Just finished making these fiberglass wheel covers for my RX7...
I've been wondering if the decreased drag from the front covers overcomes the increase in frontal area. My intuition says it does, but I wanted to get your thoughts on it.
The widest point in the center of the cover sticks out 5" on each side. I'm primarily concerned with decreasing drag for higher top speeds.
I'm also looking for a logical justification to keep them , cause I just think they look cool
I have no idea about the question but I'm torn between describing it as a barnacle or a carbuncle.
Wheels are really, really ugly from an aero standpoint. The top of them have have an airspeed that's twice that of the rest of the car and they squirt vortices all over the place. I would think that you'd definitely see less drag by covering them.
You could do moon covers, and seal the gap in the opening with semi-flexible rubber. An experiment by a home builder in the Experimental Aircraft Association picked up 3kts by sealing the wheel gaps on his pants for his Acro Sport II.
Personally they are an odd look, but your car is totally cyberpunk. I wouldn't change a thing. I'd add even more. Seriously.
Those are absolutely ugly...I LOVE IT!!!
I am on the wrong computer , but look for the 1951 Porsche LeMans winner #46 ,
it has some cool skirts on it that increased the top speed with a small 1100 cc motor.
"The top of them have have an airspeed that's twice that of the rest of the car and they squirt vortices all over the place. I would think that you'd definitely see less drag by covering them."
I didn't realize the air speed was that high at the top... I just know they are a turbulent mess. Sounds like you know more about aero that me, so it's encouraging to hear that.
"Personally they are an odd look, but your car is totally cyberpunk. I wouldn't change a thing. I'd add even more. Seriously."
Cyberpunk is exactly what I am going for. Any suggestions on how to turn it up to the next level? I love that rendering by Walter Kim. I was toying with the idea of doing a big low mounted wing like that. I went so far as to mocking one up out of foam... but I thought maybe the whale tale would be a little more tasteful. My style is tastefully overdone.
"Those are absolutely ugly...I LOVE IT!!!"
Haha pretty much my sentiments too. From the front and rear I'm a bit iffy about them... but when I see it from the side I'm a bit mesmerized. It's definitely the most polarizing mod I've ever done.
"I am on the wrong computer , but look for the 1951 Porsche LeMans winner #46"
Yes! That's exactly what I was going for. That was one of the few examples I could find of what I had in mind before I started building them.
Y'all might get a kick out of the aero on the C4 I'm working on. It's a long project. Dropped the body down over the frame about 6" and the aero is more focused on high down force and less about low drag. Also a high emphases on being over the top.
https://youtu.be/RZXm7K9oebU
84FSP
UltraDork
3/19/22 11:24 a.m.
So dig the C4 but can't get my head around the FC. Seems like it would work - from a realistic standpoint - how hard is it to get at wheels and brakes for maintenance?
eogel
New Reader
5/7/22 9:01 p.m.
Can you post more pictures of the C4 you are working on or start a new thread. Thanks