Aerodynamic Mod

[Jr. Corvette]

Hey guys,

So this is an idea I’ve been thinking about for a while. While looking down the side of our cars there is that terrible flat spot that sticks out like a sore thumb right behind the drivers and passenger side windows. I believe this is an area that causes the most wind noise in the car and could be corrected. I’ve been thinking about cutting a section of that fiberglass out, making a duct that routes the air through those downturns, to behind the rear window. In doing so I believe it would help the air stick to the car throughout the length of the entire car and possibly reduce the drag caused by the flat rear window.

Now these aren’t pictures of my vette. Just using it as a representation. I’ve marked black arrows where the vents would be and the thick black line shows the path that I think the air would take in doing this modification.

I’m not concerned with keeping my car factory looking. As many of you know my car is far from it. I’m also not concerned with the logistics of making it work as I already know how I can do this. I’m just wondering it anybody out there thinks that this will in anyway improve the noise and aerodynamics enough to justify it? Or if anybody has seen this done before?

 

[12cents]

Have you checked the design on the Chev Avalanches as a guide for what you want to do?

 

[Jr. Corvette]

Have you checked the design on the Chev Avalanches as a guide for what you want to do?

No, it won’t be like the design of the Chevy Avalanche. More so like a duct in a McLaren.

I will draw up my design and post it on here tonight so you all can have a better idea of what I’m thinking.

 

[Jr. Corvette]

Here are some drawings of my idea. They’re rough but hopefully it’s good enough to see the design I’m trying for.

 

[taylorsk8]

I am pretty sure that is a steel post for the birdcage there. Might be difficult to accomplish and keep strength (roll over protection) although I am certainly not saying it is impossible.

You could try making a little wedge to fit in front of the flat to see if it reduces wind noise before going full tilt and cutting a hole too.

As far as looks I don't think it is to bad.

T

 

[Jr. Corvette]

I am pretty sure that is a steel post for the birdcage there. Might be difficult to accomplish and keep strength (roll over protection) although I am certainly not saying it is impossible.

You could try making a little wedge to fit in front of the flat to see if it reduces wind noise before going full tilt and cutting a hole too.

As far as looks I don't think it is to bad.

T

Thanks Taylor. It’s funny, I had the same thought of putting a wedge to see if it reduced wind noise. I guess I’ll have to wait and test that next year.

I don’t think there is bracing behind there. At least not in my 77 but I could be wrong. I know that the T-top guide plate screws into a metal plate but it’s just a small 2-3 inch plate. I know that because when I took my guide plates off when I painted the door jams it actually fell down in between two layers of fiberglass. Thinking about it now, maybe the layer behind that wasn’t fiberglass though, that may have been metal. You’re right though. It could weaken that area of the car. There has to be a reason why GM didn’t at least make that section rounded help airflow and noise.

 

[taylorsk8]

I still have that area open (ish). I will try to get some pics tonight while I am home to see if it can clarify where the steel is in that area.

T

 

[Jr. Corvette]

I still have that area open (ish). I will try to get some pics tonight while I am home to see if it can clarify where the steel is in that area.

T

Thanks Taylor!

 

[taylorsk8]

Ok I think you may have some issues. Hopefully you can see in these pics. In the last pic the orange arrows point to rivets going into the steel "post". The orange line is my best effort to show the edge of the "post" which is either right against the fiberglass or very close. It does have a gap of about 2" from the flat edge by window to the steel "post"

Hope this helps out!

T

 

[Jr. Corvette]

Ok I think you may have some issues. Hopefully you can see in these pics. In the last pic the orange arrows point to rivets going into the steel "post". The orange line is my best effort to show the edge of the "post" which is either right against the fiberglass or very close. It does have a gap of about 2" from the flat edge by window to the steel "post"

View attachment 33039View attachment 33040View attachment 33041View attachment 33042

Hope this helps out!

T

That helps out a lot! I guess I’ll have to scrap that idea. I really appreciate you taking the time to snap those photos. I don’t know why in the three times I’ve had that panel off that i never noticed that.