03-28-2014, 02:42 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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EcoModding Lurker
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Location: Cresco, PA
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Hello from Pennsylvania!
Hi there,
My name is Doug. I'm a mechanical engineering student at Lehigh University. Just stumbled across this forum recently and thought i'd see what it's all about.
My ride is a 1991 Mazda Miata. Not sure if i'll be doing much as far as modifying it for economy, but i'd sure like to learn more and see what people on here have had success with. Maybe it'll inspire me to start my own eco project!
Cheers!
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03-28-2014, 03:54 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Texas
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doug, welcome!
no worries, there are a lot of us who just do 'minor' mods!!!
1. up the psi to 40+
2. get a gauge (see first link in sig)
3. adjust the 'nut' behind the wheel
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03-28-2014, 11:13 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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EcoModding Lurker
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcrews
doug, welcome!
no worries, there are a lot of us who just do 'minor' mods!!!
1. up the psi to 40+
2. get a gauge (see first link in sig)
3. adjust the 'nut' behind the wheel
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Cool, thanks!
My car is OBD-1 so i need to see if i can adapt my arduino board to function for some sort of fuel monitoring. I have a spare boost gauge i might hook up to keep an eye on vacuum for now.
Adjusting the 'nut' as you say is the hardest part when driving a miata! hahah |
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03-28-2014, 11:28 PM
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#4 (permalink)
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Cyborg ECU
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doughboy118
Cool, thanks!
My car is OBD-1 so i need to see if i can adapt my arduino board to function for some sort of fuel monitoring. I have a spare boost gauge i might hook up to keep an eye on vacuum for now.
Adjusting the 'nut' as you say is the hardest part when driving a miata! hahah
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An MPGuino and a vacuum gauge will work excellently in a 91 Miata. With those you can do the pulse and glide and the drive with llad techniques excellently well, especially if it has a manual transmission... is it manual?
__________________
See my car's mod & maintenance thread and my electric bicycle's thread for ongoing projects. I will rebuild Black and Green over decades as parts die, until it becomes a different car of roughly the same shape and color. My minimum fuel economy goal is 55 mpg while averaging posted speed limits. I generally top 60 mpg. See also my Honda manual transmission specs thread.
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03-29-2014, 12:13 AM
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#5 (permalink)
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EcoModding Lurker
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Yup, it's a 5-speed
i'm going to need to do some reading on this pulse and glide technique. I've seen it mentioned a few times now. I'll do a little reading when i get a chance.
Quote:
Originally Posted by California98Civic
An MPGuino and a vacuum gauge will work excellently in a 91 Miata. With those you can do the pulse and glide and the drive with llad techniques excellently well, especially if it has a manual transmission... is it manual?
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03-29-2014, 12:42 AM
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#6 (permalink)
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Hydrogen > EV
Join Date: Apr 2012
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Aero = less drag = less fuel used = less energy needed for x
keep in mind, that means it is easier to go faster, quicker.
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03-29-2014, 12:58 AM
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#7 (permalink)
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EcoModding Lurker
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Quote:
Originally Posted by UltArc
Aero = less drag = less fuel used = less energy needed for x
keep in mind, that means it is easier to go faster, quicker.
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I'm not sure how intense I plan to go with the miata, but I'll keep that in mind. I might be able to do some aero stuff. Maybe an undercarriage plate to smooth out the mess underneth my car and maybe some removable wheel covers. Like I said, I'm most interested in just watching what everyone else is doing and maybe adapting a few concepts to my own car. I'm not ready to get too "gung-ho" just yet. Especially since my miata is my auto-x and "drag" car in its free time. Lol |
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03-29-2014, 01:11 AM
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#8 (permalink)
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Hydrogen > EV
Join Date: Apr 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doughboy118
I'm not sure how intense I plan to go with the miata, but I'll keep that in mind. I might be able to do some aero stuff. Maybe an undercarriage plate to smooth out the mess underneth my car and maybe some removable wheel covers. Like I said, I'm most interested in just watching what everyone else is doing and maybe adapting a few concepts to my own car. I'm not ready to get too "gung-ho" just yet. Especially since my miata is my auto-x and "drag" car in its free time. Lol
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That was more my point- aeromods are great for improving acceleration. Your post seemed like you weren't sure about the use of mods, and that your car was oriented for other things- which was why I made my post.
So some tactics like lowering RR won't help you, but some key things here can really help you out, like weight savings, dropping center of gravity, and helping acceleration without adding power. I lurked for quite a while before I joined, and before I started modifying. You're moving further, faster, than I did  |
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03-29-2014, 11:46 AM
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#9 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
Join Date: Oct 2009
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I autox an 79 rx7 back in the early 80s. Ran 50 series on the 14 inch alloys....it was like riding a roller skate!!!!
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