I’d put a piece of cardboard over the radiator first just to try it out. Run it up the road a few times. If it gets hot quickly, it may be too much. Used to see people do it up here in the winter to try to keep the engines warmer.
Aerodynamics & Diverting Wind Resistance ?
- Thread starter 318willrun
- Start date
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some of us still do it in the winter up here... maybe we put a 6" hole in the center for cooling, but some cars won't heat up without it.
Phreakish
Well-Known Member
It would help.
Doing something like this with the radiator can keep you cool on the street and help with your drag reduction. Look at the ducting the kit cobra guys do, they even angle the radiator to get a bigger core and still help with drag.
Anything air touches is "wetted". Reducing "wetted" area will reduce drag a whole lot. Reducing the air going through that pig trough of a front end will net big gains.
Bug deflectors act like wings. They probably won't reduce drag, since they create turbulence. That causes what's called induced drag, and it has a similar equation, but the same result: keep it smooth.
A cover which started at the top of the cab and ended at the tailgate would be best, but won't look stock. A decent camper shell could net similar gains. An under truck belly pan with a diffuser to help fill the void behind the tailgate and shell would probably be a net gain. The shell would need to be smooth and the rear glass should angle forward (toward cab). The top of it would preferably slope down slowly too, to mirror the rear diffuser to some extent.
Remember, when you change the direction of air, you're applying an equal and opposite force to the car. If you deflect wind up, car go down, if you deflect wind down, car go up. So you typically try to minimize changes in direction.
Stagnation areas cause drag, but can also be a benefit, since you're balancing wetted area and wind deflection. Remember the big flat face semis? They existed for a reason... It's still a trade off though, one isn't going to be a huge difference with another, but you can stack benefits in the direction you're designing.
A closed off grill with duct work for radiator air, a belly pan, smooth shell, a filler panel between the cab and bed, and smoothing all the trim, hinges, door gaps, drip rails, windscreen trim, etc will all add up. How much it adds up will depend on the MPH you're already attaining, or expect to. I don't think the juice would be worth the squeeze. At 125+? Probably some gains to be had...
Some really good stuff to ponder in this ^^ post !! I appreciate the efforts. I often wondered what an aluminum topper shell would do ?? Add about 75 lbs, but right on top of the rear tires. So I give up 3/4 of a tenth in weight, but would I pick up a more than I lost in the 1/4 ?? As for speeds now, it should be on the plus side of a 100 mph. I say "should" because when I went they were racing 1/8 mile, and it did 82.5 mph in the 1/8.
Professor Fate
Push the button, Max...
Are you lowering Old Yeller ? We are leaving DT in the stock height (or about)
No. I live in Home of the pothole Indiana.
The only "dragging" will be on the strip.
I am only running 1 windshield wiper. That ought to help.
If I couldn't see what it was, I would think someone was running a 3-71 Detroit sawmill!
TT5.9mag
Two atmospheres are better than one
Horsepower is easy to make nowadays. Worry about aero when you run out of ways to make horsepower, and run out of ways to reduce weight. Drag racing is about weight and hp not aero. Unless you’re going 6s at 200mph.
I agree fully, but in my particular project I look for "little things" that may add up - even a tenth.
j par
Well-hung Member
Le bra ....
Some kinda quick bolt on bumper extension and cover the entire nose with a tight wind proof canvas....
Something like this but fill in the holes...
Some kinda quick bolt on bumper extension and cover the entire nose with a tight wind proof canvas....
Something like this but fill in the holes...
Talking about aerodynamic flow around a body.
My 2000 Ford van has a nicely streamlined front end to help cut the air.
This last road trip out I did the Rain-X treatment to the front windshield. Sealed it up and slicked it up.
Driving through the rain with the wipers off, the Rain-X beaded up the rain drops and pushed them off the window at freeway speeds.
The interesting part was the Center out to the Left and Right Edges aerodynamic air flow pattern it created. Was kind of studying that while I was driving, I could see how the air was flowing off the front of the vehicle, by watching the water droplets.
Here is the pattern how the air was flowing up the hood, then off the windshield.
Did not give it much thought, but it does have full length Running Boards that hang pretty low, may be helping in the aerodynamic side effects.
The vehicle gets 20 mpg going down the freeway at 70 mph with all of my gear (not towing though).
