Del Sol Aero Mod

[krousdb]

Began with four 2' x 8' pieces of coroplast (corrugated plastic) 4mm thick.


1. Jack up one side of car and place one sheet underneath.



2. Slide edge of coroplast between black moulding flange and floorboard. Secure with three screws through moulding flange



3. Slide forward until you have enough coroplast to attach to front lip.



4. Cut reliefs into coroplast for clearance around A-arms. Attach to front lip with screws. Duct tape not required but it helps to smooth things out.



5. Bend up and secure coroplast with screws to complete the wheelwell treatment. This helps keep turbulence from wheel well from getting between the bellypan and floorboard. Trim around exhaust system leaving at least 1" clearance between coroplast and any exhaust component.



6. Repeat steps 1-5 on the other side.

To be continued.....

[krousdb]

Aero Mod continued....



7. Install coroplast on drivers side rear. Forward end slides between front coroplast piece and floorboard. Rear attaches to rear lip. Secure with screws.



8. Install coroplast on passenger side rear. Leftward end slides between drivers side rear coroplast piece and floorboard. Rear attaches to rear lip. Secure with screws. Trim around exhaust system leaving at least 1" clearance between coroplast and any exhaust component.


Cut reliefs for suspension parts.





9. Complete passenger side rear wheel well treatment. Trim around exhaust system leaving at least 1" clearance between coroplast and any exhaust component.



10. Complete driver side rear wheel well treatment.



11. Paint all coroplast flat black. Not yet completed.



Enough coroplst left over for wheel skirts and grille block.

[krousdb]

The first thing that I noticed was, OMG, my car is soooo quiet! I think that a combination less turbulence and the insulative qualities of Coroplast made a very noticeable difference in road noise.

I took a 30 mile RT to get black spray paint and the NGK V Power plugs at Pep Boys as Autozone doesn't carry it. This course yields very similar FE to my daily commute. On one downhill section, I usually start it with engine off at 20 MPH and reach a max speed of 55MPH then coast down to 30-35 before another downhill. Normally I have to bump start to keep speed up (40 MPH zone with cars behind me) before reaching the second downhill and then engine off again. Today my max speed was 62MPH and I made it to the second hill at 35 MPH without restarting. Wooot!

The FE for the 30 mile trip was 62.1 MPG, a new personal best. My previous bersonal best was 61.4 with a 10 MPH tailwind. Whats even more impressive was that I had a 15MPH west wind and 53F. Since the route is generally N-S I never had the benefit of a tailwind and was always fighting the crosswind. I'm actually looking forward to work on Monday!

Current Tank: 91 miles, 61.0 MPG

Where'd you get it, and at what cost? About how many hours of work does this represent?

[krousdb]

I bought it at a sign making shop. Coroplast is what signs are mostly made of these days. I spent $40 on four 2x8 ft sheets. It took about 5 hours total.
Good Luck!

[xcel]

Hi Dan:

___What a beautiful job! The next time I am Pittsburgh way, I think you and I should spend some time under the Accord or better yet, the Ranger! I would love to see the Cd numbers before and after but I can bet you dropped at least 4 – 5/100ths with the drop and the under body aero cover.

___Billy is already purchasing add-ons to improve his upcoming 06 Ranger and that thing would be a prime candidate for your under-body aero-mod treatment. I will PM him with this threads url.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

[krousdb]

Yes, stop by any time. You can pick up your sleeping bag!

So do the clips and screws make it reasonably easy to remove for oil changes?

[psyshack]

Ive been thinking of doing this to the Accord and Civic. Will be intresting to see how it holds up. And the drop in noise!!!! Thats worth the mod right there. Honda really needs to work on there road noise and acustic properties.

[tigerhonaker]

WOW: what a very interesting Thread. Great Pics. to go with Text. Not to forget the results after the Mod was Performed.

Great Job !!!!!