1999 Chevy Metro 1.0L 5spd ecomodding thread

[MetroMPG]

Wow - I've never heard of a belly pan having such a big impact.

On my '98 Firefly (Metro) ICE, it was just a couple percent improvement at ~90 km/h (55 mph) if memory serves. Of course, I didn't have a perfectly flat underside (engine/trans/cat), but still.

I didn't bother with aero mods on the EV Metro because its average speed was probably ~25 km/h

[Daox]

I took care of a few more things today. The car is now ready to drive!

First up, I took care of that exhaust hanger. Its ugly, but it'll hold. Yay, no more clanging exhaust.





Next up was some attention for the bumper. I tried applying mothers back to black bumper plastic restorer. It made it better, but didn't fully get it. So, I busted out the heat gun and went to town on the front bumper. This was able to bring it back to looking good. Here you can see an example of the bumper fading.

[Daox]

And she is ready to roll! ... ... ... Tomorrow. Still taking care of some the title & transferring plate stuff. There is still a lot more on the to do list for the car, but its at least ready to hit the road. This brings up a good 'you might be an ecomodder if' you're excited to get rid of your old car so you can start driving your 15 year old Chevy Metro.

I got it all cleaned up over the past couple days. Wash & wax. The bumper covers came back very nicely. The wheel covers need some work before going back on the car. The paint has completely peeled off and I'm debating just fiber-glassing over them for smooth covers.

Before.




After.





I only heat gunned the top of the front bumper. Everything else was done with mothers back to black plastic restorer. They could use a bit more attention and I'll probably keep applying it to see how much they'll really come back.

[MetroMPG]

I think we should start a pool on what MPG you're going to get on your first commute.

I'll start!

57 (it's getting cold, and it'll take you a little while to figure it out).

[Daox]

Haha, better hurry. I'll be driving it tomorrow morning.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Daox

The wheel covers need some work before going back on the car. The paint has completely peeled off and I'm debating just fiber-glassing over them for smooth covers.

They'll be lumpy (cloth will sag in the voids).

I'd get pizza pans/separators and screw 'em on with stainless. Quicker, easier, better looking, less smelly.

Or simple coroplast, like the Civic:



Not as durable as pans though.

[Daox]

I was thinking of stretching a t-shirt or something stretchy over the entire wheel cover. I'd tie it on the back side to keep it taunt while the resin cures.

[jcp123]

Nice find! That'll knock out some good numbers, slightly harder to find OBDII Metros with the triple under the hood.

A shame you had so much to fix. I still maintain states which choose to salt the roads should pay stipends to car owners or cover salt corrosion related repairs. Road salt is not cool in my book.

[redneck]

Originally Posted by Daox

I was thinking of stretching a t-shirt or something stretchy over the entire wheel cover. I'd tie it on the back side to keep it taunt while the resin cures.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...yle-29223.html


>

[Daox]

Is that still holding up good?