Considering an xfi regrind for my Metro, just looking for a little advice first.

[Crono]

I have a 1992 Geo Metro, nothing modded other than my driving habits.

I want to do this mod first because I understand that it's probably the single thing (other than driving habits) that will improve mileage most with this type of car. I've read up a fair bit about it, and I there are a couple of things that I'm worrying/thinking about.

First, will the drop of 5 horsepower be something that's really going to suck when I go driving through the mountains? I do this sort of trip once a year, usually. Having gone on this route with 5 people in the car was pretty rough at some parts, though I've heard that the xfi cam swap can actually help your lower get up and go, so I'm not even sure if that would hurt or help. (I would be in a positon where I was stuck at 80/90km/hr in 3rd gear and there was no way I was getting into 4th) As you may have guessed, I'm somewhat motivated to do this sooner rather than later by the immediate payoff I could get on a trip of this length. (Also - Canadian gas prices!)

I've heard that many people get their cams done by a machine shop in Tacoma, however, I know a fairly good machine shop locally, is this the sort of thing that a good machine shop would be able to do so long as I gave them the proper specifications and instructions? (And if that is the case, where would I find such instructions?)

I'm not intending on immediately changing the transmission - will that be a significant problem for me if I do this swap? As far as the mountains go, I find that 5th is pretty much useless anyway except on the smallest inclines, and from what I've heard it might be better for this sort of driving to have things working the way it does with the xfi.

Also, in terms of cost-benefit, what other mods (that are relatively not ninja-skill requiring) are a good idea? I was thinking of rear wheel covers and grill blocking for starters, (even if it were ghetto temporary cardboard) any other thoughts?

Thanks for reading!

[SVOboy]

I'm not a geo owner, so I can't comment on the mountains from experience, but how is the mountain trip currently? If it sucks already you can probably expect it to get worse, but I doubt it will be all that much worse.

Also, unless the machine shop has experience with cam regrinds, I would stick with the place that does all the xfi cams for everybody for 50 bucks or whatever, because I've heard good things and it's a great deal.

[metroschultz]

I put the Xfi cam in mine a year ago and have taken several trips through the mountains.
The car pulls better through the hills now than it did before the swap.
I don't try to race the big cars through, just maintaining 55 mph.
Before the cam I had to downshift all the way to third to go up a mountain at 40 mph
Now I can keep it in fifth and still go up at 55 mph.
I can pull from a stop without using any throttle. The loss of HP is offset by the lowering of the torqueband.(sp?)
I can put it into fifth at 25 mph and if I need to accelerate I just step on the gas. It won't throw you in the seat but it will pull steady.
So I say
"!!!Do IT!!!"

[TestDrive]

Probably worth noting that the drop of 5 horsepower isn't across the board.
We're really talking about a reduction in peak (WOT) horsepower at xxxx RPM (probably something like 4200 RMP???). Peak hp at (or less than) the rpm required for 55mph in 5th gear has actually gone up!

[Crono]

So, from what I'm hearing my suspicions about it handling better with the cam change are possibly correct?

I'm not sure if the machine shop I'm dealing with has experience regrinding this specific kind of cam, though I'm sure they've done it before. (I'll check into it) I'm sure some of you can understand my hesitation in wanting to send my cam out of country for an unspecified period of time, though. I'd much rather get it done here in Canada, if possible.

Does anyone know what the numbers I'd have to give them are, possibly? I've looked around a few threads and seen a bit of info, but I'd really like to make sure I have the right stuff before I go and do something like this.

My trip is near the end of April, after exams, so I'm going to see how much I can get done before that. The immediate potential for returns is very tempting! (Especially since I'm taking a long way back through Edmonton and Whitecourt. I've got lots of friends randomly spread around.)

[wikityler]

Which shop are you considering? JB? Cords?

[Crono]

Originally Posted by wikityler

Which shop are you considering? JB? Cords?

I ~think~ it was JB, though I'm not sure, I'd have to check again. It's the one right behind the McDonald's and the Wal-Mart, I think it's a road off Saanich or whatever. You gotten similar work done yourself?

[wikityler]

That's JB. I've never had work done there, but I've only heard good things. Did you find out if they can do such work?

[Bicycle Bob]

Why not try 3-tech in Ontario? Or try a junkyard for the earlier model, to get the matching computer with the cam?
You can leave the transmission alone and use larger wheels to get the same effect, if you can handle the mountains. 55 HP only counts if you are in that RPM range with your foot on the floor. A torquey engine is easier on the ears and wallet, but won't beat a determined user of more HP.

[Crono]

So, I decided to just stop down in Tacoma on "the way" to the wedding, which really was a detour, but I had fun doing it. My primary mileage numbers are looking pretty promising. Kind of hard to tell though, because the Canadian Rocky Mountains are a pretty harsh drive, though I appear to have improved my mileage significantly on the prairie portion of my drive. (I got 66.8 Imperial mpg, which I believe is around 55.6 American mpg. That was doing around 70mph. I was getting more around 55-59mpg Canadian mpg before that through the mountains)

Planning to do some ghetto aeromods for the second portion of the trip, we'll see how that goes!