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Wheel Skirts; Another Take -- "3/4 Length"

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Rokeby, Nov 3, 2008.

  1. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    I have always favored wheel skirts somewhat higher than with the hem line
    at the lower line of the body. Whether or not skirts help FE/MPG is arguable.
    And whether I am sacrificing some minutely small benefit, is both unknown
    and irrelevant -- this is what I like, and I accept that I might give up a few
    percentage points of FE/MPG.

    When I ordered my skirts from Hybrid Effects, I got them unpainted as I
    knew I'd be changing the line of the lower edge. Attached are three pictures
    that, with the assistance of good ol' duct tape, show in a very rough way
    where I'm going -- the part of the skirt covered in silver tape will be cut off.
    The skirt is just propped up with a stick that looks like a kick-stand-- cheap
    and cheerful!

    http://priuschat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12023&stc=1&d=1225799269
    http://priuschat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12024&stc=1&d=1225799269
    http://priuschat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12025&stc=1&d=1225799269


    Essentially, the lower line of the skirt picks up the lower line of the doors
    and runs to the lower line of the body at the rear. This is about 3-1/4 inch
    high at the front and 3 inches at the back. At the center of the wheel, the
    line is ~11-1/2 inches above the ground, and cuts just below the center of
    the wheel.

    I believe this is the first try at mounting the Hybrid Effets skirts on a Touring
    model. The maker doesn't foresee a problem, and I don't see any clear
    indications that there will be any. I suppose only a road test will tell.

    It's funny; just in fiddling around with this rough mock-up, I really like the
    look, and the car now looks incomplete, undressed as it were, without them.

    So, now its off to the shop for some careful cutting and sanding. I'm still
    waiting for the paint to arrive, and I've got other things on my plate, but I'll
    be slowly pushing this project along. I'll take pix and keep you informed.

    FWIW, here's TheForce's thread that I'll rely on heavily when it comes to the
    final fitting:

    http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-modifications/50902-review-hybrid-effects-wheel-skirts-3.html

    More info on the skirts from Franklin at Hybrid Effects:

    Toyota Prius - Wheel Skirts - Toyota Prius Wheel Skirts by Hybrid Effects 1 pair (Shipping Included)
     

    Attached Files:

  2. redhandeddenial

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    Invalid Attachment specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator


    links are borked
     
  3. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    Don't know what the problem is, they work when I double click on them. :confused:
     
  4. Shin Chan

    Shin Chan Junior Member

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    Attachment links no work-ie
     
  5. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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  6. PA Prius

    PA Prius Active Member

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    Still not working, neither above nor below.

    PA P
     
  7. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    Sorry about the mess.

    [Edit] I think the pix are finally fixed.
     
  8. Qlara

    Qlara New Member

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    Will the Wheel Skirts make the change of the rear tires (flat or tire rotation) more painful?
     
  9. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    Yes, the skirts will have to come off before a tire can be changed.

    I've been poking around the wwweb looking for hints and tips on wheel skirts.
    And this has always been the case, even back in the heydays of wheel skirts,
    "back in the day." Now those cars had lots of room in their wheel wells and
    between the wheel and skirt. So, frequently the skirt was held on by a rod and
    hinge mechanism secured to the inside of the skirt.

    This pdf shows what the mechanism looks like:

    http://www.hobbycar.com/InstructionsMay20077.pdf

    There are also two different kinds of skirt "brackets", but I don't know how
    they work -- they're half-way down the page here:

    Wirth's Custom Automotive : Fender Skirt Hardware & Rubber

    The Hybrid Effects skirts are held on by a pin at the top and two screws/bolts
    at the lower corners. A practical benefit of raising the lower edge of the skirt
    is easier access to those fasteners. I expect that I will be able to see the
    fastener by bending in close when the skirt is mounted. It shouldn't take but a
    minute, two at the most, to remove a skirt.

    This simplicity/speed when removing the skirt does raise the question of
    someone else being able to do the same. So, I expect I'll need to find the
    correct corrosion proof fasteners in black with a "security" type head.
     
  10. Tchou

    Tchou Member

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    Wow that's ugly..
     
  11. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    "One man's fish is another man's poison."

    Well, I could agree only to the extent that things are looking pretty rough at
    this stage of the project. Red and silver duct tape is the roughest
    approximation of the final product.

