Chop top difficulty

[jMedia]

Hey all been on hiatus for a while but still dreamin of my perfect fsj all the time.
Got a ford escort for mpg for long trips so I can save money for elwoods diesel. And I joined a forum about ecomodding and making cars more fuel efficient through aerodynamics.
Got me thinking about the fsj's brick like aerodynamics.
I was curious to those out there who have done it how horrible doing chop top was? And if the little truck bed is useless in the end?

Was sketching and thought maybe if I chopped the top, slanted the roof down a bit near the back, and added a slanted humvee-esque bed cover I could help the aerodynamics a bit. I know I'm going crazy but my engineering side can't help but come out during big projects.

You'd be surprised at how a little aerodynamic improvement helps out huge with some of these cars

thanks all

[letank]

Hey all been on hiatus for a while but still dreamin of my perfect fsj all the time.

<snip>

You'd be surprised at how a little aerodynamic improvement helps out huge with some of these cars

Lowering the roof.... too bad for those of us who almost touch the ceiling.

If you have time, the first thing is to smooth airflow on contact and exit, a big plate on the undercarriage to cover all those parts, could (COULD) smooth the flow reducing the drag, but result in some heat increase in the cab.

But the most valuable is the low rider approach to control the turbulences under the jeep..... as in variable height suspension, like the range rover LRH. I lost 2mpg from going to a sagging OEM height to 2". Will I get another 2 mpg going 2" lower than OEM? At this point the whole steering caster camber may suffer, but for off-roading at less than 25mph, it may not be that detrimental.

Otherwise some lexan pieces around the headlight to channel the air outward and toward the radiator is an easy first step, then sealing the hood crease with the fender is another step to reduce turbulences, it may not yield too much.

[youngjeeper]

I did it to mine..kind of forced to after I put the Wag on it's side.

Here is my build up thread: http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=93389

I really dig the truck bed..the space IS small, but still nice to just toss things in and have easy access.