Hello again everyone!
I've been around for a short while now, and contemplated various ideas from buying an older CRX hf to a 1st gen Insight, but as far as saving money goes, it's tough to beat keeping a free car that's a good platform for starting a hypermiling project with.
The mods I've made have been pretty modest so far, from adjusting the tire pressure to max sidewall (44 psi) and installing a front grill block prototype (my abs custom grill block is being made at Tap Plastics in Stocton as I type). The third, and most important mod has been adjusting the loose nut behind the wheel. I still have some improving to do, but I've slowed down, started coasting down hills, used higher gears more often and all in all so far I've gained roughly 4-5 mpg over where I was before I started.
Here's a pic of the grill block;
There's a number of things I have to accomplish on this car, one of which will be repairing the damage to the front end thanks to trees deciding to test the laws of gravity out on my hood and fenders. I'll be replacing the hood with a carbon fiber unit, and the fenders will be regular steel aftermarket bits. While I'm at it, I'll be repainting the whole car. Since I'm an automotive painter, this is no big deal to me, I can do the whole thing for under a grand.
Other mods I have in mind;
*MPGuino
*CF rear hatch and plexi rear glass (this would delete the rear spoiler and rear wiper)
*CF convex racing mirrors, smaller/ligher/areoer
*Power Antenna delete (replace it with a modern stubby antenna which I'll mount on the roof where the current rear window squirter is located)
*Coroplast Undertray
*Front Spoiler/air dam, Wings West makes a nice one
*Adjustable (Lower) Suspension
*Lightweight aftermarket wheels and tires that can hold more air pressure (I'm also going for looks here, I am single and occasionally escort girls in my car, so having a cardboard boat tail or pizza pan hubcaps is out of the question)
*Most Ambitions Civic VX engine/trans/steering/brake swap. The theory is to take the parts out of a car that already gets 50 mpg, throw it into the much cooler looking Integra, then put the integra parts into the Civic and resell it, possibly at a profit. And this way I get to keep my power windows/door locks/sunroof/etc.
*Anything else I can find for free
Completed Mods;
Tire pressure to 44 PSI
Grill Block (Prototype)
Rear Seat and Seat Belt removal
Mud Flap Removal
5/1/2010 Update:
All the mods I have made to this point have had virtually no effect on fuel economy. My driving habbits have been the reason for my improved economy. I plan on returning my car back to the way it was, spare tire and rear seat back in at least. The grill block will stay gone. However, all is not lost, I still believe a Lean Burn Civic VX engine swap would be the most ideal change for me. It would be simple and relatively cheap. Hell, if I could find a whole running car, I could just swap the drivetrains out and potentially MAKE money reselling the Civic to some rice head.