Side Mirror Replacement
11-21-2011 | 01:43 AM
#1
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 10-29-2005
Posts: 13
From: KC MO
Side Mirror Replacement
Has anyone replaced their side mirrors with any aftermarket mirrors or a different style from another vehicle.
Though functional, the factory ones stick out like air brakes.
Looking for something possibly a little more aerodynamic in nature and tucked up closer to the body.
Anyone else had this idea or thoughts on the subject?
Though functional, the factory ones stick out like air brakes.
Looking for something possibly a little more aerodynamic in nature and tucked up closer to the body.
Anyone else had this idea or thoughts on the subject?
11-21-2011 | 08:03 AM
#2
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
The stock mirrors might stick out like "air brakes" but they were designed with aerodynamics in mind. The HHR has a drag coefficient of .354 which is pretty slippery for a small truck/SUV, compare that to say a Mazda 3 or Honda Civic which come in at .32. Of course it will never be a slippery as the volt which had a cd of .29, and a correspondingly smaller frontal area.
If you're looking for aerodynamic gains install a front spoiler/splitter under the bumper that drops down about 4", then install a rear spoiler that directs airflow down over the rear hatch. The biggest aerodynamic inefficiency of the HHR is its "two box" shape which leads to wake turbulence and drag as the air forms vortices in the low pressure area behind the vehicle.
If you're looking for aerodynamic gains install a front spoiler/splitter under the bumper that drops down about 4", then install a rear spoiler that directs airflow down over the rear hatch. The biggest aerodynamic inefficiency of the HHR is its "two box" shape which leads to wake turbulence and drag as the air forms vortices in the low pressure area behind the vehicle.
11-21-2011 | 08:21 AM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: 08-03-2011
Posts: 683
From: Western MD
The stock mirrors might stick out like "air brakes" but they were designed with aerodynamics in mind. The HHR has a drag coefficient of .354 which is pretty slippery for a small truck/SUV, compare that to say a Mazda 3 or Honda Civic which come in at .32. Of course it will never be a slippery as the volt which had a cd of .29, and a correspondingly smaller frontal area.
If you're looking for aerodynamic gains install a front spoiler/splitter under the bumper that drops down about 4", then install a rear spoiler that directs airflow down over the rear hatch. The biggest aerodynamic inefficiency of the HHR is its "two box" shape which leads to wake turbulence and drag as the air forms vortices in the low pressure area behind the vehicle.
If you're looking for aerodynamic gains install a front spoiler/splitter under the bumper that drops down about 4", then install a rear spoiler that directs airflow down over the rear hatch. The biggest aerodynamic inefficiency of the HHR is its "two box" shape which leads to wake turbulence and drag as the air forms vortices in the low pressure area behind the vehicle.
Where is your wind tunnel located?
I like it!
11-21-2011 | 08:32 AM
#4
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
I have a buddy who is into that "Hypermiling" stuff and we've had many philosophical discussions over the alleged aerodynamic inefficiency of the HHR. So I got a copy of a GM engineering report on the HHR's drag coefficient just to shut him up.
There aren't many ways to improve on the factory aerodynamics, a deep spoiler/splitter on the front, a rear spoiler that keeps boundary layer air attached to the rear, flush mounted "moon" style wheel covers, blanking the grill, and sealing all the hood gaps would only improve the cd by enough to get the estimated drag coefficient down to .340 or so.
No wind tunnel Mr. Grinch, just a curious mind and an engineering degree.
There aren't many ways to improve on the factory aerodynamics, a deep spoiler/splitter on the front, a rear spoiler that keeps boundary layer air attached to the rear, flush mounted "moon" style wheel covers, blanking the grill, and sealing all the hood gaps would only improve the cd by enough to get the estimated drag coefficient down to .340 or so.
No wind tunnel Mr. Grinch, just a curious mind and an engineering degree.
11-21-2011 | 12:55 PM
#5
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 10-29-2005
Posts: 13
From: KC MO
Used a poor choice of word maybe.. With side windows down, the factory mirrors direct air back into the interior due to the gap between the body and the mirror and the angle of the inside edge of the mirror. Have other vehicles that the inside edge of the mirror is flush with the doors or has the appropriate angle (parallel to the body or angle away) to not deflect air inside.
