Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > EcoModding Central
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 08-19-2008, 06:12 PM   #201 (permalink)
Addicted
 
bbjsw10's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Findlay,OH
Posts: 555

bbjsw10 - '91 Geo Metro Xfi
90 day: 51.06 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 11 Times in 7 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnny Mullet View Post
The cheapest one I found was $100 but it is a painted (purple) bumper and has lots of cosmetic damage to it also.
I looked on car-part.com in my area but none cheaper. I figured I could bring it to the meet.

That is crazy how much they want for one, plastic=no money for scrap. You and I know they scrap these cars all the time. Maybe not as much now. I could call a couple places tomorrow if ya want.

__________________
  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 08-24-2008, 12:41 AM   #202 (permalink)
Hi-Tech Redneck
 
Johnny Mullet's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Ashtabula, Ohio
Posts: 1,436
Thanks: 6
Thanked 49 Times in 42 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Johnny Mullet Send a message via MSN to Johnny Mullet
Grill Block

I have finally came up with a grill block that does not really effect the appearance of the front of the car. Since I lost some aerodynamics from the headlight conversion, I figure and internal grill block should make up for it. This will be temporary until I find a reasonable priced 1995-1997 bumper.

The first thing I had to do was remove the front bumper. There are 2 12MM bolts from the front, and 2 behind along with several Phillips screws to the inner fenders. It was not that hard to remove the whole bumper..............



Here it is on the floor..............



I then took my famous "Truck Mudflap" material and measured out 2 pieces to fit inside and cut a slot for the mounts................





Did some trimming and they both fit nice...............



Figuring out how to attach the pieces was the real challenge. I was going to try silicone and my "Magic Finger", but knew it could not withstand the pressure. I decided to use heavy duty tie straps "zip ties" and drill holes in the mudflap material and stitch them from the inside.



That went very well and the material is stiff enough to not rip out or flex while in position. The only problem I had created with the block was my custom mounted lamps would not fit anywhere inside the grill. They were previously mounted behind the grill, but now will not fit between the slats, so I had a new plan.

I went to the parts room in the heavy truck section and found these "bolt on" trailer side marker/turn signal lamps with dual elements and a convex front. I went and drilled the mounting holes and one more hole for the wires and mounted them directly to the block on the lower portion................



These lights look better than the old ones and the actual convex front makes the lamps visible from the sides of the car which is better for safety reasons.............





Now the entire bumper is completely blocked off and airflow for the radiator will come directly from the gap between the hood and bumper. The only visual change besides the new lamps is the visible tie straps, but they do not bother me at all. It was really hot today and I drove around in traffic to see what happens as far as cooling goes and did not notice the fan coming on more often than usual and the temp gauge stayed where it always does.
__________________

GeoMetroforum.com - got mpg?

Last edited by Johnny Mullet; 08-24-2008 at 12:47 AM..
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2008, 01:37 AM   #203 (permalink)
Renaissance Man
 
Formula413's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: In the Northeast dreaming of the Southwest
Posts: 596

Aegean C - '17 Honda Civic LX
90 day: 38.89 mpg (US)
Thanks: 20
Thanked 31 Times in 24 Posts
Do you monitor engine temp with the Scangauge? Most dashboard temp gauges will not show any variations in temperature once the engine is warmed up. You might be running hotter than normal and not even know it. That was the case when I covered the entire lower grill opening in my Escort.
__________________

  Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2008, 12:35 PM   #204 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ashtabula, OH
Posts: 4
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Johnny, have you checked this yard?
Pull-A-Part

They're in Cleveland, but I hear their prices are super cheap, esp compared to the yards around Ashtabula Co.
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2008, 02:45 PM   #205 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
metroschultz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Norfolk, Va. USA
Posts: 869

CPT SLO - '93 GEO Metro plainjane
90 day: 53.91 mpg (US)

SilverHairBeauty - '01 Toyota Avalon XL
90 day: 24.06 mpg (US)
Thanks: 14
Thanked 33 Times in 28 Posts
Send a message via AIM to metroschultz
?bumper?

eBay Motors: 1997 Geo Chevy Metro front bumper (item 230283067310 end time Aug-26-08 13:04:08 PDT)

I saw this and wondered,
Is this the bumper you are looking for?

