Win $100.00 in Free Gas! Design Contest: Ecomod my Ride

[XFi]

Win $100.00 in FREE Gas! Help Design my Spring Project Car…

A 1997 Ford Escort Wagon with a stock 2.0L Split Port Induction engine and Manual transaxle was purchased with the express intent to showcase/implement numerous fuel saving modifications. The goal of the project is to effectively DOUBLE the EPA fuel economy ratings.

Please take a few minutes of your time (or a few hours) and help design this MPG vehicle that will incorporate as many viable modifications that can be utilized in this ‘real world’ and ‘real budget’ venture.

Contest --->>>
An incentive of $100.00 will be offered to the ‘best’ submission.

-also-

Free EcoModder sticker/decals will be awarded/mailed out randomly (after they have been printed/obtained) to numerous contributors to this thread.

You must be a member of EcoModder.com to submit. If you are not a member, take a minute to join…it’s easy and free, then you can post in the forums/threads (including this one). Submissions must be posted in this thread.

Submission will be judged on numerous factors including how comprehensive/complete the design/plan is thought out (engine, trans, rolling resistance, aero, paint etc.). Pictures/Drawings are not necessary, but recommended. The longer and more complete the list of modifications the better. ‘Best’ submission will be judged by Xfi and any moderators of EcoModder.com that have not officially submitted a design.

Also, please start your submission by naming the ‘UnNamed Wagon’. Then follow with any and all information/pics/drawings/ideas that you desire. If submitting a ‘paint job’ with your pics/drawings please include ‘EcoModder.com’ at least once with the design.

Submission must be based on a 1997 Ford Escort Wagon 2.0SPI 4cyl Gasoline Engine with a Manual Transaxle. Any other modification/improvements are at your discretion.

The contest will run through February 29, 2008. This will give time for more members/viewers to submit their design information.

By submitting a design, you agree that all ideas submitted are public knowledge/info and can be used my any and all members/viewers of EcoModder.com.

This contest supersedes any and all previous contests. I reserve the right to change any and all rules pertaining to the contest without notice.

There will be no minimum number of submissions. Someone will receive the $100.00 in FREE GAS even if there are only a few submissions.

$100.00 will be paid via PayPal or Gas Card (to agreed upon station) sent via USPS with delivery confirmation.

Thanks again for your interest and being a part of this EcoModder project. Have fun with it and submit your best ideas for the opportunity to win $100.00 plus an EcoModder.com decal/stickers to display on your Ecomodded vehicle!

Sample Design Started Below…
Feel free to start with this information and add to it!



The UnNamed Wagon
Submitted by Xfi
00/00/2007



1997 Ford Escort Wagon MPG Project
2.0 SPI 4cyl Gasoline Engine
Manual Transaxle

Engine:
-Factory 2.0 SPI Engine
-Headers & Free Flowing Exhaust
-50% Under Drive Crankshaft Pulley
-A/C Delete
-Power Steering Delete (Manual Rack Conversion)
-
-

Trans:
-2.88 Final Drive Transaxle from 80’s Pony Escort Model
-
-

Exterior:
-Undercarriage Tray/Paneling
-Side Mirrors Replaced with ‘Fold In’ Mirrors
-Grille Block
-Rear Door, Rear ¼ and Rear Hatch Glass replaced with Plexiglas for weight savings.
-

Interior:
-All Carpet and Sound Deadening Material Removed (weight savings).
-Interior Gutted…Everything behind driver’s seat removed (weight savings).
-
-

Suspension/Wheels:
-Front Lowering Springs
-Suspension Swap with Earlier Model?(reduce rotating mass/weight)
-
-

Other:
-Synthetic Fluids
-Hot Air Intake
-Solar Panel Mounted Flush on Roof for Additional Battery Charging
-
-
-

[XFi]

Here are some pics of an escort wagon that can be used for reference/modification for PhotoShop or Drawing purposes.




Here are some pics of the actual car...



Notice the lack of a roof rack

Who knows, a boat tail may even be in this car's future!

You decide!

