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REVIEW: Hybrid Effects Wheel Skirts

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by TheForce, Jul 14, 2008.

  1. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

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    In the state of Ohio they require a front license plate. :mad: And yes I know about the aerodynamic cover thing you can get for them but if I was going to go that route I would just put a whole nose cone on the front of the car and be done with it.

    I want to remove the mirrors and replace them with cameras or inside mirrors. The only thing keeping me from doing that at this point is that I dont really have the skills to fabricate anything that would look good after removing the mirrors.

    I smooth belly pan would be nice but I think that is just a little too much work. Plus its pretty sooth under there all ready.
     
  2. Hybrid Effects

    Hybrid Effects Junior Member

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    Are you back yet?:hippie::first::plane:
     
  3. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

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    I'm still here in Madison. I'll head home Monday morning and hope to have some pictures posted with in the week. Depending on time I may try to do some tests while I still have time off from work. I have a good sunburn so I don't know if I will get around to doing it this week.
     
  4. Hybrid Effects

    Hybrid Effects Junior Member

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  5. Hybrid Effects

    Hybrid Effects Junior Member

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    Where did that last post come from??

    I am interested in seeing some pictures and hearing how things went.

    I changed my password on Prius Chat but it will not remember my log in info I wonder why?

    Franklin
     
  6. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I can't get to flickr from work, but I posted a ton of pix from HF
    Hybridfest 2008: un álbum de Flickr
     
  7. douglas001001

    douglas001001 smug doug

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    Hi Franklin, I saw theforce's installation in madison, looks great.

    You shouldn't be so defensive about your price, you're making a quality product and should charge a price that makes it worth your time to do it.

    Has anyone figured out if they fit on a touring model yet?
     
  8. Linda

    Linda

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    That would definitely be something to include in the Member information packets -- locations of the two gas stations in town that sell non-E10. Thanks for the idea, Jay.

    ~Linda
     
  9. Hybrid Effects

    Hybrid Effects Junior Member

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    I have just recently sold a pair of wheel skirts to a touring model owner. I am not sure how long it will take to get results back on if they fit or not. I am pretty sure they will fit a touring model. If some one buys a set of wheel skirts for a touring model and they do not fit I will offer a full refund and will redesign some new molds so that the skirts will fit the touring model.

    Franklin
     
  10. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

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    I updated my first post with some new pictures with my caps added.

    I looked at a touring at Hybridfest and I think they should fit just fine. The tire looks like it sticks out about the same as the non touring.
     
  11. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

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    I found a small issue with the skirts. Long time exposure to rocks will chip away at the paint in the front lower corner of each skirt.

    [​IMG]


    My solution to this small issue is to touch up the affected area with touch up paint then put a 3"x3" square piece of clear plastic over this area. Kind of like a small clear bra for the wheel skirt. I guess you would call it a clear thong. ;) :D

    When the temps warm up I will paint them and apply some left over clear bra material that I have laying around.

    I will report back when that project is finished.

    I will pass this tip along to Hybrid Effects to make a better product.
     
  12. josh2008

    josh2008 Active Member

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    TheForce,

    Hello, were you able to tell a difference in aerodynamics/efficiency after installing the rear wheel skirts?

    Thanks,
    Josh
     
  13. CharlesJ

    CharlesJ Member

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    Just a thought: if there is a clear patter to the rock damage area, may wan to round off that inner corner of that clear sheet. I think that might look better than a corner.:D even is it will be hard to see just up close.
     
  14. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    The Force,

    Thanks for the update.

    I stared my wheel skirt project back in the fall but was overaken by
    cold weather. I've modded the skirts to a "three-quarter length:"

    http://priuschat.com/forums/attachm...l-skirts-another-take-3-4-length-img_0008.jpg

    (Not yet painted -- color is duct tape -- or permanently mounted, note
    the "kick stand" positioning the skirt.)

    From your picture, it looks like I won't be seeing as much of he
    chipping as you have. Nonetheless, it looks like a clear plastic overlay
    will be a good idea.

    Hurry up springtime and warmer weather so I can complete this
    project!
     
  15. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

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    No.

    I plan on not making it a true 3x3 square. I plan on rounding or tapering it down some how. Maybe more like a triangle. I just wont know until I go try it.

    Rokeby it looks like you will have less surface area down there but it looks like your still in the chip zone. Go ahead and put some protecting down there just to be on the safe side.
     
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  16. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

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    Well I got done fixing the chipped areas on the skirts Thursday.

    What I did was clean them really well and applied 3 thick coats of touch up paint to the deep areas. Then I applied a coat of paint to the triangle area that was pitted. I did this all with the small brush and it looks just fine. You have to be really close to tell it was brushed on. Plus the protective 3M clear bra material helps hide it. I used some spare 3M clear bra material I had left over from a previous project so I cut out a large enough square to cover the affected area. Here are some pictures of the result. We will see how well this works out over the next year.


    You can just barely make out the 3M clear bra material in the corner.
    [​IMG]


    Here I have outlined where the edge of the clear bra is. The painted area is about a half inch in from the edge of the film. To anyone that has these wheel skirts I highly recomend covering at least this much of the corner. Most of the damage was at the very bottom but %99 of the pitting was with in this triangle area.
    [​IMG]
     
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  17. sdserene

    sdserene New Member

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    For some reason I think the caps look cool. Aerodynamically I'm sure makes a difference because I've seen some top speed cars that has them installed. No reason putting effort in unless it does help somewhat. It is a mod that should help on freeways more then local driving.
     
  18. Shelby profita

    Shelby profita Junior Member

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    Awesome product, and like seeing hybrid fest pics. The force has one of my favorite prii on PC

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.