Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Motorcycles / Scooters
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 06-19-2021, 07:33 PM   #131 (permalink)
home of the odd vehicles
 
rmay635703's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere in WI
Posts: 3,874

Silver - '10 Chevy Cobalt XFE
Thanks: 495
Thanked 863 Times in 650 Posts
My Comutacar has a non-glass windshield

Seems pretty stupid if glass is required just because

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 06-19-2021, 08:09 PM   #132 (permalink)
High Altitude Hybrid
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Gunnison, CO
Posts: 1,951

Avalon - '13 Toyota Avalon HV
90 day: 40.45 mpg (US)

Prius - '06 Toyota Prius
Thanks: 1,035
Thanked 538 Times in 432 Posts
Glass is overrated. Where I live, you get another +$300 windshield and the next day you get a rock slung at you and it cracks. Then you have to have it replaced AGAIN!.

And glass may be stronger than polycarbonate; I really don't know. But I've seen rocks thrown by other cars go right through the glass windshield (and even right through the driver's seat!) Thankfully I haven't known anyone who has died from a rock through a windshield, but I'm sure it's possible.
__________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2021, 08:14 PM   #133 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
freebeard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: northwest of normal
Posts: 27,561
Thanks: 7,736
Thanked 8,554 Times in 7,041 Posts
A fist sized rock hit the 'hood' of my oval-window Beetle right in front of the steering wheel (from between the rear tires of a dump truck), but it ricocheted sideways and knocked the driver's door mirror right off.
__________________
.
.
Without freedom of speech we wouldn't know who all the idiots are. -- anonymous poster

____________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-20-2021, 01:52 PM   #134 (permalink)
Human Environmentalist
 
redpoint5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,392

Acura TSX - '06 Acura TSX
90 day: 24.19 mpg (US)

Lafawnda - '01 Honda CBR600 F4i
90 day: 47.32 mpg (US)

Big Yeller - '98 Dodge Ram 2500 base
90 day: 21.82 mpg (US)

Prius Plug-in - '12 Toyota Prius Plug-in
90 day: 57.64 mpg (US)

Mazda CX-5 - '17 Mazda CX-5 Touring
90 day: 26.68 mpg (US)

Chevy ZR-2 - '03 Chevrolet S10 ZR2
90 day: 17.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,189
Thanked 4,378 Times in 3,353 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Isaac Zachary View Post
And glass may be stronger than polycarbonate; I really don't know.
There is hardness, and then there is toughness; both of which are desirable qualities. Hardness will resist scratching, and toughness will resist shattering.

Quote:
Originally Posted by freebeard View Post
A fist sized rock hit the 'hood' of my oval-window Beetle right in front of the steering wheel (from between the rear tires of a dump truck), but it ricocheted sideways and knocked the driver's door mirror right off.
Free ecomod! Did you note your MPGs after that?
__________________
Gas and Electric Vehicle Cost of Ownership Calculator







Give me absolute safety, or give me death!
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to redpoint5 For This Useful Post:
freebeard (06-20-2021), MetroMPG (06-21-2021)
Old 06-20-2021, 02:36 PM   #135 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
freebeard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: northwest of normal
Posts: 27,561
Thanks: 7,736
Thanked 8,554 Times in 7,041 Posts
It was the 1970s, so no. One of my favorite memories from then was driving East on 126 and seeing the setting Sun centered perfectly in that round mirror. Then realizing a moment later it was setting into the air pollution, not the hills in the distance.

I just secured an option to buy a complete 36hp Beetle engine for $250 ('Ran when pulled'). The Superbeetle needs a 'refresh', and one option is a stroker 1776 but that would basically make it a race car. So I'm thinking an 1100 c.i. engine on a five speed. It's the Ecomodder thing to do. Prolly could get 50MPG. ....with a few tricks like ceramic topped pistons and extrude-honed intake manifold.
__________________
.
.
Without freedom of speech we wouldn't know who all the idiots are. -- anonymous poster

____________________
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to freebeard For This Useful Post:
Isaac Zachary (06-20-2021)
Old 06-21-2021, 09:55 AM   #136 (permalink)
Somewhat crazed
 
Piotrsko's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: 1826 miles WSW of Normal
Posts: 4,043
Thanks: 462
Thanked 1,103 Times in 973 Posts
The 1776 would only make it racy if you keep hitting the gas pedal stops. My brother had one with with properly set up dual Del ortos in his '69 and except for not downshifting to climb windmill pass it did 24 mpg instead of the 25 mpg my super got. If you tuned my dual webbers, it might get better than the super.