[Lazarus]

1997 Ford Escort Wagon MPG Project
2.0 SPI 4cyl Gasoline Engine
Manual Transaxle

Engine:
-Factory 2.0 SPI Engine
-Headers & Free Flowing Exhaust
-50% Under Drive Crankshaft Pulley
-A/C Delete
-Power Steering Delete (Manual Rack Conversion)
-Injector kill switch
-Smaller pulse injectors(?)
-195 t-stat
-electric water pump


Trans:
-2.88 Final Drive Transaxle from 80’s Pony Escort Model
-
-

Exterior:
-Undercarriage Tray/Paneling
-Side Mirrors Replaced with ‘Fold In’ Mirrors
-Grille Block
-Rear Door, Rear ¼ and Rear Hatch Glass replaced with Plexiglas for weight savings.
-Side skirts
-Wheel skirts front and back
-shaved door handles or covered
-Boat tail or VG
-Wiper removal or modify to hide below the air stream

-If possible re slope the windshield to reduce drag.
Interior:
-All Carpet and Sound Deadening Material Removed (weight savings).
-Interior Gutted…Everything behind driver’s seat removed (weight savings).
-Move the battery to the back to get it out of the heat in the engine compartment.
-

Suspension/Wheels:
-Front Lowering Springs
-Suspension Swap with Earlier Model?(reduce rotating mass/weight)
-skinny LRR tires
-

Other:
-Synthetic Fluids
-Hot Air Intake
-Solar Panel Mounted Flush on Roof for Additional Battery Charging
-
-

I don't want to enter but I'll throw ideas out there for free. If anybody wants to try and get great mileage I'm all for it. Good luck. How much money are you willing to spend? That will make a big difference.

[XFi]

Originally Posted by Lazarus

...How much money are you willing to spend? That will make a big difference.

I'm open to hearing any and all ideas and not afraid of extreme modifications, but try to keep in mind the discretionary income level of a working/family man. This car has already been purchased and is just waiting for your modification ideas!

[MetroMPG]

XFi: Do you have a Sawzall, and can you weld?

[XFi]

Have Sawzall in hand and (as I was recently telling Ben) I have been looking for an excuse to buy a welder and learn

[TomO]

Name submission= The Savin' Wagon

Mods (real world):
Engine:

• Warm air intake
• Port matching
• De-carbonizing treatment
• synthetic oil
• Tube header with anti-reverb steps and low restriction exhaust system (basically replace the muffler)
• Water injection
• PCV catch can (home made of course)
• Delete A/C and remove ALL components
• Remove all unnecessary brackets/braces from the engine bay (good weight savings)

Trans:

• Taller final drive ratio
• Synthetic trans fluid
• Fresh bearings if need be

Body:

• Small boat tail
• Remove factory roof rack (if not removed already)
• Replace side mirrors with smaller/more aerodynamic ones
• Coroplast/Rain gutter side skirts
• Flush mounted grill block
• Get those nice smooth looking headlights (if they aren't already on there)
• Fill seams with caulking
• Make a small cowl for windshield wipers or remove windshield wipers if allowed by law
• Front air dam or under pan
• Rear wheel skirts
• Front wheel skirts using basjoos's design
• Recess or remove the outer door handles

Suspension:

• Lower the vehicle by either getting Escort lowering springs or cutting OEM ones
• Install sway bars or larger sway bars (to allow for faster cornering speed)
• Replace wheel bearings and inject with synthetic grease for LRR

Wheels:

• If 13" wheels fit: 155/80/13 LRR tires all around otherwise 155/80/14
• Smooth hubcaps made out of the racing hubcaps or Coroplast or pizza pans
• Aluminum rims if you can find some lightweight smooth designs

Interior:

• Remove all unnecessary seats/panels/speakers/radio
• Remove sound deadening
• Remove spare tire/jack/tools replace with a fix-a-flat can or two
• Tint your windows to the darkest legal limit if you live in a hot climate

Electronics:

• ScanGauge II
• EFIE thing or whatever their called to modify the O2 signal

Driver Mods:

• Tweak your driving habits or course
• =

I'll get working on a photochop to display some of the exterior mods and post it up in a day or two.
Edit:


Just for fun:

[XFi]

Sweet, Great Job TomO...Looking forward to seeing the 'photochop' pics!