Just trying to help,
Schultz

edit,
its just around the corner from you
__________________


When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder a second seems like an hour. That's relativity.
Albert Einstein

Last edited by metroschultz; 08-24-2008 at 02:48 PM.. Reason: checked map, curios on whether i could pick it up on way to GeoPalooza
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2008, 04:54 PM   #206 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ohio
Posts: 17
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Nice write-up!
Took me a while to get through it, but well worth it!
I can honestly say I've never seen anyone get as much mileage out of mud flap material!
I really want to see what the mpg results will be for the grill block off!
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2008, 09:50 PM   #207 (permalink)
Hi-Tech Redneck
 
Johnny Mullet's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Ashtabula, Ohio
Posts: 1,436
Thanks: 6
Thanked 49 Times in 42 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Johnny Mullet Send a message via MSN to Johnny Mullet
That bumper on Ebay is pretty close to where I live, but is painted and not the molded gray color. I plan on running this bumper through the winter months and locate another one later.

The first day and a half of driving with the block and believe or not, I noticed a few things.......

The car warms up to operating temperature much faster.
Car seems to coast better at higher speeds.
Car "feels" different when going over 40 MPH for some reason.

By the looks of my block, you would think that this mod would do nothing at all, but it seems that air deflected is better than turbulent air inside the engine compartment. If I were to do an external block with a smooth front surface, the improvements would probably be even better, but from what I have learned here even a partial block will help and that is true.
__________________

GeoMetroforum.com - got mpg?
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2008, 09:56 PM   #208 (permalink)
Hi-Tech Redneck
 
Johnny Mullet's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Ashtabula, Ohio
Posts: 1,436
Thanks: 6
Thanked 49 Times in 42 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Johnny Mullet Send a message via MSN to Johnny Mullet
Quote:
Originally Posted by Formula413 View Post
Do you monitor engine temp with the Scangauge? Most dashboard temp gauges will not show any variations in temperature once the engine is warmed up. You might be running hotter than normal and not even know it. That was the case when I covered the entire lower grill opening in my Escort.
Good you mentioned that. I used our shop scanner and monitored the temp PID before I started while engine was idling and after the fan cycled once and the temp was average around 190 degrees. After the block, I warmed it up again and waited for the fan to cycle once and my temp reading was the same.

You might not think there is any air getting in, but these 3 cylinder cars don't need much airflow. That gap between the hood and bumper seems to be more than enough for cooling purposes on this car.
__________________

GeoMetroforum.com - got mpg?
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2008, 10:03 PM   #209 (permalink)
VIVA LA MPG RESISTANCE
 
Will's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Brownsville, Tn
Posts: 328

Meat-roll - '97 Geo Metro
Team Metro
90 day: 55.4 mpg (US)

Wife's Brruik - '03 Buick Century
90 day: 30.84 mpg (US)

Blue Balt - '08 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE
Team Chevy
90 day: 38.19 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts
I really like Darin's "bra" that he made as a grille block. Here is a good pic.
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...oday-4736.html
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2008, 11:06 PM   #210 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Shawnee, KS
Posts: 8

Pea Pod - '95 Toyota Tercel
Last 3: 38.61 mpg (US)

Chili Pepper - '06 Honda Accord SE
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
it must be cool to have access to a car lift. that would be so sweet...........you are doing a great job, Johnny, with the metro.

  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Why I'm Choosing a Civic Over a Metro Wayneburg General Efficiency Discussion 43 03-02-2011 05:11 PM
Geo Metro XFI Convertible Project Finished Coyote X EcoModding Central 227 11-14-2009 10:31 PM
$10 Metro on Craigslist. Project car, anyone? MetroMPG The Lounge 6 08-31-2009 01:21 AM
New to the forum, with my RX-7 EV Project... BigMouse Fossil Fuel Free 14 02-28-2008 04:14 PM
Radical Metro Aero Mods? Coyote X Aerodynamics 8 01-01-2008 04:05 PM



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com