If you pull the engine, it's only about 15 minutes to swap the bad cylinder. You can buy a single jug and piston set, and get a reman head depending on what failed. Saturday project, go cruising Saturday evening.

Last edited by Piotrsko; 06-21-2021 at 10:04 AM..
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Piotrsko For This Useful Post:
freebeard (06-21-2021)
Old 06-21-2021, 01:11 PM   #137 (permalink)
High Altitude Hybrid
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Gunnison, CO
Posts: 1,951

Avalon - '13 Toyota Avalon HV
90 day: 40.45 mpg (US)

Prius - '06 Toyota Prius
Thanks: 1,035
Thanked 538 Times in 432 Posts
I put ceramic coating on my pistons, combustion chambers and valve faces in my 1600 Super Beetle. I also got a cam grind that supposedly got better fuel mileage and allowed for a higher compression ratio (I did 10:1), one that's normally used in Type 4 fuel injected engines. I got just north of 30mpg.
__________________
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Isaac Zachary For This Useful Post:
MetroMPG (06-21-2021)
Old 06-21-2021, 02:08 PM   #138 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
freebeard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: northwest of normal
Posts: 27,561
Thanks: 7,736
Thanked 8,554 Times in 7,041 Posts
If I go with that 36hp engine, I'll start a new thread. I've been running 50hp for a long time. Even the Dasher has 48hp.
__________________
.
.
Without freedom of speech we wouldn't know who all the idiots are. -- anonymous poster

____________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2021, 02:47 PM   #139 (permalink)
Human Environmentalist
 
redpoint5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,392

Acura TSX - '06 Acura TSX
90 day: 24.19 mpg (US)

Lafawnda - '01 Honda CBR600 F4i
90 day: 47.32 mpg (US)

Big Yeller - '98 Dodge Ram 2500 base
90 day: 21.82 mpg (US)

Prius Plug-in - '12 Toyota Prius Plug-in
90 day: 57.64 mpg (US)

Mazda CX-5 - '17 Mazda CX-5 Touring
90 day: 26.68 mpg (US)

Chevy ZR-2 - '03 Chevrolet S10 ZR2
90 day: 17.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,189
Thanked 4,378 Times in 3,353 Posts
If I ever have a Beetle again, it's getting an electric powertrain. The OEM stuff was made too simple, and therefore requires maintenance I don't want to do such as periodic valve adjustments.
__________________
Gas and Electric Vehicle Cost of Ownership Calculator







Give me absolute safety, or give me death!
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-22-2021, 07:27 AM   #140 (permalink)
High Altitude Hybrid
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Gunnison, CO
Posts: 1,951

Avalon - '13 Toyota Avalon HV
90 day: 40.45 mpg (US)

Prius - '06 Toyota Prius
Thanks: 1,035
Thanked 538 Times in 432 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by redpoint5 View Post
If I ever have a Beetle again, it's getting an electric powertrain. The OEM stuff was made too simple, and therefore requires maintenance I don't want to do such as periodic valve adjustments.
Hydraulic lifter conversion? What about wheel bearing grease or filling the spare tire up so you're windshield washer fluid will squirt.

I think leaning out the air fuel ratio was the thing that helped me the most. After throwing on an A/F ratio gauge and a few temperature gauges with sensors, including a head temperature, I confirmed what a few other VW air cooled engine enthusiasts also found, that the engine runs the hottest and you're more likely to get knock at around 14 to 15:1 ARF. But 15.5:1 to 16.5:1 makes the engine run cooler. But any leaner than that and it will tend to misfire badly or not run. As long as it enriches down to at least 12:1 at WOT you're good.

I also tried experimenting with digital timing with a CB Performance Digital Magnaspark distributor. I discovered that although it helps, cylinders 1 and 3 really should have a different timing map than cylinders 2 and 4. Of course if you go with a non-"doghouse" cooling shroud you also may need to retard cylinder 3 even more than cylinder 1. So there's benefits to be had by timing each cylinder individually unless you work up some sort of intake plenum and similar intake and exhaust runners.

__________________
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com