The 40MPG Crown Victoria Challenge

[Christ]

Because the engine hadn't begun putting out any more power as a result of the part installation. The"net gain"you're referring to isn't a gain, its a reduction in losses through a system of components.

The only factual gain you could truly claim is an efficiency gain because by reducing the rotating mass, you've made the engine work less to accelerate it to the same speed, and by slowing down the accessories that it drives, you've brought the belt drive closer to 1:1, making the interface ratio more efficient, meaning less hp is used. You still haven't made any more hp from the engine though.

[robertwb70]

I might add the "net gain" is offset by a "net loss" of the power output of the alternator,water pump or whatever the pulley used to turn at a higher speed than it now does. It just happens that most cars are over engineered and can afford to give up some capacity in those systems most of the time, it is possible to go too far though and there are situations where the opposite approach is required (overdrive pulleys).

[Frank Lee]

Ummm... a reduction in parasitic power losses is a net gain, but it isn't a gross gain.

[winkosmosis]

I can't believe people are arguing about net gains and gross gains. Everybody knows what someone means when he says you "gain power" by reducing losses.

[jtbo]

I wonder if it is today possible to get Megasquirt or similar after market engine management do same as modern V8 powered cars, where fuel is not squirted to every cylinder at low load?

That would help some amount of fuel economy of these bigger motors, imo.

[comptiger5000]

You'd probably be better off using megasquirt to implement lean burn during cruise. Cutting fuel to some cylinders won't help without a way to hold the valves open (pumping losses).

[jtbo]

Originally Posted by comptiger5000

You'd probably be better off using megasquirt to implement lean burn during cruise. Cutting fuel to some cylinders won't help without a way to hold the valves open (pumping losses).

Indeed, cursed pumping losses, it would require some fabrication to have pressure relief valves or complete redesign of valve system (machinery, links and things, what is the word for those? We call it valve machinery as direct translation, but I miss proper translation).

But Megasquirt would be beneficial in many ways and from my experience it is rather easy to install, I had never soldered or modified cars before when I did one of my cars, converted from carb to megasquirt multipoint fuel injection and added later ignition control there too, found it rather easy with instructions at internet.

If added electronic throttle butterfly and Megasquirt, that would add quite amount of possibilites, limiting throttle opening to cruise by load, I think, haven't really checked up Megasquirt for years?

I would imagine that it would really help with fuel economy of such car as Crown Victoria.

[Frank Lee]

Yah, hold the valves OPEN And alloy wheels reduce r.r.. What is this, the twilight zone?

[winkosmosis]

I don't really understand cylinder shutdown. Why not just reduce engine RPM with a taller overdrive? Or would the cylinder speed be too low?

[jtbo]

Originally Posted by frank lee

yah, hold the valves open And alloy wheels reduce r.r.. What is this, the twilight zone?

2011 :d

edit: Frank, 80's top tech should be available today for consumer market, only thing needed is someone with too much time in their hands:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumatic_valve_springs