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Hey ALS, I was the guy with the carpet pad turned undertray on a 94 965. I remember reading your original post on TB and I was very impressed by the workmanship. I'm glad to see the car is still on the road. I don't drive the 960 anymore, moved on to a BMW 318i 5 speed but my GF drives an 850 5 speed. Driving volvo carefully we managed 32.7 mpg on our last 500 mile road trip. I also found that I can get away with taping up 50% of the grill, removed the wipers and folded in passenger side mirror. Theres a lot of room for improvement under the 850 as well. I was also thinking about doing rear wheel covers but I'm not sure what kind of material and fasteners to use.
cheers Justin https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2108/...6e309afa_o.jpg |
Theres not a lot of Volvo aero information in this forum so I'll add my modifications here in the name of being concise. I'm preparing our volvo 850 for a 1700 mile trip to Seattle. I picked up a 8'x4' sheet of Coroplast at Tap plastics. So far I have the rear of the car finished. Next I will move on to the front.
I cut out a fitted sheet of coroplast. https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/...d1b6d52e30.jpg Epoxied on some strategically located aluminum right angle strips for stiffness. https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3060/...e19d07df8a.jpg This is how the car left the factory. There are huge air gaps underneath the rear end between the fuel tank, spare tire well and rear bumper. https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3192/...30702181_o.jpg After. The panel is secured in place with a special mixture of zipties and bolts through the bottom of the spare tire well. I left a lot of room on the driver's side for the exhaust. Probably too much room but better safe than sorry when it comes to melted plastic. https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/...f6a391e0_o.jpg I'm cooking up something special for the front ;) To be continued |
That looks great. You're making me consider spending some money on some nice big sheets of black coroplast...
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The rear area of my 960 wasn't as as bad as your 850. My spare tunnel hump looks like a big donut. Justin it is looking good what you have done with the rear area. I'm going to have to link this thread to a post over on the Brickboard. There is a guy that is trying to improve his gas mileage with a 960wagon.
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I put about 1 hour of work into the front end this afternoon. So far, so good.
Left front before https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/...008f0523_o.jpg After https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3242/...18e450a3_o.jpg Right front before https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/...1a0c98d5_o.jpg After https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/...fd776eb1_o.jpg Center section https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3150/...93d911f1_o.jpg Looking across from passenger side to driver's side. https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3059/...ed1df4f2_o.jpg Thats all the work I'm willing to do. We'll see how it pans out on the highway. The car does an honest 32mpg at 65mph in stock form. I don't have time to grow old and die in the car so I drive a bit faster. If I can pull off the same 32mpg at 70 or 75mph I'll be happy. |
Please keep us posted on mpg gains.
I bet many people here WANT to know how much you can gain from doing these "harder" aero mods. Since not many people try it we don't have much evidence but I bet that it gives solid gains as much as grill blocks and so on. (and its cheap to do also, just a little harder). |
Nice looking :thumbup:
I spy IPD parts. ;) |
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Sways, lowering springs, chassis Braces U&L, and HD Bilsteins. I want a factory lowering kit for my 960. The problems is, it is over $2,000 through the grey market to get it. That is way more than what the fuel economy gains could ever be recovered by making the change. |
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