Single passenger chop top metro build - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Keller · 04-04-2017, 12:19 PM

This will be a long process I'm sure. But I wanted to show off a little of my work.

My goal is 80mpg@80mph.

I am not an economic driver at all. I drive over 120 miles a day all highway and all fast paced.
It takes me long enough to get to work so trying to hypermile and drive 65 ain't happening for me.

But what I can do is put my fav skills to work to create a car, built specifically for my needs that should drastically reduce the overall drag.

My envision started when I first saw the Elio. I knew from the get go it was all a scam based on the sales pitch, but it got my wheels spinning About how I could build it myself.

Which led me here. Where I have been reading and learning for years. And through that learned the faults of the Elio in the front suspension, grill area and just everything really.

I always liked Doug Heffrons car. But through this web site I also learned it was much lacking in possible modifications. To further his milage.

Going in to my build knowing I have to make the car get the milage and not my foot has controlled my thoughts for a long time. And I am finally getting the chance to work on my vision.

I don't have any fancy drawings except for what's in my head. But the build will consist of.

#1 A total grill block with no openings or cracks whatsoever. Plus 98 led headlights

#2 Full wheel covers up front and back.

#3 Doug Heffron style single seater with 8" chopped out of the roof line.
Laid back windshield.

#4 Boat tail starting from right behind the driver's head

#5 Passenger door still functional as a trunk for lunch box ECT...

#6 Extended rear deck to match up with boat tail coming from roof.

#7 Rear grill opening were the radiator/condenser combo will be hiding.

#8 Passenger firewall will be cut out allowing the trapped air from front wheel wells to be re used as cooling air then reintroduced back to atmosphere at the tailing edge.

#9 and possibly lowering it as far as it will go with the help of some air shocks to get me in and out of job sites.

Keller · 04-04-2017, 12:37 PM

Thread is worth less with out pics. Lol.

So last year I picked me up a sweet 1995 3cly/5 for a song. No frame rot underneath at all. Looks show room condition. And I have been. Driving it daily getting a consistent 38-42 miles per gallon.

And considering the way I drive that's doing pretty darn good.

So last week I picked up a rotted out 3cly/5 for super cheap.

I was mostly wanting a spare transmission but it runs pro better than mine with near zero blow by. So that's nice. But while I mostly bought it for parts, a lot of the reason for buying it was to start my roof chop.

I figure I can keep driving my red95 and slice and dice the black95 untill the point that I cut the roof off the red95 and transfer the roof and doors from black 95.

So first step was to find out just how much roof I can take out while still being comfortable.

Out came the seat and a race bucket was load down. Very comfortable and low position.

So low that the steering wheel will need dropped down to me. And the stick shift will need extended and bent back. But the pedals work excellent.

After sitting in the car like this for a long time and taking g lots of measurements I concluded I could take 8" out of the roof. So I took the door off and drug it in my Fab shop.

Unfortunately I was so caught up in ideas and figuring out how to do it I forgot to take pictures of the process.

But basically I pulled the rubber track. Cut 8" off the bottom of the rubber track. Then took 8" out of the upper frame. Reinstalled the rubberand I was finished.

A pretty substantial chop.

I left myself 3.5 inches over my head. I figured 1.5" of roll cage and 2" of buffer should be enough.

freebeard · 04-04-2017, 02:26 PM

Have either of you performed a top chop? I haven't.

But I was reading the little car mags in the 50s. It can turn out good or bad, depending.

There're slant chops, forward and back. Various ways to accommodate the tumblehome. With VWs you can do a Leatherman chop, where you quarter the body and narrow it.

One of the best chops I've seen had the B-pillar cut a fraction less than the A- and C-pillars. This bowed the B-pillar out slightly but noticeably.

That why you position the roof and fit the doors to it.

ennored · 04-04-2017, 02:34 PM

Some pics for folks who don't like to look around:

Thread with reference pics:
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post507107

Keller · 04-04-2017, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebeard

Have either of you performed a top chop? I haven't.

But I was reading the little car mags in the 50s. It can turn out good or bad, depending.

There're slant chops, forward and back. Various ways to accommodate the tumblehome. With VWs you can do a Leatherman chop, where you quarter the body and narrow it.

One of the best chops I've seen had the B-pillar cut a fraction less than the A- and C-pillars. This bowed the B-pillar out slightly but noticeably.

That why you position the roof and fit the doors to it.

I assume some one was commenting on my post and the post have been removed?

If not then your post doesn't make much sense. Lol.

Keller · 04-04-2017, 03:00 PM

Just before to many people start getting negative about my ability it actually build my vision.

I would like to share some pictures of a rock crawler I am currently building.

MetroMPG · 04-04-2017, 04:49 PM

Subscribed!

There can never be too many aeromodded Metros in this world.

freebeard · 04-04-2017, 08:34 PM

Quote:

I assume some one[sic] was commenting on my post and the post have been removed?

If not then your post doesn't make much sense. Lol.

I see now that you were replying to your own self. My bad. So sorry it obviated the rest of the post, I guess one lives and dies on credibility.

When you mark the cuts post pix.