Sort of like Phil Knox and his modified Toyota pickup? Start slanting it down after the Drivers Door?

[MetroMPG]

No question about it.

[Oldsmobile]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Done properly, even additional weight is more than offset by the efficiency gains of drag reduction - unless of course you spend all your time below 20 mph.

The problem as I see it isn't going to be added weight. A chopped/teardropped roof would actually remove weight, since there'd be both less glass and metal in the car.

The biggest problem is the sheer difficulty of a mod of that magnitude.

(Photoshop image coming, XFi...)

Oh wow, that chop top you linked even looks really nice!

You right, I had no idea. I was sort of imagining heavy resculpting of the rear and stuff, but of course removing bits is another matter.

Making the rear of the car slope would still maybe be in the realm of possibility, though it certainly wouldn't be a very practical car after that. And since we're chopping, lowering the roof line can be done at the same time.

[MetroMPG]

Here's the basic idea. Minus a lot of other details that need doing...