DIY Rear Wheel Skirt (Improved Aerodynamics)
My philosophy is to try to find a “ready-made” part I can re-use for mods. I have been looking for a “pie-pan” with a big enough circumference to fit on my car for over a year. I found this 26″ diameter plastic drain pan at Home Depot for $10 (you can also get this pan in metal) :
I did a test fit on my car and it was “close enough” for me :
These are three Paint-Shop-Pro mockups of the plastic pan in different configurations :
I settled on drain pan cut in half with a 10 degree angle. I like it because it is angled to match the “upsweep” of the rear bumper, and one drain pan will be enough for both rear wheels :
Here it is in reality on my car :
Front/Back detail views (the front could have front wheel spoilers, i.e. mudflaps, extend down) :
Connection Description :
Benefits :
0 - 99% reversible. If I take them off, there are only little holes I drilled where I connected them, and in places that are not viewable.
1 - Solid ready-made shape that already “wraps around” the tire.
2 - Relatively easy to remove. Unscrew three bolts and cut the Zipties.
3 - All plastic. If the connections fail, I think it would do less damage to the wheel (or someone else).
4 - Close tolerances. I can put my hand under it, so that’s about 1/2″ clearance.
Problems :
1 - It’s a PITA to install.
2 - Still not the right size (kind of fixed in post #13). The metal pan would have been more “malleable”, but I am leery of attaching metal if I don’t absolutely have to (see benefit #3 above).
3 - The gaps are bad for aero. I intend to address this with stick-on spongy insulation tape (fixed in post #12).
4 - The front-most Ziptie is lame aesthetically. This was the fastest secure way to install it. I have an idea how to perfect that, but I need to do more research on connections (fixed in post #14).
5 - Hard corner angles are not aero-friendly. But, for a more ambitiuous builder, the heater drain pan could be the “foundation” for a more aero-clean implementation.
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