Next Avenue for MPG increase

[mechtech]

When I worked for AMG Mercedes, we had to crack the 200 MPH barrier because it had the 'Holy Grail' sound to it. Necessary for sales, and also a mental image of you weener dimensions.
The first [and at that time only] production street car to do 200 MPH. [Big weener for me!]

The final key was wind resistance. UNDER the car.
A number of guys on various forums are making simple aluminum [or whatever] panels and placing them in common sense locations under the car, to slick up the bottom. Some have had good results. Highway driving is where this will really pay off. I can't see this doing much around town.

But I am going to look in to this for this car.
David Gettle is probably making one as he reads this, as this will message will cause him to really cream his jeans.
Many others of you are handy and inventive, and a roll of sheet aluminum is cheap at Home Depot, Ace, or Menards .
There is a lot of hangy stuff that could be simply covered with a panel or two, esp. in the rear end.

[mechtech]

[I couldn't edit the first post.]
I was considering the little black plastic front lip under the car [as a start]. Why have it straight down and at maximum wind resistance? A piece of aluminum or plastic that is angled/integrated to it would help wind resistance a lot, and still maintain the original function.

[gunman_sr5]

Now what would be better. angled in creating lift or out creating some down force. I figured out would be better since it will push the air around and over the car vs under it.

[david gettle]

Mechtech, I had read about that car. Adding plates to the bottom of the car to decrease drag is something I have been thinking about. Just haven't had the time to work on it, so in the mean time I have a wings west kit on the car, LOL.

If you angle the piece at the front of the car to create down force, you also need to make it curved so the center is curved toward the bumper or it would defeate the purpose.

[iceracer]

I think that piece is to help cooling by directing some air up toward the radiator. I doubt that it does much. I've often thought of making a panel from the bumper cover to where the little spoiler is and remove it.
During the last gas crisis Car & Driver magazine did some experimenting with aero. They used a huge air dam on the front of the car, eliminated undercar air flow. Not very pratical for a DD. I think some sort of diffuser on the rear from the cross member to the bumper cover would help also.

[david gettle]

I think that piece is to help cooling by directing some air up toward the radiator. I doubt that it does much. I've often thought of making a panel from the bumper cover to where the little spoiler is and remove it.

The little spoiler is called a stone deflector, it's supposed to reduce the amount of road debris that hits the bottom of the engine/tranny oil pans. It's not there for aerodynamics. (I used to work for an Automotive insurance claims auditing company). Some older cars did have a panel that went from the bottom of the bumper to the radiator support ('73 Plymouth Fury Full size Wagon for example) they still had the stone deflector.

I think some sort of diffuser on the rear from the cross member to the bumper cover would help also.
I think this is along the lines of what mechtech was thinking. I know that was the direction I was thinking, as the front of the car is fairly well taken care of by the splash shields. Though I'm shure with some time in a wind tunnel they could be improved (no, I'm not going to do that).

[iceracer]

Not disputing you on that deflector. I just wonder, from where it is located, how much does it actually deflect.
Another idea would be blocking off the grille as much as possible.
Wouldn't it be great to have use of a wind tunnel for a day. Oh well,dream on.

[Beodude123]

Oddly enough, I thought about this not that long ago. I was thinking about how much stuff there is under the car.

[Connal]

Not disputing you on that deflector. I just wonder, from where it is located, how much does it actually deflect.
Another idea would be blocking off the grille as much as possible.
Wouldn't it be great to have use of a wind tunnel for a day. Oh well,dream on.

Wasn't there a picture of a guy on some fuel saving forum that did that> I remember it was a gold color, and he added covers for the wheel wells.

[mechtech]

It's a stone deflector? How mundane...
It still would be beneficial to streamline it, IMO.

[iceracer]

It's interesting, almost all cars and some trucks have them.

[david gettle]

Wasn't there a picture of a guy on some fuel saving forum that did that> I remember it was a gold color, and he added covers for the wheel wells.
I saw that too, only problem was he made the parts out of cardboard and attached them with duct tape, then painted it (looked like crap).

Actually putting grill mesh in the front bumper opening does help MPG slightly (between 1\2% and 1%) I keep track of anything i do to the car and it's effect on MPG.

[david gettle]

It's a stone deflector? How mundane...
It still would be beneficial to streamline it, IMO.

I agree, it could use streamlined or if metal splash shields were made it could be eliminated as long as the metal version of the splash shields covered the oil pans.

[JohnP]

There was a post about doing aero mods on a ' 74 Pinto , increased the mileage 25% at highway speeds . The same principles would apply to the ZX2 , probably with better results , with less work .

On the wifes Prius , theres a partial belly pan in the front , some people have extended it with sheets of plastic panels . The Prius has a air dam plus deflectors in front of the wheels . Theres a small skirt on the bottom of the rear quarters that wraps around and forms a tunnel under the rear . Full aluminum wheel covers cut down drag , some guys used pizza pans , whatever works I guess .

There have been excellent mileage increases using a larger air dam and deflectors , the belly pan and running side skirts . wife won't let me do the skirts , yet . All this stuff can be applied to the ZX2 with good results .

http://teamzx2.com/showthread.php?t=1396&highlite=pinto

[Beodude123]

If the Z still lives after the insurance people try and rape it... I'll be on this stuff like white on rice.