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Here is a great article on some things that can be done to increase my MPG.

http://www.recumbents.com/car_aerodynamics/

I've done a lot of that stuff to my car with good MPG results.

Belly pans may be the single biggest effect? Although not necessarily easy to DIY. I wonder if there is a business opportunity in designing precut kits (or at least full scale drawings) for the pieces needed for various car models preferred for high mpg.

I have seen sheet Al and corrugated polyethylene both used for this. One possible advantage for the latter (coroplast) is that it might be more forgiving of a high spot on the road.

I did wish that Prius could be low on the highway and with more ground clearance for those bad roads. But way too lazy to build such a thing.

DAS

Way back Citroen made cars with hydraulic suspensions that could be adjusted to different heights by the driver. Also made jacking up the car much simpler. They were very aero, the DS even had rear wheel skirts!!!

lol, I think I posted this awhile ago, and someone even told me they posted this before me. Must be good if people keep coming back to it. ;)

I'm trying to look for a shop that will custom fabricate me some wheel well covers for a good price. I might even do the grill blocker for the winter time. I'm too scared to do it in Las Vegas when the dry heat gets over 100.

I've got a full grille block in place on mine. I'm noticing a loss of power above about 85F ambient. I'm removing 1/4 of the block for higher temps now, but it's back in for the mornings.

Prior to next winter, I need to design a grill block for my car, that the opening can be adjusted from the dashboard, like with a choke cable. Part or parts of the block could slide from the center, towards the left and right headlights, either opening or closing the opening a notch at a time. That way, it would be simple to change the amount of opening depending on the coolant temperature (and some real capable person could probably use that parameter to make it automatic).

I wish I could get this for my civic.

http://response.jp/issue/2006/0103/article77697_1.images/103037.jpg

No idea where to purchase it or if it will fit a US spec civic. Supposedly it adjusts itself based on the temprature of the engine.

Now that's cool. Do they make one for Mazdas?

Hi Rex:

___It won’t fit the Mazda but Mugen had this excellent looking underbody aero pan ready to bolt on last generations Asian Fit’s.

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

___Someone is going to start making a ton if they can come up with a good way to ship them after the template and plastic/aluminum forming/cutting is complete.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Now that's cool. Do they make one for Mazdas?

I see this is a Honda Concept from 06?

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?lp=ja_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fresponse.jp%2fissue%2f2006%2f0103%2farticle77697_1.html

the taillights are hideous! everything else looks good.

LOL forgot I started this thread and I started another one. Here is what I posted just to keep the topics in one thread.

Very cool forum for aerodynamic modifications


This site is very "juicy" for those who are interested in aerodynamic modifications. (Thanks basjoos!)

http://ecomodder.com/forum/index.php

A lot of these modifications can be made/installed in the garage. I'm really intersted in the underbody modifications and have looked at the Prius (1st gen) under belly pan modification.

Yea, ecomodder is where I found that orignally when I was looking for ways to block out my grill for aerodynamic purposes.