Less dorky airo modifications

[Ryland]

It's not that I mind being a dork, but sometimes I look at some of the modifications that people make, and wonder how many people turn down the offer of a ride, and car pooling is a great way to save gas, so if you can be tastful in your modifications then you come out ahead, right?
I've been wanting to make a grill block, and have been looking at what other people have done, and desided that making one that "matches" the color of the front bumper does not fit my taste, so a while back when I got some black sheats of what apears to be nylon, or something simaler, I knew exactly what I was going to do with them! it took me just over an hour, the plastic was free to me, and took about 2 squar feet including scrap of the 1/4" thick plastic, and it's held on with a combination of black polyurithane roofing calk, two zip ties, and a screw, and it leaves an area about 4" by 4" for air to move thru the radiator, after the calk drys I might paint the remaining grill, and grill block the same color of flat black to make it blend together better, but as it is it's not very noticable. http://www.nbtsc.org/%7Eryland/cars/...ideshow?seq=10

I can't get the photo to work, but there is the link, and I'm interested in hearing about what other tips people have on keeping the dork factor down in their airodinamic modifications.

[95metro]

Nice work, Ryland. I haven't started my aero mods yet, but I'm hoping to soon. I don't want them to look too dorky either, but we'll have to see how the final product(s) turn out.

[Matt Timion]

I think that looks really nice.

Having said that, I don't mind looking like a dork.

[MetroMPG]

I'm also pretty much over the looking like a dork issue. That said, nice work, yes.

[zpiloto]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I'm also pretty much over the looking like a dork issue. That said, nice work, yes.

Agree nice job. I'm over it also. I don't have the skills or moolah. But if I can get another 3% or more FE I'm in laughing all the way to the pump.

[95metro]

Maybe we should decide what is considered as "dorky"...

The only thing I don't want to put on my Metro is an obscene boat-tail.

[katman]

I think a nice 6 foot wide "Ram Implosion Wing" would look great on your Metro! I think it would only hang over each side about a foot!

[95metro]

lol...What on earth IS that thing??? I had to Google it when you mentioned it. It would certainly make a statement! I'm just not certain it's a statement I'd like to make...

[The Toecutter]

I highly doubt that ram implosion wing really works as advertised...

[thisisntjared]

that grill block looks very nice. especially since it isnt noticable. i think i will end up doing something similar

[Silveredwings]

Originally Posted by The Toecutter

I highly doubt that ram implosion wing really works as advertised...

Aw come on, they've only been at it for 40 years or so. It'll catch on any minute now.

[krousdb]

Looks great but Im wondering it the depression in the bumper cover causes drag. The Del Sol had the grille block spaced out from the grille so that no air would be trapped in the grille depression.

I just checked if the Del Sol grille block would fit the VX. Nope, I will have to trim about 3" off each side and make two smaller ones for the side grilles. It's funny looking into the engine compartment and seeing lots of empty space where the AC would have been. I notice that there is a factory installed grill block on the inside. Just a plastic panel that blocks the airflow where the AC radiator thingy would be.

[Ryland]

I bought one of the pieces of plastic that blocks off the back side of the grill where the A/C would be (after I removed the a/c) and it seemed to work ok, but I figured that having the ribs of the grill still right out in front could be improved on, and you are right, if I made the whole thing flush it would be an even smoother air flow, but as it is, it's all inset maybe half an inche, and it's all smooth rounded corners for air to flow around, so I figure it's acceptable, and if it comes looose, then I'll make it flush, as it is the plastic sheating is resting right on the grill, and glued or zip tied right to it.

I kind of figure that function over rules style, if you can do something in a tastful way that is astecticly pleasing, or at the very least dosn't draw negative attention, then why not put the extra effert in to it? the plastic I got is the kind of thing you should be able to find in the scrap bin at a sign shop for little or no cost, chose a color that works with your car, get some matching, or clear calk, and some zip ties, and befor you know it you will have to point out your cool new grill block, or your friends might just not notice, at least that has been the case with my friends so far.

[krousdb]

Ryland,
A question about your two smaller openings on the side. Before you blocked them, were they open fully? Mine come mostly blocked from the factory with only a small opening, about 2" square. Basically, they are non functional vents, just for aesthetics.

[Ryland]

krousdb: you are correct, they seem to be purely decrotive, I have a new bumper cover, and the new one came exactly as the old one, with what look like two small grills under each headlight, with tiny little vent holes that seem to go no where, altho on the back side they do seem to have knockouts, so you could cut them out, and use them as vents, but I can't figure out why you would need them.

[basjoos]

I think those two small side vents are connected to provide cooling air for the front disc brakes in high performance models of the Civic.

[SVOboy]

Nah, they ain't, but I've seen people do that.

[cfg83]

Ryland -

I think this is the right question to ask. It's the same reason people in the past wouldn't put "ugly" solar panels on their roofs. In the best of all worlds, the modification would also look "cool". If it looked cool, it would turn heads, and then manufacturers would sell them and we could just bolt them on. Two for one!!!!

Your blackout look is very stylin.

CarloSW2

[MetroMPG]

Yeah, but "cool" and "ugly" are subjective. See wind turbines.

Unfortunately, the mfgrs will never do it. It's up to us to be style leaders and change peoples' perceptions.

[Compaq888]

I really think aero mods should be hidden. I don't need extra attention to my car. Plus it surprises people when you show them. They think those things should be there.

I wish i had more time to work on my car. I would make unbelievable aero mods.

[FormulaTwo]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Yeah, but "cool" and "ugly" are subjective. See wind turbines.

Unfortunately, the mfgrs will never do it. It's up to us to be style leaders and change peoples' perceptions.

I definitely agree.
How "cool" something is determined by you, not by everyone else.
Things grow on you. I hated the insight at first. But now i love the design.
I also hated my grill block off when i first did it. And now its starting to grow on me and i do not miss seeing my grill at all.

Personally im not worried about what people think about my car.
Just like when everyone thought that Euro tail lights were cool, now everyone hates them. Hooray for trends.

I do feel that if you can make aero mods look cool, you can get other people interested in what you are doing. Which will bring more people onto the FE issue. And eventually bring around better ideas.