Adjustable Grill for 99-01 [Honda Civic] - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Wiegraf · 04-08-2017, 08:14 AM

Does anyone make one that I can see for the EK civic. Either trying to get ideas or just to buy someone elses.

Shortie771 · 04-08-2017, 11:11 AM

First off, I would say to fully block your upper grill am the 2 lower outside openings. Then the easiest way to do an auto adjusting grill block for the larger opening like I did with coroplast and and a few metal rods. It works on a counterweight system to allow air pressure at higher speeds to push it closed, then as you decelerate the weights overcome the air pressure and it opens back up.

Here is the thread, if you're interested. The nearly finished product starts around post #38
Idea on Auto Adjusting Grill Block

Wiegraf · 04-08-2017, 11:13 AM

Jesus.. thats actually quite in depth..

Shortie771 · 04-08-2017, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiegraf

Jesus.. thats actually quite in depth..

It sounds way more complicated than it actually is. It took me a few hours to actually build and mount then a few test runs with a camera hanging from the license plate screw to see when it closed. Adjusted the weights a bit to get it to close at the right speed and it was all good after that.

Not sure if you're going for better aero for the 1/4 mile or if you actually want MPG. If your goal is mpg you won't see a huge difference (though it will help some, especially warm ups) with a grill block. The BIGGEST thing you can do for better FE is to adjust your driving habits. Keep your foot off that throttle. I know it must be very tempting with that T04E in there, but it's will do you a heck of a lot more good. You could easily achieve 30+mpg by changing your driving habits vs the extra 0.5mpg you will get from a grill block.

Edit: I assume you already have a boost gauge... If it also shows vacuum I highly suggest you learn how to use it for FE. I've been using mine all wrong for about a year now and was pretty much maxed out around 38mpg (28mpg EPA) with my D16Z6 Del Sol Si. Now that I'm using it correctly, my last 3 tanks have averaged 39.3mpg with a new personal best of a 42.72mpg tank. All from driving style.

Search around here using key words like "BSFC" and "Vacuum Gauge"

Wiegraf · 04-08-2017, 11:25 AM

No the ek is being sold soon i have a full VX swap and an hf trans. Going to get a carbon master rebuild kit for trans. Nee clutch and slap it on d15z1. Hopefully getting it in an EK shell. Then i want to start with the little things e and there.

So essentially its 2 rods with 2 flaps of coroplast. What weights. I guess i didn't fully look through the thread enough. Or maybe im just a picture learner.

Wiegraf · 04-08-2017, 11:35 AM

Shortie.. going on different car now but yes it will have a vacuum.and AFR gauge.

Shortie771 · 04-08-2017, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiegraf

Shortie.. going on different car now but yes it will have a vacuum.and AFR gauge.

Awesome! As far as the grill block goes the best pics I had of it are post #38 and then I explained how I fixed an issue with it sagging on post #41. I have had to take it off because of cooling issues (note: not caused by the grill block) and it got left behind when I moved. If I remember correctly what I did as a quick and easy way to adjust the weight was insert a bolt through one of the fins near the back edge and I could add nuts to it to add weight. I think before I went that route I just taped sections of rod to the bottom of a fin near the back edge.