    Typically, modders post their final results here. There is little or no
    acknowledgment of how things looked early in the project. In this thread I've
    chosen a different approach -- to show the intermediate stages as they
    happen.

    My intention is to encourage others to consider tackling similar projects on
    their own.
     
  12. Tchou

    Tchou Member

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    I agree with that and just find wheel skirts not suiting the Prius very well,
    The prius is already not as stylish as an Audi for example, but the wheel skirt don't add style at all imho...
    This is not only this one, all wheel skirts that I manage to see on priuses are the same to me...
    I tought wheel skirts were a brilliant idea on old citroen cars...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    but not on a prius...
     
  13. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    Tchou,

    Thanks for the pix. The black Citroen looks somewhat like a stretched Prius!

    IIRC, the Citroens share one characteristic with the Honda Insight: the rear
    wheel track -- distance between the wheels -- is less than in the front. This
    would allow the skirts to follow the curving body line from top to bottom.

    In the case of the Prius, the rear wheels stick out past the body work in
    their lower half. This means that the skirts cannot follow the curving surface
    of the bodywork. The surface of the skirts forms an almost flat plane that
    falls straight down, with wedge shaped pieces filling in between the flat
    outer surface and the body. It's the only way it can be done. Check the final
    pictures in the first post in TheForce's thread;

    http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-modifications/50902-review-hybrid-effects-wheel-skirts-3.html

    I note that the lower edge of the skirts on the blue Citroen follows the lower
    edge of the bodywork. This is essentially how the unmodified Hybrid Effects
    skirts look. Because the HE skirts stick out about 2-1/2 inches past the lower
    line of the bodywork, the resulting line of bodywork and skirts is not as
    "clean" as on the Citroen.

    However, the lower edge of the skirts on the black Citroen are "lifted" above
    the lower edge of the bodywork. This is the look that I'm going for.
     
  14. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    A quick update on this project. Here are three pix of the skirts trimmed to
    the raised "3/4" or tea length:

    http://priuschat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12060&stc=1&d=1226274344
    http://priuschat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12061&stc=1&d=1226274344
    http://priuschat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12062&stc=1&d=1226274344

    Quick reminders;
    * I'm still using red duct ape for the color,
    * the skirts are not fully fitted, t
    * they are supported by the stick "kick stand."

    This is the look I'm going for, the skirts don't look like they are dragging,
    and they might could be OEM.

    Still don't have paint, and final fitting remains.

    Press on....
     

    Attached Files:

  15. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

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    Its looking good. Cant wait to see the final result. Looks like it will be easier to get to the screws now that you have that extra room there.
     
  16. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    TheForce,

    Thanks.

    Now that you have you blazed the trail, it's a lot easier for others to follow. I
    feel hard pressed to reach the level of professional installation that you
    achieved.

    Yeah, an unintended benefit of raising the lower edge will be much easier,
    quicker access to the retaining bolts/screws. But, as I said earlier, I may have
    to go to a "security" type fastener, if only for my peace of mind.

    I wonder, why is it that of all the folks that expressed interest in the Hybrid
    Effects skirts, only the two of us, both with Barcelona red cars appear to have
    taken the plunge?
     
  17. max9952001

    max9952001 Plugging In

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    I'm watching.... sure like the look, and with the other mods I'm getting into with my magnetic grey, I might have to do this one. Nice job on yours!
     
  18. Robert J. Knight

    Robert J. Knight Robert J. Knight Senior Member

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    I have sucessfully manufactured a set of Rear Fender Skirts for the 2010 Prius, made of Fibreglass and easily attached. Can be ordered directly from me and I will post pictures of them installed on my 2010 Prius. They will be available painted to match or in black jellcoat. Each pair will be custom fit to your car. Delivery within 15 days as each set will be made to order..
    Satisfaction guaranteed.... I am trying to find out how to create a Posting showing these skirts on my car.

    I am manufacturing them and they look AWSOME...

    Bob Knight

     
  19. Hal W

    Hal W New Member

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    I like the skirts on the 2000-6 Insight but I'm not sure yet on the Prius. Have fun with it anyway and it will be interesting to see what happens with your FE? Now all you need are the moon caps for the front.Hal
     
  20. PhazonPhobe

    PhazonPhobe His name is Sora

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    I still think they're nice person ugly.
     
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