A-pillar wind deflectors.

[WarrenL]

With Brown Rover's newfound long cruising legs making the car significantly quieter on the open road, that very mechanical refinement has made the wind noise about the A-pillars much more noticeable.

Pondering this deficiency in the 50-year-old P6 design vis-à-vis the well-sealed modern car, I recalled that, as a youngster in the 70s and 80s, I would see many cars roaring about with accessory A-pillar wind deflectors fitted. Before anybody says it, no, I don't mean the ubiquitous Aussie/Kiwi monsoon shield, but a kind of spoiler that sat on the A-pillar, and I think was intended to improve aerodynamics/reduce noise/cut fuel consumption. Does anybody here remember them? Were they any good? Could they be recreated for the P6?

 

[SydneyRoverP6B]

Hi Warren,

I recall as a boy seeing station wagons fitted with wind deflectors (or at least that is what I thought that they were), but not on the A pillars, rather just near the tail gate. I can't ever remember seeing anything fitted to A pillars though.

The owner of a Rover business (who was a bit of a wag) once said to me with reference to wind / mechanical noise, "that is why Rovers have radios fitted with volume controls"

Ron.

 

[WarrenL]

The only pics I've managed to Google so far show them fitted to Beetles, and a listing on eBay for Golf Mk1 deflectors. I recall seeing them on the likes of Valiants, along with sun visors and monsoon shields. Maybe the dealer flogged them all in kits! I guess modern bonded windscreens made that kind of thing irrelevant.

 

[SydneyRoverP6B]

The Rover though is always going to deliver more wind noise around the A pillars by its very design. Not having a flush fitting windscreen will always see this to be true.

What I have noticed though when in modern cars, is that where they may deliver less wind noise, they also deliver more road noise. Specifically, tyre to road surface hum, and the sounds of both grit and water spraying up within the guards. The Rover by contrast is extremely quiet in this regard, certainly mine is.

Ron.

 

[WarrenL]

A year or two ago I had the displeasure of a 2010 Ford Fiesta company car, which I was driving back and forth to Ashburton (about 90kms each way) whilst I worked on a project there. I can't overstate how vile that car was on the open road. The road noise especially was really getting to me after a while, and in fact on a number of occasions it drove me to using Black Rover at my own expense, just so I could enjoy the trip without having my ears and arse pummeled (the Rover 75 is a superlative open road cruiser).

In stark contrast to the Fester and a number of other moderns I've had/used, the P6 is an astonishingly comfortable highway cruiser. The ride quality, a bit crashy around town, never ceases to impress me once I'm out on the open road. The acquisition of the new wheels and 205-section tyres has not noticeably increased the road noise or decreased the ride quality, whilst giving me much better grip and handling.

Now I've dropped a thousand rpm at open road speed, the car is actually very quiet. Not quite Rover 75 quiet, but much, much quieter than the Fester, or the Mitsubishi Lancer I presently drive as my business vehicle. That only leaves the wind noise around the A-pillars, which actually improved dramatically the other day when I shut the quarter light properly... It's actually not bad at anything up to about 70mph if the air is still, but as soon as a bit of cross-breeze disturbs the flow around the car, the buffeting can get a little tiresome. I guess I'm noticing it especially right now because for the first time in a good number of years I'm actually clocking up open-road miles in the old tub.

 

[ghce]

The 205's and mags go a long way to making the P6 feel more planted on the road even in cross winds there is a noticeable improvement, it would be good to try some police spoilers to see if the cross wind stability will further improve.
I am not so sure that the wind noise is solely caused by the A pillars I tend to suspect that the door rubbers and closure lines of the door also contribute a lot however an A pillar wind deflector would I think eliminate that source of noise also, as for how it may look style wise?


Graeme

 

[GRTV8]

Warren
Just thinking out loud - don't beat me up .
Duck tape [ correct version ] up all the window frame gaps and go for a swift run and see if the wind noise comes from this area before putting some butt ugly 1920's style wind deflectors on .
You will of course have to climb into the cab through the window glass you remembered to leave down . But you knew that already ?
Gerald

 

[WarrenL]

I am not so sure that the wind noise is solely caused by the A pillars I tend to suspect that the door rubbers and closure lines of the door also contribute a lot however an A pillar wind deflector would I think eliminate that source of noise also, as for how it may look style wise?

