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What a PITA! But I think it was worth it. Total drop, 1.75". No measureable change in camber or toe. Drives straight, coasts well, corners much much much better, ride much bouncier.:D

Oh well, you can't have everything.:cool:

Before:
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/medium/LR_Before_Drop.jpg

After:

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/LR_Dropped.JPG

I have reduced my frontal area by 28 square inches! Thats gotta be worth a few MPG's!:D

Car wash, courtesy of Dawn dishwashing liquid. Waxed 6 weeks ago courtesy of McGuires.

Curent tank, 300+ miles, SuperMID says 50.9 MPG. Digital Fuel gauge says 53 MPG.

Everytime I see someone lower their car it makes me tempted to do my own.

Very nice!!

Could you post some info on the SuperMid and digi fuel gauge. My new Civic came with no mpg/trip/fe managment in the Navi. Kinda burns my arse that Honda wouldnt include this as there always bragging about fe and being green thru there whole product line. I need to find something diff. than scanguage. That things to ugly to be put in my Ranger muchless my Civic.

Thank You

Everytime I see someone lower their car it makes me tempted to do my own.

Well in your case, you would only have to lower the front. The rear is probably low enough due to all of the amps and junk in your trunk.:D

Honestly, I would't recommend it on a family car. The ride really suffers, very very bouncy. At least thats the way it is with the $40 shipped ebay el cheapo coilover special that I installed.:cool:

Very nice!!

Could you post some info on the SuperMid and digi fuel gauge. My new Civic came with no mpg/trip/fe managment in the Navi. Kinda burns my arse that Honda wouldnt include this as there always bragging about fe and being green thru there whole product line. I need to find something diff. than scanguage. That things to ugly to be put in my Ranger muchless my Civic.

Thank You

Hi Psy,
Here are a few links about what you asked about:
http://www.gassavers.org/forum_topic/vacuum_guage_and_digital_fuel_gauge.html

http://www.gassavers.org/forum_topic/supermid_m1_mpg_computer.html

Let me know if you have any additional Q's.

Hi Dan:

___Was it just removing the bump stops and shortening the springs or what else was involved? How about wheel lock clearances in the wells? Nice before and after shots!

___The drop in frontal area was due to more of the front tire width not being exposed, correct? The tire aerodynamics are even more significant then straight frontal area calc’s from articles I have read so you might gain an even bigger benefit at higher speeds let alone the underbody turbulence being reduced because of the lowering hopefully? A big help in this regard would be some wheel-tire strakes/air dams/spoilers. There is another term used for them but I do not remember what it is right now. It is either a formed smooth flowing dam as was the case on the Insight to direct the air flow towards the bottom of the tire or a straight piece of hard plastic hanging down ~ 1” just in front of the tires themselves. They are included on both the Accord and Corolla right from the factory. See the Accord’s air dam in pic #1 below. I know it’s not the best pic but its snowing like crazy right now and I didn’t want to get that much more wet then I already did ;) As shown in the pic, they are slightly off set to the center of the car on both automobiles for some reason. Something you may want to look into as I am not sure why? If you need a pic of the Corolla’s air dam(s), let me know …

___And about the body and underbody aerodynamics … The Second pic is of an add-on for the Honda Fit - for the Mugen Dynamite as sourced from Mugen themselves. I do not know if there is such an item for the del Sol or what your future plans are but if I owned a Fit, this would be up near the top of my list of “Things to add”. I hope you can find or fabricate something similar. And about the rear deck … It doesn’t look that clean but there is hopefully something you can do about its aerodynamics to help there as well?

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/Honda_Accord_Underbody_Tire_Air_Dam.jpg

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Honda_Fit_Underbody_Aero_kit.jpg

___Good Luck

___Wayne

You can see the difference. It dropped it down. I like the New Look. Question? Will it now drag on things? Like entering Slanted drives and dips Etc. Or is it still up high enough that it's no-problem with some common sense driving? :)

Nice.

Terry

Hi Dan:

___Was it just removing the bump stops and shortening the springs or what else was involved? How about wheel lock clearances in the wells? Nice before and after shots!

I snagged a set of adjustable coilovers on ebay for $40 shipped. I have the old springs in case i want to go back the stock height. No problem with clearances.

___The drop in frontal area was due to more of the front tire width not being exposed, correct? The tire aerodynamics are even more significant then straight frontal area calc’s from articles I have read so you might gain an even bigger benefit at higher speeds let alone the underbody turbulence being reduced because of the lowering hopefully?

Yes, 1.75" drop times ~8" tire width times two tires equals 28 square inches. I hope to gain also from less underbody turbulence.

A big help in this regard would be some wheel-tire strakes/air dams/spoilers. There is another term used for them but I do not remember what it is right now. It is either a formed smooth flowing dam as was the case on the Insight to direct the air flow towards the bottom of the tire or a straight piece of hard plastic hanging down ~ 1” just in front of the tires themselves. They are included on both the Accord and Corolla right from the factory. See the Accord’s air dam in pic #1 below. I know it’s not the best pic but its snowing like crazy right now and I didn’t want to get that much more wet then I already did ;) As shown in the pic, they are slightly off set to the center of the car on both automobiles for some reason. Something you may want to look into as I am not sure why? If you need a pic of the Corolla’s air dam(s), let me know …

___And about the body and underbody aerodynamics … The Second pic is of an add-on for the Honda Fit - for the Mugen Dynamite as sourced from Mugen themselves. I do not know if there is such an item for the del Sol or what your future plans are but if I owned a Fit, this would be up near the top of my list of “Things to add”. I hope you can find or fabricate something similar.

Yes, I have been discussing underbody trays here:
http://www.gassavers.org/forum_topic/underbody_tray_design.html

And about the rear deck … It doesn’t look that clean but there is hopefully something you can do about its aerodynamics to help there as well?

Yes, also discussing the rear deck here:
http://www.gassavers.org/forum_topic/del_sol_aerodynamics.html

and here:

http://www.gassavers.org/forum_topic/98_civic_sedan_coefficient_of_drag_where_to_find.html

Let me know what you think. I am trying to find the corrugated plastic for the underbody tray but have had no luck. I am going to stop by a sign shop next week. They will have some but it will be costly.

You can see the difference. It dropped it down. I like the New Look. Question? Will it now drag on things? Like entering Slanted drives and dips Etc. Or is it still up high enough that it's no-problem with some common sense driving? :)

Nice.

Terry

Thanks Terry. Since my oversized tires added 1" to the clearance, the 1.75" drop is really only .75" from stock. No problem with scraping on things.

Hi Dan:

___It looks like Gassavers missed the Tire/wheel dams after all? I see you talking about a tonneau cover of some sort too? A nice article from EVWorld a few months ago might help get you started in the right direction?

Free Fuel Riding on the Wind (http://www.evworld.com/view.cfm?section=article&storyid=870)

http://www.evworld.com/images/pknox_toyota.jpg

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hi Dan:

___It looks like Gassavers missed the Tire/wheel dams after all? I see you talking about a tonneau cover of some sort too? A nice article from EVWorld a few months ago might help get you started in the right direction?

Free Fuel Riding on the Wind (http://www.evworld.com/view.cfm?section=article&storyid=870)

http://www.evworld.com/images/pknox_toyota.jpg

___Good Luck

___Wayne
Is that Ride? Wild or what?

FE in the Up-Most: :D

Terry

Hi Terry:

___I know a guy who owns a regular Ford Ranger not aerodynamically pimped that has a higher lmpg though … I wouldn’t want to go head to head at 70 + mph however ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne