My first post here...
First a little about my background...
Formerly a machinist and fabricator
Owned/operated a japanese engine import business for 6 years
Now in construction management after a back injury
My first Civic came to me in 2000, a 1988 DX sedan. Importing engines it lasted about a month before a dohc vtec swap found it's way swapped in. I was surprised to see not only more power, but still got about 32mpg on the freeway.
Over the years I owned several different civic's, and picked up a 95cx hatch with the 8-valve econo-engine in it. I was surprised that even with the engines sad shape(previous woman that owned it didn't change oil for over 9K miles and it was smoking+lots of valve noise) we still got 43mpg on a vacation traveling around the state before I replaced it with swap and sold the car.
While importing engines, I had recieved a couple of D15B's that were very strange, an 96+ series engine with what looked like a pair of VTEC solenoids...
After some research I found out that this was a 3-stage VTEC, an enginer offered only in Japanese and European markets for a 2 year span.
This engine not only includes the same features as the VTEC-E, but add's a 2nd solenoid and yet another set of cam lobes offering 130PS above 6000RPM.
I stashed 2 of these in my garage when I sold my business waiting for big gas prices to come. They did.
Just when I was getting ready to pull the current B20B from my Civic and swap one of these in, the market flopped and gas was under $2 again...
We are now on "probation", as the only reason we have cheap fuel is because of the recession. Prices will come back maybe even worse than before.
One 3-stage VTEC I have already stripped down to just the basic package as my car has no A/C or P/S, and installed a 8lb fidanza flywheel and stainless header.
I've tried to talk myself out of it several times but I can't, being a former fabricator and having built several trailers, tube frames, alum boats and tons of other parts, I want to build a completely custom aluminum 2 seat sports car with a rear engine configured 3-stage VTEC engine.
Molds could then be taken off of the completed alum bodywork for duplication in fiberglass or other composites which are both beyond my skill level.
Some basic sketches and measuring of components are suggesting a vehicle approx 5' wide 40" tall and 12-13' long. The rear engine will allow the nose to taper far sooner and should yield superior aerodynamics. I'd expect it to be under 1500#s with some careful weight reduction and parts selection.
I don't see 80+ mpg being a problem seeing others that have attained these numbers with modified Civic's, plus you'd have the power/weight ratio of a mustang GT if you wanted to "play".
The type of shape I'm planning on would be something similar to the blue or yellow car seen in this link at the bottom of the page...
Avion - Would you believe 88.2 mpg?
Any insight, ideas, telling me I'm insane, etc, would be welcomed....
Mechanically it will go really quick, but the body is going to be a PITA.