99 Accord Rear Wheel Well Covers (skirts)

[antrey]

I finally managed to install one rear wheel skirt on my '99 Accord. The concept had been running around in my mind for some time and I had started construction of some of the mounting brackets but it took me over a month to finally get mobilized. The end product came to fruition in several steps:
1. Taking measurements at the wheel well to determine what my boundary conditions/mounting options were.
2. Drawing a concept that including 2 screws on each mounting bracket, a screw for angle adjustment and one for mounting.
3. Cutting out paper models of the mounting brackets to trace onto sheet metal
4. Tweaking the sheet metal brackets for the realities of bending metal versus folding paper
5. Gluing the brackets to the wheel well edge using black RTV silicone sealant
6. Cutting out a cardboard version of the cover to trace onto the choroplast and adjust the angle of the mounting brackets.
7. Attaching the choroplast cover with hex head sheet metal screws and rubber coated washers.

[Daox]

Looks pretty good.

[kwj]

Antrey, that is just too cool. Super job, and thanks for sharing. You make it look simple. Keep us posted with the mpg increase that your crafty engineering brings about.

[AbACUZ]

Hey , take your hubcap and paste it to the skirt, most people will not even notice you have the skirt in there and wonder how you rolling and the wheels not spinning, , or get spinner hubcaps, that me M4D TigT Y0! ,

and the foil on the wheels, thats even dopper!! ( was there no way to do the same and make it look a little better ? clear tape or something )

just kidding,, the best aplication of a skirt I have seen on this site !
only recomendation . paint the screws black ... Now! hehehe

[kwj]

Yeh, this time I agree with AbACUZ, paint the screws.

How has your mod worked for you? Notice any increase in MPG or better stability?

[antrey]

Originally Posted by AbACUZ

Hey , take your hubcap and paste it to the skirt, most people will not even notice you have the skirt in there and wonder how you rolling and the wheels not spinning, , or get spinner hubcaps, that me M4D TigT Y0! ,

and the foil on the wheels, thats even dopper!! ( was there no way to do the same and make it look a little better ? clear tape or something )

just kidding,, the best aplication of a skirt I have seen on this site !
only recomendation . paint the screws black ... Now! hehehe

Dam*! You have a 9-2x Aero! I really miss mine. I modded mine to 285Hp at Stage 1.5 or so. I used black duct tape to cover the screws and also to tape along the edge for a better seal. It doesn't look as good with the tape but at this point I care more about how it works than how it looks.

[antrey]

Originally Posted by kwj

Yeh, this time I agree with AbACUZ, paint the screws.

How has your mod worked for you? Notice any increase in MPG or better stability?

The mod helped push my tanks past 40mpg. I'll have to repeat a run along a known route to get a measure of the improvement...and I still haven't installed the cover on the other side. The run won't be carried out until both covers are installed. It's on my to do list for this weekend.

[bomber991]

I wonder if the foil on the wheels wont work so well since it moves so much with the wind forces. Seems like you'd need something a little more solid than foil.

[antrey]

I've thought of that as well. The pieces are pretty small though so they don't flap much. I've thought of coating them with some kind of epoxy resin to make the pieces stiff or silicone pieces of choroplast in place instead.

[lyekka]

Nice job!

Originally Posted by bomber991

I wonder if the foil on the wheels wont work so well since it moves so much with the wind forces. Seems like you'd need something a little more solid than foil.

They have dust covers available that may work, they may need to have a ring added to the perimeter:

http://www.brakedustcover.com/honda~accord~kwheels.html

I had an issue with a Datsun 280ZX and these. They restrict air flow to the brakes and cause heat issues with heavy use. I actually lost the brakes completly due to heat / fluid boiling. Should not be an issue with hypemiling.