Home made wind blocker

[twobone]

I had been thinking about getting a soft bits for seven wind blocker. However they no longer make one that fits my older style seats.

 

So I built my own. I obtained a "universal" wind blocker off of ebay. I then cut and binded holes for the harnesses. The frame compresses at the bottom so it fits behind the seats.

 

Yes it does work. The wind buffeting when combined with either full doors or with my modified lexan wind deflectors is greatly reduced, which for me makes the overall experience more fun. I can focus more on the road and the beautiful surroundings without that annoying side of the head wind hammering.

 

The rear view with my "mirrors for sevens" mirror is not hindered.

 

If you have thought of doing something like this, I would highly recommend it.

[xcarguy]

Nicely done. Looks like it came straight from the factory. :cheers:

[coffee break]

A while ago, I was thinking of how to reduce wind buffeting and did some research here. I discovered that a barrier at the plane of the roll bar along wouldn't offer much relief. Your screen is part of your wind buffeting system. The side pieces reduce the in-flow and the screen reduces the out-flow. Good work.

 

My first step is to build the side wind deflectors, starting with finding hinges.

[NVP66S]

This is the biggest problem I've discovered with my new car. Wind buffeting my head is extreme above 50 MPH. I'm afraid my glasses will either leave or lose a lens. I've been thinking about transparent wings that mount to the door hinges on the A-pillars. Prefer not to wear a motorcycle helmet, nor to ask my passenger to do so.

 

I have restrained the seat belt ends and they are no longer beating me about the face.

[scannon]

This is the biggest problem I've discovered with my new car. Wind buffeting my head is extreme above 50 MPH. I'm afraid my glasses will either leave or lose a lens. I've been thinking about transparent wings that mount to the door hinges on the A-pillars. Prefer not to wear a motorcycle helmet, nor to ask my passenger to do so.

 

I have restrained the seat belt ends and they are no longer beating me about the face.

 

Ear protection above 50 mph is a must in our cars. Not for the noise level but to protect the ears from the battering from the wind coming around the windscreen.

 

There are several threads on here about earplugs and wind wings.

[wemtd]

:iagree: anything more than 20 mph

[coffee break]

I have 2 sets of goggles for driving. They keep the debris from the road out of my eyes. I got one set from https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/home.asp that fit over glasses. The other came from a Army/Navy store. I don't have any wind deflectors made yet and I have found my vision gets blurry at 80mph. Also, ear plugs for wind noise.

[twobone]

I gave myself a bad case of ear ringing in my car after just one day-long blat without ear protection. Yes, just one day! One mistake and permanent damage, so please be careful.

 

I now have the car in a great state. I've probably overdone it, but now I can go for a drive and enjoy it without fear of more hearing damage.

 

Problems addressed:

transmission and rear diff noise and resonance -> B-quiet sound deadening all around

 

Exhaust noise on my x-flow -> new larger muffler from a Rover Caterham. It slipped right on

 

Wind buffeting -> bought lexan wind protectors + added 4.5 inches of additional lexan + half doors to reduce the wind that fires up off the rear wheels + wind blocker

 

For long distance drives -> Bose in-ear noise cancelling headphones + ear defenders. Now I can listen to Jerry Garcia's while carving my favourite country roads.

[coffee break]

For long distance drives -> Bose in-ear noise cancelling headphones + ear defenders.

 

Do you have links for these items?

[twobone]

Do you have links for these items?

 

http://www.bose.ca/controller?url=/shop_online/headphones/noise_cancelling_headphones/quietcomfort_20/index.jsp%20&Variant=qc20i

 

http://www.amazon.com/3M-Peltor-H10A-Optime-Earmuff/dp/B00009LI4K

 

The ear buds alone don't work when driving as they react to wind buffeting, but add the Peltors and it creates a cocoon of quiet. Check your local laws about wearing headphones. Most of my driving is off-times (early sundays on country roads with little or no traffic)

[twobone]

Just one point about the noise cancelling ear buds. You need to have wrestled the wind buffeting demon to the ground. Serious buffeting against the ear defenders can cause the sound deadening system to "glitch" creating an annoying and loud chirp. Just an FYI

[coffee break]

Check your local laws about wearing headphones. Most of my driving is off-times (early sundays on country roads with little or no traffic)

 

Better to do it ahead of time, better than finding out with blue lights flashing.

Thankx

[NVP66S]

http://www.bose.ca/controller?url=/shop_online/headphones/noise_cancelling_headphones/quietcomfort_20/index.jsp%20&Variant=qc20i

 

http://www.amazon.com/3M-Peltor-H10A-Optime-Earmuff/dp/B00009LI4K

 

The ear buds alone don't work when driving as they react to wind buffeting, but add the Peltors and it creates a cocoon of quiet. Check your local laws about wearing headphones. Most of my driving is off-times (early sundays on country roads with little or no traffic)

 

I love those Peltors. I use them in my workshop and in my day job that sometimes gets really noisy. Comfortable, easily adjustable for fit and the adjustment stays. However most states don't allow headsets. "but officer, the noise level is the same as rolling your windows up and that's what I'm gonna tell the judge....' Probably is not a good idea.

[NVP66S]

I wear the yellow foam E.A.R plugs when I go more than 10 miles on my motorcycle, but you can't see them inside my helmet. Maybe I could color them to be harder to spot.

[jlumba81]

I use etymotic ear plugs in the standard size. Good enough for 700mi, 14 hr drives. Also used them when I bought the 7, 4000mi New Jersey to Alaska. They did make my ears feel sore after a few days of constant use but I'm sure most ear plugs would do the same.

[coffee break]

When I'm out for an extended blat, I use goggles and a leather helmet http://www.steampunkemporium.com/store/005163S.php

along with earplugs. I have noticed, if I cup my hand over my right ear (in my RHD car, it's most exposed to the wind) the buffeting is reduced. I'm thinking about finding/fabricating shells to cover my ears under the leather helmet to be a barrier. Sort of like the head gear wrestlers wear.

[rotus8guy]

My first step is to build the side wind deflectors, starting with finding hinges.

 

Carl,

You know McMaster-Carr, they have a selection of hinges.

[/url]http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/120/2960/=t8w2zv

 

I picked up these,15195A47

for side wind wind deflectors (still work in progress).

 

Since you're in Atlanta, did you know about their will call window? Place an order online and you can pick it up 2 hours later.

HTH,

John

Edited August 12, 2014 by rotus8guy
added part#

[coffee break]

Since you're in Atlanta, did you know about their will call window? Place an order online and you can pick it up 2 hours later.

HTH,

John

 

John,

I've looked at the 304 SS versions of that hinge, thanks for the confirmation. I'll look up McMaster-Carr's address.

What plastic are you working with, ie type & thickness?

 

Carl

[rotus8guy]

Carl, I don't have the plastic yet, but it'll be 3/16" acrylic or polycarbonate. McMaster is on Fulton Industrial south of I-20, easy access for me, more of a trip from north Fulton.

[coffee break]

I left my car at a shop for some problem solving. The owner gave me a ride back home in his MGB. It was so civilized to ride in a car with DOORS! It has given me some more inspiration to build some door like attachments. :auto: