The Greatest Aero Mod Never Mentioned!

[SVOboy]

Mwahahaha. The pictures are pretty self explanatory, got the stuff for like 8 total from the dealership:

http://xs305.xs.to/xs305/06335/DSC00448.496.JPG (http://xs.to)
http://images5.theimagehosting.com/DSC00449.7fc.th.JPG (http://server5.theimagehosting.com/image.php?img=DSC00449.7fc.JPG)
http://images5.theimagehosting.com/DSC00450.39c.th.JPG (http://server5.theimagehosting.com/image.php?img=DSC00450.39c.JPG)
http://images5.theimagehosting.com/DSC00452.959.th.JPG (http://server5.theimagehosting.com/image.php?img=DSC00452.959.JPG)
http://images5.theimagehosting.com/DSC00453.364.th.JPG (http://server5.theimagehosting.com/image.php?img=DSC00453.364.JPG)
http://images5.theimagehosting.com/DSC00454.310.th.JPG (http://server5.theimagehosting.com/image.php?img=DSC00454.310.JPG)

Looks for new image host...

[budomove]

nice ben.

[Matt Timion]

curious to know if we can do this and keep the antenna

[SVOboy]

You could prolly just do an antenna tuck and stick it somewhere random, :p

[Compaq888]

Didn't know I could do the same as you. But I'll keep mine. It's not that hurtful to my FE. I don't have to look for anything to squeeze my FE, I got plenty of stuff to do.

[SVOboy]

Yeah, it's more for not having a car that looks like it should be RC.

[tomauto]

I haven't used my radio since I purchased my stereo. Nice mod, It looks like a cover to fit my civic would be the same part...

[SVOboy]

There's different types for EGs and EKs, I know someone sells both on H-T for 5 bucks, but he didn't have them for EFs.

[tomauto]

who sells them on h-t?....the parts look alike.

[SVOboy]

I'm not sure, I just search "antenna block off" until I found it. I think the holes might be different but what do I know.

[AlexK]

My Yaris came stock with the antenna embedded inside the rear window. I wonder what the FE improvement is.
Using my new Scangauge in an unscientific test, I noticed a ~10% FE reduction by sticking my arm fully outside the window (50mpg to 46mpg). This was at about 60 mph on cruise control. An antenna is hardly the same as an arm but I can see why it would be bad, being in such a high velocity air stream.

[MetroMPG]

What a coincidence - I was looking at my antenna yesterday while riding past the car on the beater bike ... and wondering why I don't take it off.

Mine's mounted in the same location, but there isn't even a radio on the other end of the cable. I have the original "blank" where a radio should be. (And I've checked: there are 4 speakers installed from the factory. But no radio. Strange. The only option the car came with: side moldings.)

I guess until I get around to putting a radio in, I could take my antenna off too.

This one's in that category of changes where the effect is indetectible, yet logically, it's better without than with.

[SVOboy]

Darin, I say you go for it. Life's no fun with comercials anyway.

Ninja edit: oh snap, my old tank fell off the 90 day, :p

[MetroMPG]

Woohoo for the 90-day average!

[SVOboy]

It must've been removing the antenna last night that made my FE jump so high, :p

[MetroMPG]

Or did you install one of those gold-plated PCV valves and not tell anyone?

[SVOboy]

I'm pretty sure it was the wire tuck, been doing pretty well since then, :p

[kickflipjr]

While your at it. You better take out thouse non used speakers. That will drop 7kg off your car and improve your gas milage about as much as removing your antenna.

[SVOboy]

what nonused speakers? :D You can hear my blasting daft punk from a block away.

[kickflipjr]

I am talking about metro's car. He doesnt have a radio.

[SVOboy]

Oooh, I suck. I'd go crazy without something to listen to!

[MetroMPG]

Ah. I should be paying better attention! Wasting all that fuel dragging those speakers around is a terrible thing, you're right. I do have some room to focus on weight reduction.

I'm ruthless on the sailboat I race on - I'm responsible for keeping tabs on what non-essential stuff is on the boat. Just tonight I forbade the skipper to bring a second bag of ice on for the refreshments. On the round-the-southern-oceans (and other) races, they're fanatical about the weight. E.g. cut the handle off your toothbrush. :)

[n0rt0npr0]

ROFL, Awesome Ben!! It looks a lot better (to me)
Yeah, it's more for not having a car that looks like it should be RC.

[SVOboy]

Indeed, some day I'll get around to posting some overduepictures without it.

[rh77]

what nonused speakers? :D You can hear my blasting daft punk from a block away.