Just an additional note: If you have a good idea or two, but don't want to take the time to formulate/organize a complete submission, PLEASE post the idea(s)...it may be good for a free 'Ecomodder.com' Decal/Sticker for your ride!

[SVOboy]

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/12...to-the-winner/

, hopefully we get some good submissions. I'll work on mine over winter break,

[XFi]

A little press never hurts! Thanks Ben!
Also, Thanks Sebastian!

Ya beat me to posting it
AutoBlogGreen link:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/12...to-the-winner/

[SVOboy]

I beat you with the link! Thanks to sebastian indeed, ABG is a great site to keep up on the news.

[Oldsmobile]

Ran into this at autoblog green, and thought I share a few ideas.

The Escort has a cousin in Europe that came with smalle engines. Instead of trying to ecofy a 2.0 liter engine, why not just order up a smaller 1.4 liter unit?

Also, massively replacing body panels with fiberglass parts and perhaps a custom front and rear bumper would take you pretty far.

And as far as the interior goes, custom seats made with aluminum tubing and maybe replacing inside door trim with aluminum sheet would make it pretty light. And even though just pulling out all the sound deadening material and carpet would make it light, a more usable solution would be to replace the stuff with lightweight carpeting material.

[XFi]

Very nice! Thanks for the ideas...Welcome to Ecomodder.com! A smaller dispacement engine would make sense, as well as lightening the vehicle and aero mods. Hope you stick around!

[Oldsmobile]

Originally Posted by XFi

Very nice! Thanks for the ideas...Welcome to Ecomodder.com! A smaller dispacement engine would make sense, as well as lightening the vehicle and aero mods. Hope you stick around!

THX, I'll try to stick around. I was thinking along the lines of Fiat's Ecobasic. It was a concept built around 2000 as a super efficient, super light normal car.

Looks kind of weird, but light weight was the point of the study:

http://www.channel4.com/4car/ft/feat...ept+car/1272/1

[XFi]

Originally Posted by Oldsmobile

THX, I'll try to stick around. I was thinking along the lines of Fiat's Ecobasic. It was a concept built around 2000 as a super efficient, super light normal car.

Looks kind of weird, but light weight was the point of the study:

http://www.channel4.com/4car/ft/feat...ept+car/1272/1

Neat vehicle, I haven't run across info on that one before....
Thanks for sharing the link.
As far as weight reduction...
I think that this EcoMod Project will definately be going on a diet!

[MetroMPG]

Here's a question, XFi:

A determined hypermiler could probably achieve double the car's EPA combined rating with the car in its current, unmodified form (well, with a few prep. items like tire pressure...)

Now, that kind of feat could only be achieved at a pretty low average speed, in ideal conditions where the driver could operate more or less unmolested by other traffic.

But it does make me think the "doubling" requirement might need some context...

Under what kind of conditions are you striving for 58 mpg? If it's @ a steady 75 mph on the freeway, you may be in trouble. But if you'll deem 58 mpg @ 45 mph avg speed a success on a rolling country road, that's a horse of a different colour.

[XFi]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Here's a question, XFi:

A determined hypermiler could probably achieve double the car's EPA combined rating with the car in its current, unmodified form (well, with a few prep. items like tire pressure...)

Now, that kind of feat could only be achieved at a pretty low average speed, in ideal conditions where the driver could operate more or less unmolested by other traffic.

But it does make me think the "doubling" requirement might need some context...

Under what kind of conditions are you striving for 58 mpg? If it's @ a steady 75 mph on the freeway, you may be in trouble. But if you'll deem 58 mpg @ 45 mph avg speed a success on a rolling country road, that's a horse of a different colour.

My goal IS to double the MPG in real world driving. Let me explain that comment...
When I say 'real world', I am meaning 'my real driving environment'. This would be a mix of Highway and City driving. It is everyday commuting. It is stop and go. It is all weather conditions. It is all speeds. It is with traffic. It will not be 'ideal mpg conditions' by any means. I drive a lot for work and sometimes a good bit of it is at highway speeds. If I drove in Ideal conditions ONLY, you are right, I could probably hit this with very few modifications.

