Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - How much $$$ has your ecomodding cost you?

saand · 09-24-2010, 01:57 AM

I have the following mods and costs associated

- both side mirrors delete: free
- single windscreen whiper delete:free
- wheel mud guards delete:free
- flat wheel hub covers:$1 (used coroplast from realestate signs left on streets and some cheap spray paint and free bolts from work)
- removed air con which removes a drive belt: free
- some weight removed, all air con parts, some carpets, power steering:free
- Changed power steering to manual steering (disconnected hydrolic lines which makes turning harder but still drivable):$68 / free (I stuffed up on this one, i went to wreckers and bought a manual steering rack but i realized part way through i only needed to remove the hydraulic lines on the power steering rack and it gave me the same effect so this one could have been free)
- reduced idle and placed switch in cabin to put ECU into diagnostic mode which stops it from compensating for low idle: free (switch and wires from work / laying around the house)
- Wheel PSI increase: free
- cold idle speed reduction: free (cost of a coke can if you dont have one around)
- front grill cover: Free (Coroplast from work, palettes often come with coroplast on the bottom and it usually gets thrown out so i grabbed some)
- Torque converter control: Free (switch from work)

the following are planned mods and costs
- radio antenna delete (Would be free)
- cover up gaps for aerodynamics (Would be free or maybe $5 for gap material)
- automatic transmission gear manual control (Free will get switches and wire from work)
- Improved wheel well aerodynamics: Free, coroplast from realestate signs

So all of mine are fairly cheap, i probably wouldnt' have done them if they were too expensive due to the pay back time

Regarding your mods you possibly could have done them cheaper
- Tonneau cover: could have been just cheap wood as the cover, the wood would cost less than $10 for size of a truck bed. For the method of fixing to the side of the truck bed it might get a bit costly if you want to attach and detach.

Smooth hub caps: could have been coroplast, doesn't look great but its cheap and you can spray paint it make it look better

Electric fan: could have gotten from a wrecker maybe even if you couldn't find one for your particular truck could have made up mounting brackets. Regarding the controller a cheap thermo switch would have done the job and wouldn't cost very much (i haven't looked into this so can say for sure)

Regear: unless you can find a wrecker that has a car that matches yours with better gearing then your stuck paying lots for this mod.

So there are ways to do the mods cheaper and if your thinking of a mod that you think will cost a lot of money you can post on here and you might get cheaper suggestions. I guess at the end of the day if you want a professional finish and good looking car you are likely to have to pay more than the average ecomodder.

09-24-2010, 01:57 AM	#4 (permalink)
saand Wiki Writer Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 236 bugler - '91 Mazda 626 90 day: 35.89 mpg (US) Thanks: 15 Thanked 25 Times in 22 Posts	I have the following mods and costs associated - both side mirrors delete: free - single windscreen whiper delete:free - wheel mud guards delete:free - flat wheel hub covers:$1 (used coroplast from realestate signs left on streets and some cheap spray paint and free bolts from work) - removed air con which removes a drive belt: free - some weight removed, all air con parts, some carpets, power steering:free - Changed power steering to manual steering (disconnected hydrolic lines which makes turning harder but still drivable):$68 / free (I stuffed up on this one, i went to wreckers and bought a manual steering rack but i realized part way through i only needed to remove the hydraulic lines on the power steering rack and it gave me the same effect so this one could have been free) - reduced idle and placed switch in cabin to put ECU into diagnostic mode which stops it from compensating for low idle: free (switch and wires from work / laying around the house) - Wheel PSI increase: free - cold idle speed reduction: free (cost of a coke can if you dont have one around) - front grill cover: Free (Coroplast from work, palettes often come with coroplast on the bottom and it usually gets thrown out so i grabbed some) - Torque converter control: Free (switch from work) the following are planned mods and costs - radio antenna delete (Would be free) - cover up gaps for aerodynamics (Would be free or maybe $5 for gap material) - automatic transmission gear manual control (Free will get switches and wire from work) - Improved wheel well aerodynamics: Free, coroplast from realestate signs So all of mine are fairly cheap, i probably wouldnt' have done them if they were too expensive due to the pay back time Regarding your mods you possibly could have done them cheaper - Tonneau cover: could have been just cheap wood as the cover, the wood would cost less than $10 for size of a truck bed. For the method of fixing to the side of the truck bed it might get a bit costly if you want to attach and detach. Smooth hub caps: could have been coroplast, doesn't look great but its cheap and you can spray paint it make it look better Electric fan: could have gotten from a wrecker maybe even if you couldn't find one for your particular truck could have made up mounting brackets. Regarding the controller a cheap thermo switch would have done the job and wouldn't cost very much (i haven't looked into this so can say for sure) Regear: unless you can find a wrecker that has a car that matches yours with better gearing then your stuck paying lots for this mod. So there are ways to do the mods cheaper and if your thinking of a mod that you think will cost a lot of money you can post on here and you might get cheaper suggestions. I guess at the end of the day if you want a professional finish and good looking car you are likely to have to pay more than the average ecomodder.