My interest in building an XR3 is basically what brought me here. The XR3 build is still on hold until I get myself dug out from one of those hick-ups life can toss at you. I'm a member of the XR3 yahoo group and have been doing a lot of cranial design, i.e. power plant, lighting, seating, windows and yes redesigning the front clip. For those that know of the XR3, that thing on the nose is the vented engine cover, the motor sticks out of the hood a bit.
Anyway,
In the meantime I'm going to try a few mods on my Astro AWD work van, after I replace failing wheel hub
I was thinking of wheel disc's and I've been working out a louvered grill replacement. I don't know that a belly pan is really doable. The tight motor bay is already a cooker under the hood, the tranz/ T case cross member hangs below the rocker panels, and it's pretty crammed with hot things under there that need air flow.
I already do a better job of eco driving then most of the people on the road with me. I hang back and try to stay off the brakes and maintain a relatively constant speed, try and time the lights, and just keep my foot out of the throttle. I pretty much only drive the van for work, which mean's I'm in heavy traffic 98% of the time.
I had the oil changed last weekend, 4qt. 5W30 Pennzoil high mileage, 1qt. Lucas. Today was fill the tank day and check tire pressure 35psi.
I keep track of my mileage already, partly because my fuel gauge is wacky and untrustworthy. So come Monday morning I'm going to start improving my eco driving technique, learn the finer points of the tranz shift points.
Jasen