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Old 03-05-2008, 12:26 PM   This thread is in the EcoModder Project Library | #1 (permalink)
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
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The Phil Knox fleet - 34 years of aeromodding

I talked to Phil on Saturday - I was hoping to meet up with him in Texas this weekend, but unfortunately my trip was cancelled, so it'll have to be another time.

I didn't realize until I read the edmunds.com piece featuring several ecomodders from this forum that he's been doing this stuff for so long!

Anyway, we talked about a bunch of stuff, including many of his vehicles, and I thought it would be interesting to present his "aero fleet" in a single thread. So, with Phil's blessing, here it is:

The first one he aeromodded was his...


'64 VW Karmann Ghia

  • bought to replace a thirsty El Camino with a v8 that could get 18 mpg at best
  • the Ghia was purchased wrecked - the previous owner had smacked into the back of a big Caddy, braking on a wet road.
  • Phil put the front clip from another Ghia on it, and then started modding it after reading about Car & Driver magazine's Crisis Fighter Pinto
  • Reshaped the front to mimic a Porsche Carerra
  • was good for 41 mpg @ 70 mph

'62 Dodge D-100 pickup


  • this was his grandad's truck (still has it!)
  • the shape of things to come?


'70 VW bus



  • link to thread with more details of this project: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...-van-8675.html
  • Modding this VW was Phil's thesis project, and he used many of the same techniques NASA did for its van testing:
  • full belly pan
  • skirts on rear wheels
  • 18 inch tapered rear extension


1984 Honda CRX


  • ultimately, the mod set included: nose, hatchwing, gap-fillers,wheel skirts,wheelcovers,bellypan,and boattail
  • 18% improvement in mpg, 36% drag reduction, 9mph improvement in top speed
  • Estimated Cd: 0.23
  • tested at Bonneville, and systematically at Chrysler Proving Grounds, in Michigan in 1991.
  • Still has it! (On guard duty - long story)


'94 Toyota T-100


  • what *hasn't* Phil tried on this famous truck?
  • @ 75 miles per hour, with aero mods fuel economy improved to 32 miles per gallon from stock 23.3 mpg.


Custom mini hypercar



  • under construction
  • motorcycle based
  • VW front end?

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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



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Old 03-05-2008, 12:33 PM   #2 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Did I get all of them, Phil?

Thanks for the inspiration and the education!
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
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Old 03-05-2008, 01:19 PM   #3 (permalink)
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The Miata - '01 Mazda MX-5 Miata
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More pictures/info on hyper car!!! please
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Old 03-05-2008, 01:28 PM   #4 (permalink)
That VX guy!
 
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I'm really digging the KG!

Phill has been at this for quite some time eh? Kudos!
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Old 03-05-2008, 01:34 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 11,203

CM400E - '81 Honda CM400E
90 day: 51.49 mpg (US)

Daox's Grey Prius - '04 Toyota Prius
Team Toyota
90 day: 49.53 mpg (US)

Daox's Insight - '00 Honda Insight
90 day: 64.33 mpg (US)

Swarthy - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage DE
Mitsubishi
90 day: 56.69 mpg (US)

Daox's Volt - '13 Chevrolet Volt
Thanks: 2,501
Thanked 2,585 Times in 1,553 Posts
Very nice work.
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Old 03-05-2008, 01:48 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Love the CRX and the Ghia
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Old 03-05-2008, 03:07 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mirabel, QC
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The Guzzler - '08 Hyundai Elantra GL
90 day: 33.12 mpg (US)

Got Soul? - '11 Kia Soul 2U
Thanks: 35
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I always loved the look of the KG. An e-KG would be a nice project.
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Old 03-05-2008, 04:04 PM   #8 (permalink)
igo
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Mini Box Truck - '05 Scion Xb
90 day: 32.87 mpg (US)

It FITs - '09 Honda Fit Sport
90 day: 36.2 mpg (US)

Impreza - '13 Subaru Impreza Sport
90 day: 30.92 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by trebuchet03 View Post
More pictures/info on hyper car!!! please
I will second that. That bike/car looks interesting.
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Old 03-05-2008, 04:43 PM   #9 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tasdrouille View Post
I always loved the look of the KG. An e-KG would be a nice project.
Heh, all I could think of is electrocardiogram. An EV conversion on that car could only be called "The EKG Machine" in my eyes.
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Old 03-06-2008, 10:46 AM   #10 (permalink)
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Location: Tooele, UT
Posts: 412

ZJ - '95 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo Upcountry
90 day: 20.57 mpg (US)

Neon - '03 Dodge Neon SE
90 day: 33.46 mpg (US)

S'Crew - '02 Ford F150 Supercrew XLT
90 day: 16.4 mpg (US)

Ranger - '90 Ford Ranger
Last 3: 28.02 mpg (US)

Not the Jeep - '03 Dodge Neon SE
90 day: 34.11 mpg (US)
Thanks: 7
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Hyper car!!! I've wanted to build something like this for 20 years!!!! I might have to now. I always thought it would be best to use a 700cc or larger shaft drive (or belt drive) motorcycle for the rear. But always thought using a Mustang II style front suspension would be better and help to keep a lower profile.

Is that a Goldwing fairing turned upside down on the front of that?

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