Building a 100mpg consumer vehicle

[Diesel_Dave]

If you start a project like this, you're bound to get lots of criticism. Most of it (including what may come from me) it from people who haven't thought about this nearly as much as you have. That's a good AND a bad thing. Good because sometimes you need somebody with an outside perspective. Bad because many of the criticisms relate the things you have thought out well and have a good answer for. Eat the meat, spit out the bones.

[drmiller100]

some pics.

NVNTRS.com

[Diesel_Dave]

Originally Posted by drmiller100

some pics.

NVNTRS.com

Nice pics! Now I get what you were saying about the seating. I like the way you've set it up. I got confused from your earlier description and thought the seats were side-by-side. Now I get it. Yeah, there's no need to bring the passenger seat up closer--extra length doesn't really cost you anything. With that Civic engine, I bet it'll have quite a bit of get-up-and-go too!

[Ryland]

I realize this would make it a bit harder to build and make it look a bit odd, but why not use a rear door for the passenger while leaving the front passenger size solid? or use a front and rear door (whole side of the car chopped and grafted on) on a single side? I assume you have sat in the back and checked as to how easy it is to get in and out, but looking at the photos it looks like it will be a bit of a clime.
I also wonder if you are keeping the front wheel width the same as the doner car or if you figured out a good way to make it a bit narrower?

[Frank Lee]

I think he's gonna want that width since it lost it's resistance to rolling/leaning in the back. I wonder if the roads in Indiana have more off-camber curves... I wonder how many Indianians are tuned in to the Iowa caucases tonight? Have you paid your electric bill yet?

[drmiller100]

Originally Posted by Ryland

I realize this would make it a bit harder to build and make it look a bit odd, but why not use a rear door for the passenger while leaving the front passenger size solid? or use a front and rear door (whole side of the car chopped and grafted on) on a single side? I assume you have sat in the back and checked as to how easy it is to get in and out, but looking at the photos it looks like it will be a bit of a clime.
I also wonder if you are keeping the front wheel width the same as the doner car or if you figured out a good way to make it a bit narrower?

Ryland, thanks for your comments. I originally planned to narrow the front end. But when I put the engine in, looked at how the front wheels will turn left and right, and measured everything out, the whole thing is already pretty tight. Narrowing the front is not realistic.

neither is making it shorter.

Back seat seating. Yes, there are issues without great solutions.

Do I want the car narrow? Yes.
Do I want a 1.5 inch roll bar above the driver? Yes.
Do I want a back seat? Yes.
Do I want side impact protection? Yes.
Do I want to build a custom door? No.
Do I want the front door to open inside of a standard parking spot? Yes.

Which one of the above am I willing to sacrifice?

[jime57]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

The reason electric rates have jumped in my area is the retarded power company executives made all these grandiose plans for expansion based on growth projections that could only possibly, maybe happen if that '90s bubble went on forever. So they sold profitable assets and then built capacity that is now shuttered. Now, of course, we see that bubbles do not go on indefinitely. Do you suppose those execs are going to pay for their dumbass decisions? No. They are probably on the French Riviera right now, tapping their fat Swiss accounts, while the CUSTOMERS are forking over the money to pay for their folly.

Oh, you figured out how the system works. Congratulations

[ProDarwin]

I like the pics. Looks like a fun project.

If you eventually manage the seats side by side, the handling would probably be good enough to attract the attention of performance guys as well. A K or B series motor would easily have that thing running 12s, maybe 11s.

[320touring]

Originally Posted by drmiller100

Ryland, thanks for your comments. I originally planned to narrow the front end. But when I put the engine in, looked at how the front wheels will turn left and right, and measured everything out, the whole thing is already pretty tight. Narrowing the front is not realistic.

neither is making it shorter.

Back seat seating. Yes, there are issues without great solutions.

Do I want the car narrow? Yes.
Do I want a 1.5 inch roll bar above the driver? Yes.
Do I want a back seat? Yes.
Do I want side impact protection? Yes.
Do I want to build a custom door? No.
Do I want the front door to open inside of a standard parking spot? Yes.

Which one of the above am I willing to sacrifice?

you could build the frame to accept the door of a 2dr version of the same honda? that was the original design solution to the issue (assuming that that model was available in 2/3dr?)

That way it'll afford closer access to the rear, but give probably some weight penalty (as the door is longer/heavier?!)

[drmiller100]

It already is a 2 door from a small 4 seater car. They really don't make longer doors on much of anything.
I've been giving some thought to Ryland's idea of using 4 door car doors. Sure is a LOT more work though. Might do it on a future car, but not this one.