Friendly Wager: 60 mpg 95 Mercury Tracer

[M_a_t_t]

Good news and bad news!

I bought a rusted out 98 metro (lsi sedan) as a donor for drivetrain swap!

Bad news: In my eagerness of the find I didn't realize it was the 4 cylinder

It is the 5 speed though, so still a great drivetrain.

1.9 auto -> 1.3 5 speed

60 mpg here I come!

It just snowed so I will post a picture tomorrow or friday of the car.

[Xist]

Have you swapped an engine before?

A Metro just popped up for sale in my area, but it is an autotragic!

[aardvarcus]

That's awesome, I think the stick shift will allow you to achieve much better MPG. That has been my experiences anyway. I have done two stick shift swaps the hard way (pull out the auto and put in the manual transmission in my garage) and two the easy way (buy a stick shift car and sell the auto car).

[Frank Lee]

If a 1.3 Metro doesn't get 60, it won't in a bigger, heavier chassis.

[M_a_t_t]

Originally Posted by Xist

Have you swapped an engine before?

A Metro just popped up for sale in my area, but it is an autotragic!

Yes, I've swapped the 4.3 v6 to a 5.7 v8 in my van and I've swapped engines in my brothers truck (5.7 for 5.7).

Originally Posted by aardvarcus

That's awesome, I think the stick shift will allow you to achieve much better MPG. That has been my experiences anyway. I have done two stick shift swaps the hard way (pull out the auto and put in the manual transmission in my garage) and two the easy way (buy a stick shift car and sell the auto car).

This will be the first 5 speed car I've owned. I've driven my brothers and my dads on several occasions and I ride motorcycles so I can drive one, but I have a feeling I will have a lot to learn. This one is wayyy too far gone for the easy way.

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

If a 1.3 Metro doesn't get 60, it won't in a bigger, heavier chassis.

Using the values I got from the excel coastdown test I have just about the same CdA as the metro and curb weight is ~430 lbs different. This is a good case you've made, but it should be a better drivetrain than whats in the mercury right now anyway right? So still an improvement.

[Gasoline Fumes]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

If a 1.3 Metro doesn't get 60, it won't in a bigger, heavier chassis.

If my 1.5L Civic Wagon got 70-80 MPG tanks all Summer, I see no problem getting 60 MPG here.
https://fueleconomy.gov/m/m.do?actio...=14066&id=8051

[Frank Lee]

Yeah, we weren't gonna do P&G for this.

The weight delta should be smaller with the lighter drivetrain.

I've noodled something similar as I have a G10/5sp on the shelf and a Tempo with the inefficient a/t. I concluded that it would be a very nice improvement over the stock Tempo but unless there's something I really, really like about it over the Metro body, the Metro will win for fe. However, there is a chance for improved fe vs stock Metro using a Spitfire chassis...

[M_a_t_t]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Yeah, we weren't gonna do P&G for this.

The weight delta should be smaller with the lighter drivetrain.

If you are referring to the bet, its over and not extended. This is just for me so no rules.

I've also done some weight reduction in addition to that. I'm hoping for something closer to 200 lbs difference. Either way, its not that far off.

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I've noodled something similar as I have a G10/5sp on the shelf and a Tempo with the inefficient a/t. I concluded that it would be a very nice improvement over the stock Tempo but unless there's something I really, really like about it over the Metro body, the Metro will win for fe. However, there is a chance for improved fe vs stock Metro using a Spitfire chassis...

I was thinking about that myself and the fact that its not such a compact car and when I put the passenger seat (considering putting the rear seats back in) it should be more roomy than the compact. Plus rust issues with the metro bodies aren't as present in the escort/tracer. Still has its own rust issues though.

[Frank Lee]

Whatever techniques to get a Civic or a Tracer to or past 60 would do that and more on a Metro...?

[M_a_t_t]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Whatever techniques to get a Civic or a Tracer to or past 60 would do that and more on a Metro...?

Im on the boat of "continuous improvements". Not necessarily getting it to 60 with just the swap, but should be able to get to 50+ (in summer) with the right techniques if I am able to get 40-45 highway right now.

I won't be swapping until it warms up and I can take the motorcycle to work instead of the car. So the answer is a few months away.