"One more time...thump thump" Yep, must be the V-Powa! again... Old cranky guy at the end of the street, "Damn kids"!

Mix-Master R

[SVOboy]

Yay, people knowing daft punk makes me feel like I've lived a good life.

[cfg83]

Hello -

Here's the best of both worlds :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180031170762

http://www.antennax.com/images/New_pictures/picture_ax17.jpg

Your reception may vary,

CarloSW2

[rh77]

Please tell me you are joking. Please? I did have respect for you until...

Stupid brain-dead boom car punks are the scourge of neighborhoods and communities everywhere. Do these dumb little bastards think they are going to get laid doing that? Selfish little p****s think the world revolves around them and people in their homes- having dinner, conversation, sleeping, etc.- should have to listen to THOOM THOOM THOOM THOOM all day and night? Do they think the attention they are drawing is positive???

-Sign me

Not old and Not cranky... until some stupida$$ punk invades my space. :mad:

Geez, calm down old man. The music he is referring to is "Techno", you may be familiar with it as an evolution of the Disco age, but with more electronics. I bet when you were a teen, you blasted the Beach Boys in your '65 Ford Falcon and geezers complained.

RH77

[rh77]

1. That's a common misconception amongst bass holes- that the choice of music is the problem. No, the choice of music is not the problem- it's the fact that I can hear it while laying in bed. In my house. With the windows closed.

2. Evidently boomers haven't experienced their noise pollution from outside their cars- it does not sound like that wonderful music outside- all it sounds like is THOOM THOOM THOOM THOOM THOOM. Only the bass gets out.

3. Not all teens are pathological attention seekers. I didn't blast anyone.

4. I told ya, I ain't old. Old age is not a pre-requisite for having common decency and courtesy. :rolleyes:

5. Retribution is a *****. :D Funny how they don't like it when they get a good blast of horn at 3 am. What- I'm just seeking attention! Look at MEEEEEEEEEE!!! :D

Get your city council on it. We have noise ordiances and it's not a problem.

RH77

[rh77]

The cops and the city attorney have proven to be largely useless.

It's really a shame that government should have to attempt to legislate common sense and courtesy. Looks like Mommas ain't raising their kids properly anymore. :sad:

I'm just playing devil's advocate in defense of SVOboy.

I think it might be a expression of one's individuality, although rude to some.

Personally, I don't blast my Diana Krall or Pat Matheny Jazz albums down the block.

RH77

[rh77]

Well, if the city council and City Attorney has no problem with, by all means, toot your own horn.

-RSH v2.0

[SVOboy]

Considering you can't here my music inside my house when the car is in the garage, I do not consider the volume to be an issue. My system has very little bass and as loud as I can stand to play it has never been loud enough to bother anyone else.

Not that any of that matters, but whatever.

[rh77]

Yes, that does matter.

What you say passes the smell test. Thank you for clearing that up- this new information paints a completely different picture. I will get down off the soap box now. As you can see this is something that gets me pretty hot.

I should add that I just got home tonight after a couple weeks out in the country and what a difference!!! That's it- I gotta get out of this town.

Try driving in Little Rock -- nobody uses their turn signals!!!! ARGH! :mad: Someone nearly merged into me on the highway yesterday. I had my blinker on, merged, and then this pickup drifts over. I should've hit the SOB, I've got the rental insurance. Calm down, I kid.

RH77

[Jack]

Hello -

Here's the best of both worlds :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180031170762

http://www.antennax.com/images/New_pictures/picture_ax17.jpg

Your reception may vary,

CarloSW2

Has anyone tried one of these? I am tempted to get one. I currently have a Getto block off plate.

[Sean88]

Just bought one but am working on paying for it without having to enter my PayPal password into the vendors checkout system. I was redirected from eBay/PayPal during the paying process. I'll let you know how it goes tonight.

[cfg83]

Just bought one but am working on paying for it without having to enter my PayPal password into the vendors checkout system. I was redirected from eBay/PayPal during the paying process. I'll let you know how it goes tonight.

I remember that my Dad's 1972 Chevy Impala had one built into the windshield, so it should work. If it works for you, I will get one and I will also get a signal booster that the same vendor sells.

This memory makes me wonder if I could tap into my rear defroster. Why couldn't it serve as an antenna too?

However, when it is on I have a hunch that it wouldn't work because the heating coil/electricity/whatever would probably be generating interference.

CarloSW2

[scostanz]

I remember that my Dad's 1972 Chevy Impala had one built into the windshield, so it should work.