It's definitely A-pillar noise in Brown Rover's case. As a young man in my 40s I still have good ears, unlike ancient over-50s like you and Gerald. You guys will have lost the directional ability by now. As to how they would look, I'm thinking of something that can be snapped into place for the occasion and then taken off when you want the car to look nice. I'm might go so far as to fashion something out of duck tape and old ice cream containers - a non-electronic birds nest to make Gerard proud, Graeme. "Ah, Grasshopper, I can see I taught you well..."

 

[ghce]

Now that conjures some news paper headlines and subsequent articles in my mind

" Man found starved to death in Motor Vehicle"

Or

" Fire Brigade cut man from car after high speed ' Roadtesting' "

Graeme

 

[WarrenL]

You will of course have to climb into the cab through the window glass you remembered to leave down . But you knew that already?

Leaving a window down would destroy the experiment, Gerald. But you knew that already. My solution is to get the wife to tape up the last aperture once I've climbed inside. But that brings to mind Graeme's headline: "Man Found Starved To Death In Car". Maybe I should get somebody I can trust to seal me in, rather than the wife.

 

[ghce]

You will of course have to climb into the cab through the window glass you remembered to leave down . But you knew that already?

Leaving a window down would destroy the experiment, Gerald. But you knew that already. My solution is to get the wife to tape up the last aperture once I've climbed inside. But that brings to mind Graeme's headline: "Man Found Starved To Death In Car". Maybe I should get somebody I can trust to seal me in, rather than the wife.

Well that was my thinking to, I just didn't want to say it Taped windows as well mmmm those p6 window winders break off reall easy

Graeme

 

[GRTV8]

I am not so sure that the wind noise is solely caused by the A pillars I tend to suspect that the door rubbers and closure lines of the door also contribute a lot however an A pillar wind deflector would I think eliminate that source of noise also, as for how it may look style wise?

It's definitely A-pillar noise in Brown Rover's case. . As to how they would look, I'm thinking of something that can be snapped into place for the occasion and then taken off when you want the car to look nice.

Warren
My Dear Grasshopper - you waltz ed into this one . The only way to make your car nice would be an Almond make over .
Sorry I forgot to mention you actually need to wind the window back up after you climbed in - my dementia .
Whats that you say ? can't hear you . Us old buggers don't have bad hearing - its selective hearing . An art form that comes with 40 yrs of marriage . You have to combine selective hearing with a blank face - extremely hard to perfect .
Practice , practice practice little grasshopper .

 

[WarrenL]

Warren

My Dear Grasshopper - you waltz ed into this one . The only way to make your car nice would be an Almond make over .
Sorry I forgot to mention you actually need to wind the window back up after you climbed in - my dementia .
Whats that you say ? can't hear you . Us old buggers don't have bad hearing - its selective hearing . An art form that comes with 40 yrs of marriage . You have to combine selective hearing with a blank face - extremely hard to perfect .
Practice , practice practice little grasshopper .

You may not be deaf, Gerald, but you're going blind. I was referring to a certain "Gerard", known to Graeme and I, who is infamous for his electronics birds nests. Think something like the Watts Towers, constructed out of electronic componentry and tiny bits of wire. Not a single sliver of circuit board in sight. However since you've outed yourself as a Guru, I'm going to advertise your services in the back of the TV Guide. Look out for hippies and middle-aged wellness freaks coming down your drive any day now. Don't worry; my commission is very reasonable.

Now, I must make one thing very clear. My conscience isn't exactly clean. I'm guilty of any number of missteps in my life, such as a well-documented case of Tobacco Leaf, but I would NEVER stoop to committing an act of Almond. I'm an honest, compassionate man, with principles and a strong moral fibre. I'm outraged that you would suggest such a thing.

 

[ghce]

Now, I must make one thing very clear. My conscience isn't exactly clean. I'm guilty of any number of missteps in my life, such as a well-documented case of Tobacco Leaf, but I would NEVER stoop to committing an act of Almond. I'm an honest, compassionate man, with principles and a strong moral fibre. I'm outraged that you would suggest such a thing.

PSST you like my little sister? very reasonable charge......... oh not your thing, well I do have an Almond.......

Oh the perversion the loss of humanity


Graeme

 

[The Rovering Member]

Try taping the gutters up then going for a run first. Apparently they can be major causes of wind noise. Of course, you'll not be able to leave them as such but you'll be able to gauge any difference made.

 

[WarrenL]

Thanks, TRM, but it's definitely A-pillars. The source is quite evident when you're in the car.