Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Mission Possible: A Boxy 1984 Caprice Classic

101Volts · 04-07-2014, 04:31 PM

OK, Pennsylvania's 2014 Classic Car Riding Season has started. I know because I saw a Buick in a Burger King parking lot on the 6th of April.

So, What are some suggestions to modify this car? I'm asking for some quick mods. I already have the idle set a bit too low for when I first start the car, It's not so low that it shuts off at red lights but when I start it up for the first time in a day I sometimes need to start the car again because it shuts off.

Aerodynamically, How do some rear wheel skirts sound and what can I make them out of? I'd like to match the color of the paint too, This can go with a retro-car vibe too like on this 1970s Clamshell so I think it can be fun in that way too:

(I do not own the 1970s Station Wagon pictured above. I added this note after the reply below this reply was posted.)

I'd like to A-B-A the skirts on the Caprice. I know it's a car without an OBD or OBDII port as it is now, But I can still A-B-A it on the highway if I go a set distance and speed per run.

I think an undercarriage pan (belly pan) would be of great benefit too; +1 MPG out of a car like this is valuable stuff. I'm not yet sure what it gets on highway trips but the last tank (373 miles rounded off) was close to 18.5 which is combined with little "city driving" and one 126 (Rounded off) mile trip that was mostly highway miles.

*edit here and below*

And now I realize this isn't the DIY forum, This is for posting what I'm doing to a car in, Yes?

04-07-2014, 04:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
101Volts Master EcoModder Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 506 Woody - '90 Mercury Grand Marquis Wagon LS Last 3: 19.57 mpg (US) Brick - '99 Chevrolet K2500 Suburban LS Last 3: 12.94 mpg (US) M. C. - '01 Chevrolet Impala Base 90 day: 18.73 mpg (US) R. J. - '05 Ford Explorer 4wd 90 day: 16.66 mpg (US) Thanks: 936 Thanked 34 Times in 28 Posts	OK, Pennsylvania's 2014 Classic Car Riding Season has started. I know because I saw a Buick in a Burger King parking lot on the 6th of April. So, What are some suggestions to modify this car? I'm asking for some quick mods. I already have the idle set a bit too low for when I first start the car, It's not so low that it shuts off at red lights but when I start it up for the first time in a day I sometimes need to start the car again because it shuts off. Aerodynamically, How do some rear wheel skirts sound and what can I make them out of? I'd like to match the color of the paint too, This can go with a retro-car vibe too like on this 1970s Clamshell so I think it can be fun in that way too: (I do not own the 1970s Station Wagon pictured above. I added this note after the reply below this reply was posted.) I'd like to A-B-A the skirts on the Caprice. I know it's a car without an OBD or OBDII port as it is now, But I can still A-B-A it on the highway if I go a set distance and speed per run. I think an undercarriage pan (belly pan) would be of great benefit too; +1 MPG out of a car like this is valuable stuff. I'm not yet sure what it gets on highway trips but the last tank (373 miles rounded off) was close to 18.5 which is combined with little "city driving" and one 126 (Rounded off) mile trip that was mostly highway miles. edit here and below And now I realize this isn't the DIY forum, This is for posting what I'm doing to a car in, Yes? __________________ Last edited by 101Volts; 06-08-2014 at 08:28 PM..