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Old 12-26-2021, 10:45 PM   #632 (permalink)
Ecky
Master EcoModder
 
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 5,096

ND Miata - '15 Mazda MX-5 Special Package
90 day: 39.72 mpg (US)

Oxygen Blue - '00 Honda Insight
90 day: 58.53 mpg (US)
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A few more maintenance items checked off:

-I replaced my rear bump stops with those from a 99-07 Chevy Silverado. Rather than hard rubber, they're made of a hollow foam bellow, which fully compresses to the same height but engages sooner and is more progressive. Detroit's roads are wicked punishing and this should help - the rear really doesn't have a ton of travel.

-While I was at it, I swapped the rear springs for some fresh ones. I'm using aftermarket springs from a Daewoo which have ~30% higher spring rate, also to prevent the suspension from bottoming out. One of my previous Daewoo springs rusted through and the top coil broke off, leaving one rear corner sitting slightly lower. I took 1/4 a coil from these, aiming for ~6.75" between the jack points and the ground, or around 7 inches from the rockers. The front sits half an inch lower due to extra weight on stock springs. There's an aftermarket set of digressive coilovers in the works, and when they're released I'll lift the front a quarter inch or so.

-I had an ABS light for the rear left ABS sensor, open circuit. Chased that fault all over the car until I found a bit of corrosion in a connector under the dash. ABS is working again.

-Looks like I'm going to need one brake line soon - also in the rear left. I have the materials, just hoping I can get away with leaving it be until after winter.

-OEM Honda S2000 steering wheel buttons now work to control my aftermarket cruise control. I ended up needing to put a bunch of resistors in various places and steal power from the horn bracket because I was short one wire through the clock spring to make it all work. What luxury! Factory hardwired cruise buttons.

-Based on a suggestion from MakitaDiesel, I dialed my idle valve duty cycle back a bit, which resulted in my cold idle being much lower. Should save some fuel!

-I swapped out my thermostat for one with a wider mouth, and blocked more of the front grille.

I also lost a trailer light recently, pulling my cargo trailer at 70mph with a 60mph headwind. I welded some new brackets and got some lower profile and more aero lights. The trailer could use some further aero optimizing.
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