Highway mileage will be hard to hit, but I will meet a 60mpg average with this vehicle. If I drop lower on the Highway, I will make up for it in town.

More than my mpg goals, this contest is to get people involved. It is an exercise to get people thinking about what small changes can be done, and to see that numerous small changes CAN add up to BIG changes in fuel consumption. It is not meant to be a cutthroat competition, but a fun way to share ideas with each other, then to see them implemented on this EcoModded Ride!

[Yaristock]

Saggin Wagon

Interior
Remove excessive sound-deadening
Replace electric windows with manual
Replace all bulbs with Led bulbs

Body
Use sawzall to reshape rear into a teardrop shape ending, utilizing the stock rear windshield(to reduce costs, also replacing with plexiglass.)
Rear wheel skirts and flexible front wheelskirts
Grill Block
Underbody cladding
VW style air diverters to divert air from wheel area at the bottom
Shaved door handles
A type of air deflector to cover the area where the wipers reside

Engine
Increase EGR size
HAI
ECU remapping
Composite intake for weight savings
Reduced injector size
Engine Block Heater

Suspension
Reduce right height by 3inches
tighten suspension to reduce excessive bodyroll(possibly resulting extra engine load)

Wheels
Lightweight allows and lightweight wheels to reduce rotational mass

Brakes
Stainless Steel Lines
Powerslot Rotor
(saving gas is worthless if you die)

[AndrewJ]

Coche de José MarÃ*a González de Hermosillo
(If your car was manufactured in Ford’s Hermosillo, Mexico factory)

or

Coche de Wayne
(if your car was manufactured in Ford’s Wayne, Michigan factory)

I sure hope your car is Mexican, the Jose just has that ring to it

Anyway, this is a bit more of a "practical" build taking into consideration real-world budget and effort constraints, as well as leaving you with a still-practical car.

Engine
2.0 CVH engine: 84.8x88mm (bore x stroke)
Swap bottom end to 1.6L Escort (81-85) 80x79.5mm
(a lot of info about increasing displacement, not so much about decreasing it. Head bolt pattern and oil galley locations should be the same for all Ford CVH engines, but consult a shop manual for details)

4-2-1 header, Pacesetter makes one for 1.9CVH, requires relocation of cat converter downstream. All CVH have same manifold bolt patterns. $155 shipped from ebay.

Warm air intake (aluminum dryer hose to airbox from under header)

192 degree thermostat (Duralast, Valucraft, Failsafe) $15

Unbelt or completely remove A/C (depends on your climate, comfort level)

Unbelt Alternator (keep belt and a wrench in trunk for long trips)

Relocate battery to cargo-area, replace with 2x 6v deep cycle.
Wire to engine compartment with 4awg amplifier wiring kit $60 from auto parts store

PV panel in cargo area for trickle charging while parked. $89 from JC whitney
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...016460/c-10107


Battery charger and block heater share common 110V plug
Charger : Soneil 12v smart charger $75
http://www.amazon.com/Soneil-12V-5A-.../dp/B0007ZAL0C
Block Heater: Genuine Ford/OEM $28 shipped from ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-O...QQcmdZViewItem



Body:
Mirror delete (use power mirror interior “covers� from junkyard if you have manual mirrors. ABS plastic to cover outside)

Front airdam (ABS or PVC plastic sheet)

F&R wheel skirts: front skirts hinged at top with Teflon sheet bonded to inside tire-contact-points (ABS or PVC plastic sheet)

Side skirts (ABS or PVC plastic sheet)

Lower ~2" with cheap coil-overs, cut springs (sorry it seems nobody makes spring kits for 97 wagons...)

Wheels & tires:
Bridgestone B381 185/65R14 low rolling resistance tires

Honda VX/HX 14� wheels (4x100 bolt pattern will fit)

“Full Moon� hubcaps


FE Instrumentation

Scanguage II



picture to follow whenever I can muster up the energy to properly photochop one.

[MetroMPG]

I think Andrew should win based on the name alone!

I would happily drive an H2 into the sunset if it were named Coche de José MarÃ*a González de Hermosillo.