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Old 02-25-2013, 10:12 PM   #1 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,530

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 62.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,078
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Making a durable (removable) upper/lower grille block for the UFO: 2000 Honda Insight

It's coming up on 2 years since I got the Insight. I figured it's time to lose the taped-on plastic, and make something a bit more permanent/durable (but also removable). I've taped and re-taped this thing so many times, I've messed up the paint a little bit.




(Photos from: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...-km-18930.html )

Last time I made a permanent block was for the Firefly (Metro). I made a custom vinyl "bra" for that car:


(From: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...k-bra-285.html )

Worked well, and is aesthetically fine since the car is black. But I didn't want to put a black bra on the radioactive-snot-green UFO, and finding colour-matching green material seemed unlikely. Also, closing the upper opening wouldn't be easy with material.

I'm inspired in particular by the quality work CigaR007 did on his Echo:





http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...cho-15673.html

So I'm making this one out of rigid foam insulation.

Actually, this is my 2nd attempt at using foam - I started work on an expandable foam upper block last year, but abandoned it. I've had no luck with the expand-o-foam approach to building mods. Each time I've tried to work with it, it seems too soft, doesn't shape easily, doesn't cure if you put it on too thick, etc. etc. etc.

I got started this evening. Should have some pics tomorrow.

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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
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