Prototyping Vanagon Aero Wing

[SSWesty]

pingora - You move at a much faster pace than I do on my projects. I am curious how your first test will go. There is a get to together up here in Seattle this Sunday. It would be pretty cool if you showed up with that wing on the back of your van.

[mellowslow]

[Jake de Villiers]

[mellowslow]

Similar bus design popular with the hot wheels crew


https://www.google.com/search?q=hot+wheels+drag+bu..._AUI2AIoAg
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'87 WBWE FAS Gen V

[Pingora]

I may move somewhat fast, but not fast enough for this weekend! Maybe if I didn't have a normal job....
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1990 Vanagon Carat
2002 Suby 2.5 Mizu Bokusa
17" wheels, 26.5" diameter tires

[Merian]

newly minted PhDs are supposed to be ineducable, not ones still working on a degree

nonetheless, I wish you good luck
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....

[Abscate]

[Jake de Villiers]

[Pingora]

The Dacron is all on, time to work on the side fairings...

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1990 Vanagon Carat
2002 Suby 2.5 Mizu Bokusa
17" wheels, 26.5" diameter tires

[pinetreeporsche]

[Pingora]

I think I saw the spoiler you are talking about on a newer Outback as well while I was going for a run. It looks really similar to the one I saw on a Lexus. It looks to me a very similar working principle to the one I'm trying out. The underside scoops in a downward direction to draw air down the backside instead of it separating. I think the wing design I'm working with is a more exaggerated version of it, that would of course never fly (har har) on a production model SUV.
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1990 Vanagon Carat
2002 Suby 2.5 Mizu Bokusa
17" wheels, 26.5" diameter tires

[Pingora]

I had a chance to test fit the wing. My marine epoxy hasn't arrived so it's not waterproof yet, but I was able to back it in to the shop at work briefly to get the rear out of the rain. It fits almost perfect. It has aluminum angle with gasket that gets compressed by the hatch, and the wood sides get pushed against the back of the car. Those will have gasket as well.

I bet that the height it sits above the back will be pretty critical, but I could be wrong. As it is, it looks like it sits high, but it's still lower than the high point on the van, so no added frontal area. I'll be able to adjust this as needed.

Once I get the epoxy I can finish it and make the sides more permanent and it should be sturdy enough after that for a test run.

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1990 Vanagon Carat
2002 Suby 2.5 Mizu Bokusa
17" wheels, 26.5" diameter tires

[Jake de Villiers]

Cool! I'd want it to sit lower so as not to snag whatever laminar flow might be coming down the roof.
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'84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com

[Pingora]

Jake,

I think it's supposed to snag that flow, before it gets turbulent and direct it down to energize the air on the underside. I'll find out though!

D
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1990 Vanagon Carat
2002 Suby 2.5 Mizu Bokusa
17" wheels, 26.5" diameter tires

[dobryan]

IMHO there is no laminar flow at the rear of the roof. 😂

That being said the idea
of using the low
pressure at the rear end to pull the flow down to reduce base drag has merit.

Says the old CFD curmudgeon.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[Pingora]

I guess I didn't quite mean laminar flow. I'm thinking "smooth-ish" flow, as compared to the giant wake that starts to happen after tripping off the back end usually.

Plus you always have to think of the entire flow as one cohesive unit. Changing part of the shape might very well cause laminar flow or different flow further upstream. If I remember right from fluid dynamics class the only time this can't happen is in supersonic flow, since there's no time for the flow downstream to effect the flow upstream.
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1990 Vanagon Carat
2002 Suby 2.5 Mizu Bokusa
17" wheels, 26.5" diameter tires

[Jake de Villiers]

[furrylittleotter]

Pretty fun project. You are correct the tapered tale that I put on my van completely illuminated crosswind interference with handling. Somebody claimed that there were no jetties off the back of a vanagain. I cannot think of a more ridiculous statement to make. Just because they’re not pictured in the aerodynamic photograph does not mean they don’t exist. Also the idea that the front end cannot be helped with an aerodynamic fixture is ludicrous. I fitted one and the results were dramatic. Unfortunately I never got past making the test model. Enjoy your project I think it looks cool looks kind a bat like. Id paint it black. And yes the naysayers are still on here in full force. I see the safety patrol even stopped by. welcome to thesomber, er I mean thesamba😏

Neil2

[Abscate]

I think the impact is dramatic , it's just the topic of the drama might be different.

You won't get 40% improvement in economy as alluded to above, given that aero forces are at max 30% of total at highway speeds. Math is kind of cool thing that way.

Impressive workmanship on that fairing, that takes talent to work materials like that.
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.ssS!

[OddN]

Have you made some calculations on what amount of lift that will create on the rear wheels? Too much lift in the rear would result in some interresting (=dangerous) handling.
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1991 VW Multivan syncro 1,9 TD