What can be done and how much affect would it have to add some aero tweaks to 60s-70s muscle cars?
Has anyone tried anything?
What can be done and how much affect would it have to add some aero tweaks to 60s-70s muscle cars?
Has anyone tried anything?
Basically look at what happened in NASCAR from 1965 to about 1975 for aero evolution of the cars you're talking about. For a simple example look at the changes in the 1968 Dodge Charger vs. the Dodge Charger 500 of the same year. What might have helped that car but I don't think anyone racing them at the time did is a belly pan. I would think covering the outer areas of the grill, like from the very corner inwards past the headlights, so it won't be in the way of the grille and would further smooth the front may be of value. With some instrumentation it might be worth figuring out if/where there's a high pressure area under the hood at speed and then venting that with a smallish hood scoop with the opening facing rearward. Have to be careful to not "vent" right into the high pressure area at the base of the windshield though, so again, instrumentation.
Starting with something that gets it right in the rearward area, where the bodywork tries to get the air it displaced back into the same general place as where it started, is probably a big advantage. Like a 2nd gen Camaro with no rear spoiler/wing seems like it would do better than, say, a '71 Challenger with the factory trunk-mounted spoiler.
Also, shave any sharp corners/drip rails/chrome trim/etc. Its alot of work on small things that will add up quickly. The previous areas and ideas (especially those posted above) are aimed at drag reduction.
I never found 70-80 to be any sort of issue in the classic cars I have driven. Going over 100 though they get pretty squirelly. In general, I simply don't drive my classic cars that fast though...there are better cars for high speed stability. From a practical perspective, the amount of time I spend at higher speeds than 80mph is negligible and not worth modifying a classic car to better cope with. The sole exception would be high speed road courses, but that's another thing I dont do in classic cars. If you ask me...that juice ain't worth the squeeze as the saying goes.
I've already got a front air dam. Is there a way to quantify its impact (without scientific grade instrumentation) ?
And what would be next biggest bang for the buck?
In reply to 67LS1 :
i'm so confused. that's a '66 front clip. it's like i don't even know you.
Your goal is never stated - are you going for drag reduction, front downforce, rear downforce, efficient downforce, or something else? "Better aero" is not measurable without a crystal clear definition of "better".
In reply to AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) :
Is this because my name is 67 LS1 ? I had a 67 with an LS1 from 97-04 and never changed my online name.
This one is a 66.
In reply to cyow5 :
Drag reduction mainly.
Canoes are just gonna paste ChatGPT now.
Drag reduction is reducing frontal area mostly and controlling air under the car.
The cool hood scoop is gone.
Lowering the whole car and adding an air dam to the front will reduce air under the car and return the largest gain.
if your chasing mile speed,lowering the whole car and planting the front as close to the ground with an air dam on the ground is the easiest to do. Next removing mirrors and taping closed every gap you can find is proven to give speed. A simple piece of tape "filling" the gap between the drip rail and roof will reduce drag.
Adding rear spoilers can help but will need testing....
edit: rereading your title I stand by what I've done to my 68 Mustang,lowered (headers are about 3" off the ground) and a front spoiler (mine is a Camaro piece,don't tell anyone).
A lot of tuning,and an OD trans has me a pretty solid 18mpg with a 433ci FE Ford.
Just remember that nothing driven on the street can have anything solid sitting lower than your wheels. If you lose a tire, they don't want the car scraping on the pavement and you losing control. I once got pulled over by a new rookie female police officer who made me follow her to the police station where about 5 cops brought out their rule book and spent over an hour trying to figure out how to give me a ticket. They eventually gave up and let me go since my air dam and side skirts where merely soft conveyor belting.
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