Date: Sat, 16 Oct 2004 14:05:59 -0700
Reply-To: Mike Miller <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike Miller <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
Subject: Re: aerodynamics, was: 101 MPH Vanagon!
In-Reply-To: <001e01c4b3c0$163373e0$764ae251@Calles>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"
As I understood it way back in the day my Renault R -10 had a better Cx and
Ct than the Alfa Romeo spyder. Weird if true.
Mike
On 10/16/04 1:38 PM, "Calle Fallberg" <calle.fallberg@TELIA.COM> wrote:
> ProjectZwo had some bolt-on stuff that was supposed to help
> Not sure if it was aerodynamic or just apperance help but anyway, a rear
> wing, side skirts and a deeper air dam
> But I guess the best thing to do to reduce drag would be shorter (lower)
> coilspring, smaller mirrors and narrow rims and tyres :-)
> And the Vanagon is not all bad, if you check Cw value and not bother about
> front area (Cw x A) itīs actually supposed to be better than a Jaguar E-Type
> !
>
> Calle
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Antaki" <wrack@COMCAST.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Saturday, October 16, 2004 7:22 PM
> Subject: Re: 101 MPH Vanagon!
>
>
>> I was being tongue-in-cheek with my comment about a rear wing.
>>
>> Sorry to say, I haven't heard of any aerodynamic fixes for any model of
>> Vanagaon,
>> with the exception of the air dam such as those that came stock on my '88
>> Wolfsburg edition.
>>
>> At this point, the air dam had been knocked loose by too many meetings
>> with
>> ground objects, although that is exacerbated by the Wolfy's stance being
>> lower than normal by more than an inch, a factory mod.
>>
>> My Syncro Westy, on the other hand, did not come with the air dam, nor
>> would
>> one survive very long at all on this beast. ;->
>>
>> Wait, I just found this page using Google, there must be more.
>>
>> good luck!
>>
>> Ron
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: tmiller [mailto:tmiller@vcmails.com]
>> Sent: Saturday, October 16, 2004 8:17 AM
>> To: Antaki
>> Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: 101 MPH Vanagon!
>>
>>
>> Now that you mention it, what are the aerodynamic "fixes" for Vanagon
>> campers? I suppose this is in the archives somewhere, but I'm just
>> shooting from the hip at the moment. I know someone mentioned a
>> deflector for the luggage area above the front seats. You mention an
>> air deflector at the rear. What are the possible add-ons to reduce drag?
>> Thanks! TEMiller
>>
>> Antaki wrote:
>>
>>> OK, so we;ve gone over the "why" factor and the "surprise the hot-rod"
>>> factor. Now it's time for the "shock" factor - install a bloody big
>>> wing on the back of that Vanagon!!
>>> Bwahahahaaa...
>>> Ron Antaki
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>>> Of Bruce Nadig
>>> Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2004 4:16 PM
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>> Subject: 101 MPH Vanagon!
>>>
>>>
>>> Howdy All,
>>>
>>> As of last Wednesday, I successfully completed my first 1,000 miles in
>>> Project Vanagon (Vincent) since I installed the '87 Porsche 3.2 liter
>>> Carrera engine and G50 transmission. Over the weekend my buddy, and
>>> Porsche Master Technician, Steve came over, and we (mostly Steve)
>>> adjusted the valves. I still need to do an oil and filter change, but
>>> that should happen in the next couple of days.
>>>
>>> Anyhow, today I had to drive down to San Antonio to take care of some
>>> business. That gave me my first extended trip in the van, and it was on
>>> fairly straight, although frequently congested, Interstate 35. On the
>>> way to San Antonio I was able to achieve 101 MPH in 4th gear (the G50
>>> 'box is a 5-speed). I would have kept going, but I had to slow for
>>> traffic. For a brick, 101 isn't too bad.
>>>
>>> On the way home, I had a couple more opportunities to let Vincent
>>> stretch his legs. Once again I got him up to 101 mph in 4th but had to
>>> slow for traffic. The greatest achievement of this second top speed run
>>> is that it was uphill, into the wind. Vincent was still pulling hard
>>> and accelerating in 4th as I went uphill. Once again, I ultimately had
>>> to slow for traffic.
>>>
>>> I have a set of South African Big Brakes, but I haven't installed them
>>> yet. I did, however, realize one additional braking characteristic of
>>> the
>>> Vanagon: if you lift off the throttle at 101, the van itself acts as its
>> own
>>> aerodynamic brake. Man, once you are off the gas things things slow down
>>> FAST.
>>>
>>> I wish that traffic had been a little bit lighter so that I could have
>>> gotten up a bit more steam and seen what Vincent would do in 5th. All
>>> in all, I can't complain. 101mph in 4th, uphill, into the wind makes me
>>> happy for now.
>>>
>>> By the way, I feel very confident that the indicated speed was
>>> accurate. I have had my speedometer calibrated. In addition, I went
>>> through a construction zone that has one of those portable radar
>>> trailers that displays your speed. At that time it displayed 73mph,
>>> exactly what was showing on my speedo.
>>>
>>> Once I got closer to Austin I did have one of my first stealth
>>> encounters. A silver Honda with all sorts of decals and a huge can
>>> hanging off the back passed me. Traffic was light enough at that point
>>> that I was able to thread my way up to him and take him by surprise. I
>>> don't know what was going through his mind, but I'd like to know what
>>> he was thinking.
>>>
>>> Now I need to make arrangements to get some dyno time.
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>> motorbruce@hotmail.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
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