[BamZipPow]

In this thread from last year I played around with dropping my valence/air dam 5" and ended up putting coroplast over the whole thing.

This year with the new truck, I've used the same concept/hardware but went in a slightly different direction.



I'll take it out fer drive later today. Oh the cost? Under $20.

 

[Hartzog]

definately not something i would do to my 4x4 T100, would get ripped off in a heartbeat offroad, lol

 

[BamZipPow]

Just so you know...this setup isn't the permanent final one...fer one...I still have the overspray to clean up.

Once I git my new replacement valence from Certifit.com fer about $16 and I make up my permanent filler panels that can I can pop on/off, I think it will be pretty agressive looking! I'm thinking about putting some driving lights in the recessed area so it's not blocking the air vent fer the transmission cooler.

Hartzog...I'm sure if you modified the air dam so you can take it off easily with some quick release pins...you would have a great looking air dam that you could pop off when you git yer truck back on the road and do some off-roading.

 

[Hartzog]

what are the advantages of the air dam?

 

[BamZipPow]

what are the advantages of the air dam?

To push/shove/redirect the air over/around the vehicle instead of under it. As you might have noticed...it's a bit rough under there. I know if you redirect too much of it...key things that sorta depend on that rough cooling (cat converter, differential, etc) can be detrimental.

Besides that...I wanted somewhere to put some decent driving lights...

 

[Hartzog]

lol, i dont have my front valance, as the bolts broke when i tryed taking it off, were bedly rusted lol

 

[zigzagg321]

Unless you are towing long distance... or drive long distance a lot, I dont see the point of it. Is your idea to increase mpg's?

 

[Hartzog]

not really, as without my front valance i get about 20mpg, and that was when my plugs and wires were getting old as they are, but maybe once i get a new carrier assembly, and the plugs and wires i ordered today come, i will drive it and get a MPG check

 

[BamZipPow]

Unless you are towing long distance... or drive long distance a lot, I dont see the point of it. Is your idea to increase mpg's?

I do drive long distances a lot...from Houston to LA to Reno to LV and back. Sometimes I make a northerly run from Houston all the way up to Nebraska and back.

One of the key things I wanted was to make my T-100 a little different and improve on that ugly front a bit. I want some added light fer night since I do most of my long distance driving at night...about 80% of it...and the stock setup doesn't allow fer a whole lot of ideal spots fer my driving lights.

The air dam might make a difference in my mileage...not sure...won't know until I start driving the distance and see. Who knows...it may even tank and I'll have to start from a different point.

 

[BamZipPow]

Here's a quick mockup of where I can put some driving lights. I'm thinking of fogs in the recessed part and driving lights to the outside.



I have 3" lights in the recessed part and 4" lights in the covers.

Front plate relocated...

 

[robiewp]

Are those fog light stickers?

 

[BamZipPow]

Are those fog light stickers?

Although they do make them...I didn't have the time to run out and find some.

I just found some examples on the web, scaled them to size and printed them on paper. I figured if NASCAR can have printed lights...so can I. It sure is a whole lot cheaper than running out and gitting some just to see what they would look like...

 

[BamZipPow]

Decided to just go with the plate in the normal spot. Didn't want to attract too much attention...

Just installed both transmission coolers behind the gutter grill. Was gonna skip the stock radiator cooling loop and just go with the 2 coolers but decided it would be better to have some sort of cooling before it hit the coolers. Everything is in series...

Found some auxiliary projector driving lights fer about $70...not sure if I will go with those just yet. Still have more fab work to do first.

 

[robiewp]

You must be on Ecomodder... Actually, I think I might remember seeing your other T there a year or so ago? I owe my 17MPG to 21.5MPG increase to them.

Unfortunately my T sees too much horse pasture to do anything that might break off road. I had been thinking about building a coroplast belly pan... but all of the other stuff that needed attention side tracked me.

Have you thought about side skirts or that crazy inflatable boat tail? How bout some wheel skirts? I like the roller design for front wheel skirts.. might have to try that. I always thought a set of aluminum reinforced, coroplast walled side skirts that could hinge up out of the way when you need the clearance would be interesting. Use a set of door openers to keep 'em down, and just use a latch o cable pull to pull them up. Too bad that guy that was making slope-back caps never got around to doing one for the Tundra or T100. Then you'd really be sip'n.

When I have to start commuting again I think I might pick up an old civic or CRX and aeromod the hell out of it. Unless I start getting some other offers it might be an hour commute at highway speeds. A 60MPG aeromodder might pay for itself quick as compared, even to a well configured T.

I'll stop mumbling now. The valance looks good- definitely go for both aux driving lights and fog lights if you can. I had such a setup on my jeep and always kept the fog lights pointed just a bit out... Great for spotting deer (or the deadlier moose) in the Maine woods.

Cheers,
Rob

 

[BamZipPow]

Yes...I'm on Ecomodder.com and Gassavers.org...

I thought about the side skirts, wheel skirts, and a few other mods...just couldn't git to them. I'll still try a few things fer fun as I make my way down the road this summer.

Decided to just stick to the projecter lights that will sit in the recessed area. Looking to finalize my material fer the recessed part...it will probably be 14 or 16 gauge steel that I'll fold up and fasten to the bumper supports. The gutter grill with git a backside framework that should keep it stiff and firm. I'm thinking of some aluminum "L" beams. I'm not sure you can see it but there is an open gap between the filler panels and the recessed area. I guess it will allow enough air to pass through there to help alleviate some high pressure buildup...

 

[BamZipPow]

Here's the current version with the black coroplast panels...

 

[BamZipPow]

Just adjusted the torsion bars (lowered the right side) to even up the uneveness of the truck. Got the air dam so it's just under 8" clearance from the ground...

Front measurements from the ground to the top of the wheel well is about 29¾" on both sides. The back is about 32½" on both sides...with only the camper top loaded.

 

[BamZipPow]

Didn't like how the truck felt as it was sort of a gritty feel going down the road...not springy like it used to be. Cranked the torsion bars back up to 31½"...feels much better.

I also put in a piece of coroplast where the trans cooler grill is. I'll pull it when I'm loaded with gear...

 

[BamZipPow]

Here's the new look...

 

[robiewp]

Looks sweet. Do you have a before/after coastdown time or anything like that?

Cheers,
Rob