v8 Soarer GT 4.0, a challenge worthy of the gods

[Poganwarrior]

Hey all,

today I purchased a v8 Soarer off of a friend for $2000 AU, it roughly does $50 AU, for 400km. I bought the car because I love it, not for any other reason. I like how it looks, I like how it drives... Anyways, enough of that. To the challenge!

During the next few months (possibly years), I want to turn this guzzler into a fuel economy beast. As long as I can't ruin the car, I'm willing to try any mods you guys want to try out. I see this as a community effort as much as anything.

Now, to the nitty gritty bits. I don't want to change the engine, it would in all honesty be too easy to give it a new engine and call it a day. Thats no fun. I'd also prefer if we keep the solar panels off of the roof. Short of that though? I'm game for anything! I'm willing to put time and effort into this, to learn and to try out any crazy mods you have in mind.

Thoughts, speculations? And a place to start. I've read +65 efficiency mods, and +100 hypermilling tips (and done a bit of research). I've already got some measurements to make a 'Under tray', and I'll be making a 'ScanGauge' on the weekend. But in all honesty, being a P-plate driver and someone who has only thought about fuel saving (or even my own car) in the last month or so, I'd love some help. Once I've got my assignment of fuel economy rolling I'll be making a new thread of my finds, of what I've done and anything new! Lets turn this into a success story!

[ShadeTreeMech]

I'd say your first steps would be making it more aerodynamic for sure. is this a picture of the car you are referring to?

If this is it, it surely has potential to get good economy especially if fitted with a standard tranny with long legs. Is is rear wheel drive? Looks like it would be.

It looks low to the ground and somewhat streamlined to begin with. Have you read about basjoos's civic? It's a must read for someone wanting to get serious fuel economy.

[zhillz]

the v8 sc400 didn't come with standard trannies as an option. Mine got less then 20mpg combined!

[mcrews]

zhillz,
the SOARER was the toyota version of the Lexus SC400.
so it probably did come with a standard.

[zhillz]

Originally Posted by mcrews

zhillz,
the SOARER was the toyota version of the Lexus SC400.
so it probably did come with a standard.

If i read his post and said sc400 instead of soarer, then i obviously know this. I just traded my sc400 for an econobox civic since my commute is going up to 120+ a day.

No 5speed was offered for the 1uzfe engine.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by zhillz

If i read his post and said sc400 instead of soarer, then i obviously know this.

No 5speed was offered for the 1uzfe engine.

If you can make it RWD it can be made into a Manual transmission beasty, figure out the spline count and find a machinist.

[zhillz]

Originally Posted by rmay635703

If you can make it RWD it can be made into a Manual transmission beasty, figure out the spline count and find a machinist.

It already is rwd. Many people have made theirs manual with everything from th400 to the supra 2jz tranny w58.

[mpgx2]

I wouldn't be complaining about that economy, that's
the same as my twin-turbo 2L celica with a 3SGTE
engine.

My toyota is a fuel sucking. I'm putting water injection
on mine to see how that helps.

Nulon High Performance Oil Treatment also does wonders
and releases lost horsepowers.

I think there's lots that can be done on these old
japanese cars. I feel the same way.

[ShadeTreeMech]

mpgx2, maybe you'd do better if you'd keep your foot out of it

what mileage you getting out of the 2L? I manage 9.4L/100km in a 3L Maxima, and your Supra likely weighs in as less than my 1400 kilos. Or is the sticky Toyota accelerator pedal causing you problems?

[mpgx2]

These old japanese cars are pretty good buys here. I had
a Nissan 2.7l tdi ten years ago and got 10l/100km.

My particular car was the rally version. The fuel injectors
have a monstrous rating. Normally they do 700km on 60
litres but I worked out that the O2 sensor in mine is dead.

Mine does 600km on 60l if I do no high speed action. That's
just very hard to drive that way. The throttle is sensitive
mid to top range, not at low range. It's a cable so not
sure how to fix that.

Funny thing is that the 3SGTE engine had an evolution
path into what's in the Prius. Celica motors were the
most economical of all toyota motors before the prius.

So, my nutty logic tells me I should be able to do
something radical to get my monster down to 5l/100
even if I have to turn the injectors off with some
radical system. I've nothing to lose.

I'm toying with the idea of intercepting the fuel injector
pulses and halving them. That will in theory give me half
the fuel flow.

Then combining it with water injection to do the internal
cylinder cooling.

Then just have a button on the dash to flick between
settings when there is some lame bmw-m3 next to
me that wants to be taught lessons about why not to
chase twin-turbo cars.

That's my plan anyway.. I have the power I like, now
just to get the economy.