03-03-2010, 12:18 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Unsanctioned Mind
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Pulaski, TN
Posts: 2
Thanks: 1
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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I can't express how good it is...
...to know I'm not the only one who is trying to optimize their vehicle with respect to efficiency.
I recently finished my engineering degree, and I have seen what is possible (With commercial projects such as Loremo and Aptera, for example). I seem to be surrounded by people who are obsessed with performance and status symbols...meeting a group of people like yourselves is a breath of fresh air.
I currently drive a pickup, and through good driving habits alone I get twice the gas millage I should, but my current goal is to obtain an old Type-1 VW beetle, modify it with modern technology such as EFI and electronic ignition, and make as many other modifications as I can to increase efficiency.
In the mean time, I hope to learn as much as possible from a site like this. I see a lot of useful knowledge floating around here.
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03-03-2010, 12:41 AM
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#2 (permalink)
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Pishtaco
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,278
Thanks: 39
Thanked 193 Times in 127 Posts
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Cool. Welcome to EM. I get my improvements over EPA estimates via modified driving habits, too. $0 dollar investment, ~$1200 in fuel savings.
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Darrell
Boycotting Exxon since 1989, BP since 2010
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? George Carlin
Mean Green Toaster Machine
49.4 mpg avg over 30,375 miles. 176% of '08 EPA
Best flat drive 94.5 mpg for 10.1 mi
Longest tank 1033 km (642 mi) on 10.56 gal = 60.8 mpg
Clean Green Toaster Machine
45.8 mpg over 2235 miles, 164% of '08 EPA
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03-03-2010, 07:09 AM
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#3 (permalink)
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Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,678
Thanks: 185
Thanked 431 Times in 298 Posts
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Welcome to the site. Combinations of driving techniques and modifications can lead to so much better efficiency than we have today. Just the other day me and another member were talking about how the car manufacturers seem to think their compacts getting 35 mpg is so much to brag about. Its just the tip if the iceberg!
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03-03-2010, 08:29 AM
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#4 (permalink)
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...beats walking...
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 3,352
Thanks: 56
Thanked 330 Times in 249 Posts
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...what does the " 97 " in you handle mean--1897 or 1997 (ha,ha)?
..."Welcome Aboard" from the 'olde Pueblo' in the "land-o-sand."
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• 2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ 1.4LT 6A
• 2009 Pontiac Vibe 1.8L/SFI 4A
• 2004 Pontiac Vibe 1.8L/MFI 4A
• 2003 Ford Focus ZX5 2.0L/Zetec 4A
• 1971 Dodge Charger 318 3A
• 1970½ Plymouth AAR 'Cuda 340/6BBL 4M
• 1968 Dodge Charger 383 3A
• 1967 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S 383 4M
• 1965 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S 273 4M
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03-03-2010, 12:08 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 12,533
Thanks: 302
Thanked 1,019 Times in 568 Posts
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oldtimer97
my current goal is to obtain an old Type-1 VW beetle, modify it with modern technology such as EFI and electronic ignition, and make as many other modifications as I can to increase efficiency.
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Just last night as I bicycled past an older small car I though that doing something like you describe (an efficiency oriented restoration/modification of a small, light classic) would be a fun project.
Welcome to EcoModder! |
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03-03-2010, 01:41 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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Pokémoderator
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,724
Thanks: 385
Thanked 459 Times in 315 Posts
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oldtimer97 -
Quote:
Originally Posted by oldtimer97
...
I currently drive a pickup, and through good driving habits alone I get twice the gas millage I should, but my current goal is to obtain an old Type-1 VW beetle, modify it with modern technology such as EFI and electronic ignition, and make as many other modifications as I can to increase efficiency.
In the mean time, I hope to learn as much as possible from a site like this. I see a lot of useful knowledge floating around here.
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I'd LOVE to see someone do this. Would you use a stock VW engine or replace it with a more modern one? Perhaps a defanged Porsche engine?
It seems like the VW bug chassis is such a natural for Ecomodding. You may be able to borrow ideas and/or bodies from the Beetle's kit-car heritage. If I were rich, I'd use a Perry 550 Spyder kit as the body for a conversion :
Perry Ds,Inc. 550 Spyder
CarloSW2 |
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03-03-2010, 01:54 PM
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#8 (permalink)
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EcoModding Apprentice
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Arab, Alabama
Posts: 144
Thanks: 18
Thanked 14 Times in 8 Posts
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I'll ignore the roars of laughter, but I'd like to get a Ford Pinto (my first new car was a '76 Pinto Stallion) and convert it to a diesel in the same vein as MAX (Mothers Automotive X-prize) from Kinetic Vehicles. Seems like it could be a cheap, yet cool (to me anyway) alternative to a hybrid.
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03-03-2010, 05:37 PM
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#9 (permalink)
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ooo ooo ooo ah ah ah
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 7,357
Thanks: 636
Thanked 848 Times in 591 Posts
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I like your idea stingy! 
As far as flat air-cooled VWs; I love 'em but they have some inherent disadvantages for max fe, the biggie being the relatively loose and constantly changing piston-to-cylinder tolerances vs the more stable, tight environment of water pumpers. Were I to do a max effort VW I think I'd go for a water cooled engine swap of some sort. |
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03-03-2010, 06:03 PM
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#10 (permalink)
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Unsanctioned Mind
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Pulaski, TN
Posts: 2
Thanks: 1
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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@Old Tele man: lol. The 97 actually comes from the old song, “Wreck of Ol’ 97.” Obviously, the railroad has left it’s mark on me, as well.
@MetroMPG: Thanks for the link! Unfortunately, the Craig’s List entry has expired, but I’ll keep an eye out for such a kit.
@cfg83: I was planning on keeping the stock engine, since cost is a factor. It’s pretty efficient compared to the lot of them on the market
@Frank Lee: Yeah. Air cooling has its disadvantages. That may change eventually; who knows.
Thank you all for the welcome. I’m impressed by your sense of community, as well.
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