<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by tommy37:
Whatcha wanna do is, get a set of mudflap hinges. The VW part is made of genuine ABS plastic which won't crack unless something hits it. I forget the VW part number. The hinges allow the flaps to deflect upward out of the airflow as speed increases.
The EPA reported that these things have no effect. But it was a staionary test conducted in their own lab so it doesn't prove anything.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>ROFL!
Sign me up for four pairs! I'll put em on my bicycle and the wheelbarrow, too
Seroiusly, there would, of course, be an increase in drag, and corresponding decrease in mileage at speed if the mudflaps were traditional in shape and mount (perhaps as much a CDx of .02 and mileage differential of .002!
These are serious numbers, folks!)
If however, the flaps were radiused along their major axis, and mounted in such a manner that the deflection were
out, away from the car, instead of
down, there would be several huge benefits!<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>1. Air would be vented away from the car, at speed, allowing enterprising modders to create another exit point for foul or hot atmosphere<LI>2. Downforce would not be compromised by the airfoil effect of the mudflaps<LI>3. Straightline stabilization would increase, due to the tremendous amount of atmosphere being vented outward from the sides of the vehicle<LI>4. Instead of dousing old lady and little kid pedestrians within 20 feet of that puddle, this mod will extend your target range to 90+ feet<LI>5. Indeed, you really needn't wait for a rain, gravel and other roadside debris becomes usable as projectiles, year around[/list]
Along with all these benefits, CDx would be lowered and potential fuel mileage raised, because atmosphere blasting out from within the car would create a partial vacuum next to the skin of the car, the degree of which would increase with vehicle speed, and through which the vehicle would be moving. The net effect of this would be to lower the
density of the air through which the vehicle was moving, forcing a net decrease in CD, and increase in MPG.
BTW, does anybody in this forum possess a BSometer?
[ August 06, 2001: Message edited by: jetmann ]