There is a flap from under the radiator to the front suspension too.
I am sure all of these aerodynamic advantages are helping that big van cut through the air, and get some decent mileage at the same time.
5.4 330 cu. in. Triton V8
Can try Rain-X on your windshield and a fresh polish/wax on the body to see if that helps slick it up so you gain a couple 10ths cutting through the air???
It all helps.
☆☆☆☆☆
My 2000 Ford van has a nicely streamlined front end to help cut the air.
This last road trip out I did the Rain-X treatment to the front windshield. Sealed it up and slicked it up.
Driving through the rain with the wipers off, the Rain-X beaded up the rain drops and pushed them off the window at freeway speeds.
The interesting part was the Center out to the Left and Right Edges aerodynamic air flow pattern it created. Was kind of studying that while I was driving, I could see how the air was flowing off the front of the vehicle, by watching the water droplets.
Here is the pattern how the air was flowing up the hood, then off the windshield.
Did not give it much thought, but it does have full length Running Boards that hang pretty low, may be helping in the aerodynamic side effects.
The vehicle gets 20 mpg going down the freeway at 70 mph with all of my gear (not towing though).
There is a flap from under the radiator to the front suspension too.
I am sure all of these aerodynamic advantages are helping that big van cut through the air, and get some decent mileage at the same time.
5.4 330 cu. in. Triton V8
Can try Rain-X on your windshield and a fresh polish/wax on the body to see if that helps slick it up so you gain a couple 10ths cutting through the air???
It all helps.
☆☆☆☆☆
Yunick13
2 Time FABO NASCAR champ 2023 FABO NHRA champ
I'd try blocking off the top portion of the grill, bending in the fenders behind the front wheels, and making a homemade tonneau cover with plywood and angle aluminum.
That's a good thought !
Yes! A smooth finish always "cuts the air" better
Good thoughts!
Phreakish
Well-Known Member
continued from post #64
You can see the advancements they have made over the years even incorporating the headlights to help with the air flow.
Also see that there is a center air flow hole at the bottom of the middle front bumper, with the factory added plastic air dam hanging lower to help push air around the vehicle instead of under it.
Added air flow hole at the front bumper to bring air jnto the tranny cooler, AC Condenser, then on through the Radiator.
Interesting to think about it all and how things are designed.
Hmmmm . . .
Never really gave it much thought, but yeah that is pretty aerodynamic. Even the smooth shaped rounded corner inlet in the grill adds to less turbulence and air flow efficiency too.
You can see the advancements they have made over the years even incorporating the headlights to help with the air flow.
Also see that there is a center air flow hole at the bottom of the middle front bumper, with the factory added plastic air dam hanging lower to help push air around the vehicle instead of under it.
Added air flow hole at the front bumper to bring air jnto the tranny cooler, AC Condenser, then on through the Radiator.
Interesting to think about it all and how things are designed.
Hmmmm . . .
Never really gave it much thought, but yeah that is pretty aerodynamic. Even the smooth shaped rounded corner inlet in the grill adds to less turbulence and air flow efficiency too.
TT5.9mag
Two atmospheres are better than one
Please track your times and modifications. I know you’ll post honest data, you always do. It will be interesting to see your results. I would be willing to bet on a 100 mph 1/4 mile truck, there is zero aero modifications you could make that will gain you a tenth. All else remaining the same. I got to be a part of a bonneville team (I designed the nitrous system and had no hand at building the car) and was privy to data from aero testing done by a major auto manufacturer. Very interesting to see how manipulation of the air around and under the body effected speed. It took a lot of air speed for some of their changes to do anything at all.
I may be on a unicorn watch.... and never get the leprechaun away from the pot of gold. I do think it's worth the look...
Of course, I'll report the good, bad, uglyTT5.9mag
Two atmospheres are better than one
That leprechaun is an ***.I may be on a unicorn watch.... and never get the leprechaun away from the pot of gold. I do think it's worth the look...
and the guy that tricked him found fool's gold anyways
Yunick13
2 Time FABO NASCAR champ 2023 FABO NHRA champ
Another thought, either lose the front bumper, and run nerf bars, or maybe consider running a back bumper off a 1st gen Camaro or Firebird as a front bumper. Either one would allow a custom front valance. Another option would be to cut the bottom portion of the front bumper off. Save some weight off the front.
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