I am going to try to clean up the aerodynamics of the front of the Dart further than just the lower air dam, and am wondering how to figure the strategy on a completely flat front end. I wish to keep the appearance stock. I have seen some clever things done that completely alter the look, and do not wish to go there.

Obviously I cannot get the air around or over the front, so how can I at least improve the flat front? I was considering an aluminum piece that tops the grill and radiator core to smooth that out. Also was considering backing the grill with a solid piece of aluminum to force all the air into the radiator. My plan now is to continue the angle of the headlight surround, which slants back slightly towards the center right over to the radiator core, and thus funnel incoming air inwards towards the radiator. . This would be a little smoother than having the air come through the grill and just get tangled in the messy stuff behind it such as wire harnesses, and AC hoses.

The intercooler hose is problematic as it sits right behind the grill on the driver's side and will have to sit out through the grill backing piece some.

Any general sources to recommend? I have looked on line, and most stuff is how to improve modern cars, which have an already slippery profile.

Sam

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Sam, I like you and your car a lot, and I have no intent to mock, and I hope you succeed, but the aerodynamics of a '69 Dart are so rotten that it strikes me what you need to go shopping for is a miracle! You've got a recessed grill acting as a big high-resistance scoop, you've got a concave backglass lousing up the trailing edge, and everything in between is a brick you're trying to cram against the wind. Others more experienced than I will, it's to be hoped, chime in. You might look into a substantial front airdam/belly pan as a start, to create a low-pressure area behind it thus sucking air through the radiator at a greater rate and somewhat relieving the high pressure area directly in front of the grill. Take a look at some apposite discussion here.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I guess my brother is in for some bad highway MPGs since he is putting a 67 Dart nose on a 74 Duster body.

My thoughts on improving your aerodynamics:

(1) Air tabs
(2) extend the front bumper and build a raked plexiglass panel that tilts backwards form the leading edge of the bumper to the front of the hood (mimic a Superbird nose). Make a duct with a mesh screen on the front to allow air to pass through the radiator. Or build a channel that is in front of the bottom air dam but below the raked plexi to let air flow across the radiator. Of course, there goes the stock look.
(3) block off as much air flow into the engine compartment as possible (radiator support panel and below the engine)
(4) belly pan for sure
(5) fender skirts in the back and cover as much of the front wheel openings as possible
(6) run those solid aluminum disc wheel covers to eliminate the dirty effects of recessed center wheels
(7) spoiler on the back of the roof and the trunk

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Thanks guys. As they say, every little bit helps. I will keep looking and keep thinking.

Which style rear spoiler is the best from the aerodynamics perspective. I am not trying to change lift or down pressure, just get the air over the rear a little more gracefully.

It seems to me there must be a "better" way to handle the air behind the grill. How about a pan under the car in the back? Doesn't that rear bumper catch the air under the car?

More thoughts?

Sam

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Check THIS site out for ideas. It also has some good links on the bottom. I may try some of these ideas out on my brother's Duster project.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Does anybody k now what the airflow is after ti goes through the radiator? In the old AC Daytona, the air went right up out a hole in the hood behind the radiator. It seems the air behind the radiator would be a mess.

Sam

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Sam- I believe on old A-bodies where all the hood weatherstripping is present, all the airflow goes out the tiny cracks between the sides of the hood and the fenders or out the bottom of the engine compartment. There should be a rubber gasket along the back edge of the hood that seals it to the firewall. The only other place air could escape would be across the motor and k-frame and down out the bottom of the engine compartment.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Sam,

If you want your Dodge to get a lot better fuel economy make it look like mine.

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Joshua

I pretty much agree with Josh here. There's only so much you can do with a brick to make it better through the air short of completely making it look like a tear drop.

You already have a fuel injected, turbocharged, 5 speed car. If it still won't get gas mileage it may be time to seek other options.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Here's what I'm seeing!

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1964 Dart GT

Actually, the front of that car is pretty much what I was talking about. Add wings/spoilers or air tabs to the back of the roof right over the rear window and the back of the trunk to reduce the drag in those areas and you will get some improvements. Belly pans, air dams, fender skirts, etc.. add little gains, but they add up.

I would lose the big rear wing and add a tiny airfoil on the back of the roof and the back of the trunk, or air tabs. Aluminum wheel covers, fender skirts front and back, side ground effects to block air flow under the body, belly pan, rear bumper cover, and you might get a noticeable difference. Plus, I think it kind of looks cool.



Sorry for the lousy Photoshop skills.

I think when I get my brother's Duster on the road (2012 maybe) we will play around with some of these ideas.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

An air dam helps with the air escaping from the engine compartment thru the bottom.

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

Thanks Ed. And as the Mad Hatter said in Alice in Wonderland, "Leth not be Thilly here".

If I make the Dart look like Joshua's car would that make it a Nart, or a Deon? Seriously, I am not going to turn it into a modern, slick, slippery shape, but some little things do help. No to skirts. No to Super bird front end and rear wing. But, maybe yes to a few small, helpful details.

Ed's comment was helpful indeed. And the link provided was interesting as well. All new cars have small tabs that stick down in front of the wheels. Something like 40 % of the drag on a new car is from the wheels. And these are hardly visible.

Sam

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Sam,
Look at the Charger 500 to see the NASCAR mods Dodge used if your staying subtle. I have seen small filler panels between the bumper and body gap on the sides to streamline. There is probably under body changes that wouldn't be too noticeable but helpful in managing air. Maybe lower it a bit. If the car isn't your daily driver I wouldn't do too much to alter it's looks for the purpose of aerodynamics....It is a great looking car with lots of character!

Just drop that turbo charged leaning tower of power into a Prius that needs a new battery pack. You should be able to get one of those tin cans cheep, get a hospital size jar of Vaseline, that engine will slide right in. LOL

Oh I sure you can find a spot to relocate the chrome DART off of the old hood. One more tip, pump up the Prius tires nice & hard that is good for another 10 mpg...

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC