Honda 600 coupe: A tempting buy - Page 2 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

chuckm · 10-18-2009, 10:34 PM

Ya'll are definitely right about the motorcycle engine... I was only thinking about the broad rpm range and small displacement. A diesel, if I can find one at a decent price, would be great.

roflwaffle · 10-18-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

Hmm, a small diesel powered 600 would have a certain charm. But seeing as these are 5-10 times the price of their gasoline counterparts, are there any lower-cost sources of small diesel engines? Used sailboat engines maybe?

Used VW IDI diesels are about the cheapest out there, but they might be too big.

chuckm · 10-22-2009, 12:26 PM

I'm gonna go look and see what the cars look like. The email I got back said that they were not in good shape.

What about putting a 3cyl metro engine and manual tranny in it? At better than 600lbs lighter than a metro and smaller frontal area, I should be able to pull 60+ mpgs easy.

Ryland · 10-22-2009, 08:15 PM

the car in stock form should get 70mpg at 40ph and around 40mpg and 70mph, mostly due to it having a 3 speed transmission...
I would look in to fuel injection, you might be able to make the fuel injection from a metro work.

Old Mechanic · 10-22-2009, 08:37 PM

I have a kubota D600 out of a riding lawn mower 16 HP at 1 gallon per hour, if memory serves me right.

600 cc 3 cyl diesel.

Revs to 3k RPM.

regards
Mech

Old Tele man · 10-22-2009, 09:30 PM

...doesn't the 600 have a "chain-drive" to the rear wheels? Or, am I thinking of a different Honda?

chuckm · 10-22-2009, 10:45 PM

No, its FWD.

dwtaylorpdx · 10-22-2009, 11:30 PM

Maybe a Briggs and Stratton Vanguard?

Dave

Ryland · 10-24-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...doesn't the 600 have a "chain-drive" to the rear wheels? Or, am I thinking of a different Honda?

Chain drive but it's front wheel drive, the chain is fully enclosed and runs between the engine and the transmission, kind of like it's done on the Saab's.

Old Tele man · 10-24-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryland

Chain drive but it's front wheel drive, the chain is fully enclosed and runs between the engine and the transmission, kind of like it's done on the Saab's.

...Thanks! that is what I thought, although I was obviously way off on front- versus rear-drive!

...I saw and rode in a 600 while stationed on Guam back in '66-'68, and later heard of the "woes" epeople encountered trying to bring them back to the 'States from Japan. California was one state that "banned" them from the highways--as I recall--because of their chain drive, which was deemed "not safe". Ironically, motorcycles aren't banned and THEY still use chain-drives.