I'm showing my age but those in the windshield antenna's weren't worth a s**t, FYI :D

-- Scott

[cfg83]

I'm showing my age but those in the windshield antenna's weren't worth a s**t, FYI :D

-- Scott

More cobwebs being disturbed ... I *think* that our Impala only had AM reception. Soooo, maybe I can't comment on FM reception.

CarloSW2

[Sean88]

I finally received the internal antenna from the eBay seller mentioned previously. They were a bit slow but delivered the advertised product eventually. I had to run the thick wire along the underside of the dash and secure the grounding strap to a screw under the glove box. Then I snaked the thin wire from the provided spool behind the right side pillar molding and across the top of the windshield. I got decent reception but nothing spectacular. Since we live in a really low spot I didn't expect much reception. The real test will be when I get out on the highway.

http://servercage.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/DSC00348.JPG

http://servercage.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/DSC00353.JPG

[Sean88]

I think I'm going to take the radio and all it's related hardware out.

I like that idea too :).

Anyway, the reception out on the open road this morning was fair at best. Better than nothing but not very good. When I auto scanned I got 4-5 stations. As I remember it I used to get 10-12 when the external antenna was in use. I'll try messing around a bit with the position of the wire but I don't hold out much hope of getting significantly better reception.

[cfg83]

I like that idea too :).

Anyway, the reception out on the open road this morning was fair at best. Better than nothing but not very good. When I auto scanned I got 4-5 stations. As I remember it I used to get 10-12 when the external antenna was in use. I'll try messing around a bit with the position of the wire but I don't hold out much hope of getting significantly better reception.

Rats. I think I will go for it anyway. In LA, there are only a few hard to reach stations.

Question : Are your results for AM or FM station reception?

CarloSW2

[JanGeo]

FM requires a single wire antenna of a certain length about 32-36 inches from the shielded base - AM probably as long as you like. my Geo had excelent reception hated to junk that AM FM Cassette - the Scion had marginal reception with the antennas in the left and right rear side windows at the trunk so I mostly listen to MP3 music on a CD 199 songs crammed onto a CDRW disk. Pretty cool until you realize that you have the order of the songs memorized and have to keep skipping ones you don't want to hear again.

[rh77]

...MP3 music on a CD 199 songs crammed onto a CDRW disk. Pretty cool until you realize that you have the order of the songs memorized and have to keep skipping ones you don't want to hear again.

Hence the convenience and importance of the "Shuffle" feature when purchasing :) I have the same problem.

RH77

[JanGeo]

Yeah I gotta try that next - may hit a song or two that I have been skipping. The other problem is the recording volume is a bit different for each song due to output levels from which they were recorded. Makes for loud intro's sometimes!

[cfg83]

Hello -

This is something somebody did to a 1996 Saturn SL2 :

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51500

I don't know if I would do it, but I like the fact that I have the option.

CarloSW2

[Sean88]

Question : Are your results for AM or FM station reception?

My results were for FM only.

[Ted Hart]

The cops and the city attorney have proven to be largely useless.

It's really a shame that government should have to attempt to legislate common sense and courtesy. Looks like Mommas ain't raising their kids properly anymore. :sad:

My 12 gauge isn't useless! I don't even have to load it! LOL! No words, no threats, no problem!:rolleyes:

[Ted Hart]

Mwahahaha. The pictures are pretty self explanatory,

How does it work with the door closed?
"That's not a doorwell, dummy!"
"It's not?" :eek:

[Silveredwings]

Try driving in Little Rock -- nobody uses their turn signals!!!! ARGH! :mad: Someone nearly merged into me on the highway yesterday. I had my blinker on, merged, and then this pickup drifts over. I should've hit the SOB, I've got the rental insurance. Calm down, I kid.

RH77
Ah, I see it's your fault...you confused 'em with "all those blinkin' lights." (j/k) :D

In Mass., I think it's actually against the law to use turn signals. Of course dodging cadillacs keeps me pretty busy. :D

[Silveredwings]

I remember that my Dad's 1972 Chevy Impala had one built into the windshield, so it should work. If it works for you, I will get one and I will also get a signal booster that the same vendor sells.

This memory makes me wonder if I could tap into my rear defroster. Why couldn't it serve as an antenna too?

However, when it is on I have a hunch that it wouldn't work because the heating coil/electricity/whatever would probably be generating interference.

CarloSW2
One side is connected to ground, so it may just kill the signal, but do try it.

[Silveredwings]

Anyone else recommend I set up a chair and sit there with a 12 gauge?
OK but be quiet about it. ;)

[The Toecutter]

My 12 gauge isn't useless! I don't even have to load it! LOL! No words, no threats, no problem!

Saw the barrel down and you can slip it in your coat and take it everywhere you go!