05-02-2021, 09:07 PM
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#611 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG
So the spring that broke was chopped down a bit?
If it's like the chop job on my Firefly & Metro, the removed coil(s) includes the last, flat loop that contacts the perch. Seems possible there's might be enough leverage due to the chopped coil angle against the perch that it fatigues over time.
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When I chopped my coils, I cut them from the bottom, specifically to avoid that! Oh well.
So, in addition to my springs breaking, rust took my receiver too. I was pulling a trailer full of pressure treated lumber home, when the support beam that runs under the car gave out, causing my rear bumper bar to be twisted off the car. I threw the 1600+ lbs of wood in the hatch and drove home with the bumper cover pulling the empty trailer.
Oops!
Years back, when I put my other hitch receiver setup together, I had my father do the welds. He's not here to do them for me anymore, so went to Harbor Freight and picked up a nice welder and decided to teach myself welding. If someone else can do it, I can too, right?
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Today
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05-02-2021, 09:12 PM
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#612 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
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05-02-2021, 09:14 PM
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#613 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
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05-03-2021, 10:19 AM
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#614 (permalink)
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Somewhat crazed
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Steel is forgiving, aluminum is picky and fast , needs flux. Good luck
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05-04-2021, 06:36 PM
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#615 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
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This afternoon I flashed a new experimental lean burn tune. From 1000-2500rpm, 0-500mbar, I'm running 1.2 lambda (17.62:1), and from 5-600 it's 1.1 lambda (16.17:1), with 5° and 2.5° of ignition timing added respectively.
Even at that lean AFR, cruising, I'm seeing only around 360mbar, and I can climb pretty steep highway grades at <500mbar in 6th.
On my way home from shopping I averaged a hair over 64mpg, with a target speed of just over 50mph. I'd say in exactly equivalent conditions, this tune is worth very roughly 3-5mpg.
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05-11-2021, 11:54 AM
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#616 (permalink)
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Aero Wannabe
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Nice work on the hitch. I used to live in the East. I sure don't miss the rust.
FWIW NHOU (New Hampshire Oil Undercoating) sells spray cans of their product. You may want to shoot some into the inside of the tubing that may not be protected by spray paint. It is supposed to be biodegradable and safe for the environment (smells like lanolin to me).
__________________
60 mpg hwy highest, 50+mpg lifetime
TDi=fast frugal fun
https://ecomodder.com/forum/showthre...tml#post621801
Quote:
Originally Posted by freebeard
The power needed to push an object through a fluid increases as the cube of the velocity. Mechanical friction increases as the square, so increasing speed requires progressively more power.
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05-11-2021, 12:26 PM
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#617 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
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Quote:
Originally Posted by COcyclist
Nice work on the hitch. I used to live in the East. I sure don't miss the rust.
FWIW NHOU (New Hampshire Oil Undercoating) sells spray cans of their product. You may want to shoot some into the inside of the tubing that may not be protected by spray paint. It is supposed to be biodegradable and safe for the environment (smells like lanolin to me).
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Thanks!
I've already sprayed a lanolin-based undercoating inside the steel tubing.
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05-12-2021, 03:19 AM
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#618 (permalink)
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EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Dec 2019
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That hitch looks bad and I think it's the one with the most rust winch I've ever seen in my life!
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07-08-2021, 04:12 PM
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#619 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
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It's time for some new front tires. The rears have RE92s with more than 80,000 miles, and they look to still have at least another 30-40k in them. The fronts... well, I'm rough on them. I was fairly happy with the Vredestein Quatrac 5's in 185/60r14, which is 1.3% larger than OEM. They were quiet enough, a bit squishy but ride comfort was good, grip was good, wet grip was superb, and the fuel economy hit didn't seem huge. They're not grippy enough to hold the road in 1st gear and have had their life cut significantly short because of that.
I'd buy them again, but I want to try something different.
Right now I'm between:
Option 1: Michelin Defenders in 185/65r14 (4.9% larger), which we have on the Fit in a larger size. I really like these tires, a lot. I'd be upsizing nearly 5%, good for economy and should help with grip, but my 1st is already quite tall. These are around $110 per tire.
Option 2: I came across Vredestein's Sportrac 5's. They're currently $86 per tire, and according to reviews, they have both 1) significantly better dry grip, and 2) significantly lower rolling resistance (though I'm not sure if this is in comparison to just other high performance summer tires). I'm intrigued. They do have a warning not to ever use them below 20F of the tires will crack, but I run dedicated winter tires.
https://www.thetirelab.com/vredestein-quatrac-5/
https://www.thetirelab.com/vredestein-sportrac-5/
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07-09-2021, 03:03 PM
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#620 (permalink)
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Cyborg ECU
Join Date: Mar 2011
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I would bet that when they say "significantly lower rolling resistance" they only mean relative to other sport performance tires. I think you are right on that. Buy 'em anyway and experiment. You need grip on those front wheels or the fun of the engine swap is defeated.
__________________
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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