Looking for possible options for replacement of the factory mirrors.
Adding ventvisors helps some but still doesn't address the gap the mirror has.
There are various aftermarket mirrors on the market that tuck up to door mount.
Just wondering if anyone has looked at possible options of replacing the factory mirrors with aftermarket ones or ones from other car models that are smaller and sit closer or flush with the door mount.
Looking for possible options for replacement of the factory mirrors.
Adding ventvisors helps some but still doesn't address the gap the mirror has.
There are various aftermarket mirrors on the market that tuck up to door mount.
Just wondering if anyone has looked at possible options of replacing the factory mirrors with aftermarket ones or ones from other car models that are smaller and sit closer or flush with the door mount.
11-21-2011 | 03:00 PM
#6
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
That gap is nothing I'd personally worry about, the small amount of drag added by the space between the mirror head and the door frame is more than offset by the drag induced by having the window down. Yes lowered windows do produce drag, does it offset the horsepower used when running the A/C with the windows up thereby reducing fuel consumption....in a word no, when you do all the computations its a wash at highway speeds....around town at speeds below 45 mph, windows down and A/C off is slightly more efficient.
I did find these aftermarket mirrors for the HHR, they do have a smaller frontal area than the stock units, are they less draggy, can't tell you.
http://www.limboland.net/Merchant2/m...roduct_Count=6
Having mirrors that "tuck up" to the body may not be the panacea you're looking for, it would all depend on their frontal area and whether or not they generate vortices which increase drag more than stock units.
I didn't mean to seem like I was downplaying your idea, and I know it came out that way, its just that any gains from changing the mirrors would be miniscule at best and undetectable for the most part. When it comes to mirrors, folks change them for looks.
I did find these aftermarket mirrors for the HHR, they do have a smaller frontal area than the stock units, are they less draggy, can't tell you.
http://www.limboland.net/Merchant2/m...roduct_Count=6
Having mirrors that "tuck up" to the body may not be the panacea you're looking for, it would all depend on their frontal area and whether or not they generate vortices which increase drag more than stock units.
I didn't mean to seem like I was downplaying your idea, and I know it came out that way, its just that any gains from changing the mirrors would be miniscule at best and undetectable for the most part. When it comes to mirrors, folks change them for looks.
11-21-2011 | 07:22 PM
#7
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 10-29-2005
Posts: 13
From: KC MO
Actual aerodynamics aside, primarily looking for options that tuck up closer to the door and a more rounded profile for a more aero look.
Have looked thru this forum and others and haven't really seen anyone that has made any major changes to their mirrors. The option you listed still not what I'm looking for.
To give you an idea, see numerous S10's with StreetScene Cal-Vu style mirrors. They still provide plenty of mirror surface to see with but tuck up to the doors with a more rounded profile for a more aero look than what the factory HHR mirrors are.
Have looked thru this forum and others and haven't really seen anyone that has made any major changes to their mirrors. The option you listed still not what I'm looking for.
To give you an idea, see numerous S10's with StreetScene Cal-Vu style mirrors. They still provide plenty of mirror surface to see with but tuck up to the doors with a more rounded profile for a more aero look than what the factory HHR mirrors are.
11-21-2011 | 09:35 PM
#8
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
Well its looking like you'll probably have to adapt something like the Cal-Vu mirrors to the HHR, nothing is impossible as long as you have the time to fab something up. I heard a while back that the mirrors from the Aveo would possibly fit the HHR with some mods, but I think that's as far as it ever went.
I don't know if you spotted the mirror bases offered by PTeazer, but they can be used as a starting point for your project. Here's a link to them.....
http://www.limboland.net/Merchant2/m...oduct_Count=10
Regardless of what you come up with, make sure to post up some photos here with a writeup of what you did, you could be the inspiration for others to tackle mirror mods too.
I don't know if you spotted the mirror bases offered by PTeazer, but they can be used as a starting point for your project. Here's a link to them.....
http://www.limboland.net/Merchant2/m...oduct_Count=10
Regardless of what you come up with, make sure to post up some photos here with a writeup of what you did, you could be the inspiration for others to tackle mirror mods too.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post