Aeromodded Civic VX 72mpg (image heavy)

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by The donkey CRX

Here is the explanation of all of those levers and gauges inside the Red Mule. First the best overall picture I could come up with.







And now I will show a picture of each item and an explanation, starting with the hand throttle.







As stated previously in this thread, the hand throttle has several uses. I use it on long trips to rest my leg and ankle. It can also be used as a manual cruise control, except works just the opposite of a regular cruise control. You can back off the throttle going up hills in order to get better MPG and increase the speed down hill to build momentum when gravity is helping you save gas.

If you practice using it to make throttle adjustments, I have found my hand can be more precise than my foot.

The hand throttle is all hand made from 3/8" all thread and 3/8" thread couplers, fender washers, and nuts. The panel that supports the lever is made from 0.090 inch aluminum sheet.

This was version # one and I don't recommend coping it, as far as the connection to the throttle. It was way too complicated as I was trying to make sure it did not get bound up and stuck in WOT

Here is the second version made from a lever and rod we bought from Speedway Motors, It is much simpler. It is installed in my brothers 94 VX.

Thank you for the info! Especially on the hand throttle, this is a great alternative to cruise control. I was wondering how to do this and I think I'll do it on my insight. I may change the design a little but we will see.

[The donkey CRX]

Next is the MPGunio ("Guido") and the vacuum gauge. I explained how I use these two items a few posts back up this thread.




Next is the two controls that open and close the A/C and radiator adjustable vents in the front air dam. They use two push pull "choke cables" to open and close two hand made shutters.




Here is a picture of the push pull choke cable that adjusts the Warm Air intake.
The large black button to the left is the momentary switch for the rear wiper I added.






Here are the two "Walmart" (or Auto Zone) temp gauges. The bottom one tells me the temp of the air coming into the intake and the top one is outside air temp. Above them are two LED lights on and on/off switch to light them at night.

[The donkey CRX]

Here are the three digital gauges on the pillar to the left of the driver.











The top one is the water temp gauge. The sensor for it is in the bottom radiator hose so I can see the temperature of the water exiting the radiator. It lets me know when the water gets close to the 206 degrees that will turn on the fan. I do not want the power draw of this fan. So I can open the radiator shutter vent to lower the water temp. Also the red light next to the gauge also has an adjustable senor that turns the light on when the water gets to 185 degrees and tells me to start watching the water temp before it turns on the fan.

The second gauge is oil temp.

The bottom gauge is volts.


Next is the kill switch on top of the shifter knob






Last is a second MPGuino located on the dash in front of the passenger seat. This is what I use to help teach people that are interested in improving their MPG how to use a "Guido".

[Baltothewolf]

Where is the oil temp sensor located under the hood?

[COcyclist]

Great work Donkey CRX! I love the exterior photos. It looks slippery. Does your back window pick up much dust since you added the Kammback and diffuser? My wife's Audi A3 diesel wagon has the factory Kamm style lip at the back window but no diffuser. It sucks up dust, even on paved roads, onto the back window. The AeroCivic doesn't collect dust or bugs or snow (or even deer) but it has a sloped nose and full boattail. How does your back window do in dust, rain or snow?

[The donkey CRX]

I installed a "sandwich" between the oil cooler and the oil filter that allows you to screw in up to 3 sensors. I put a oil temp and a oil pressure sensor light ( comes on at less then 17lbs of oil pressure) in two of the holes.

[The donkey CRX]

You are so right COcyclist, not only doses the back window collect dust, but every surface on the "inside" of the rear aero package doses.

Rain also collects as large drops that cling to the glass, making it difficult to see out the rear in heavy rain. That's why I installed the rear wiper. One wipe and it will stay clear for about 10 minutes.

[vrmouseyd15b]

I know I said this before, but wow your car is so perfect!

thanks for the tour- maybe in the future we can bother you and your son both to "take us for a little drive" and put up a link to a video? I'm giddy seeing all your buttons and levers and amazing hand-throttle setup! The thousand words per picture simply aren't enough! I absolutely love your ideas and design!

Keep it up!
Thanks,
Victor.

[The donkey CRX]

Thanks for the kind comment Mouse, I did the best I could with my low twch digital skills on the "cockpit tour".

It will probably take me and ecoTex much longer to come up with a video of a drive. I think it would be cool to have a split screen with gauges on one side and the view out the windshield on the other.

I have no video equipment at this time ( I guess at least two cameras on a stick? GoPro?, but I am putting this project on my wish list and maybe we can make it happen.

[vrmouseyd15b]

all of my videos are done with my phone! it's H.D., and sooo easy to do, either way, I love what you're doing!

I'm really curious about your adjustable hot air intake. do you have a "Y" with an adjustable damper in the line before the filter box? Like this, maybe?

hot air cold air
V V
damper
V
filter box
v
throttle body


thanks!
Victor.