Import Tuner Magazine : Project Sipper ('92 Civic VX)

[wdb]

Originally Posted by BongoBennie

More than anything, it depends on how you drive, and while diesels do operate differently, they are still pumps. The same vehicle with a turbo motor will almost always come with a smaller engine that makes more power and if you stay off the gas, it will do better on gas... those are the facts.

What's the point of having a turbo/supercharger on an engine if you don't use it? Besides which some turbos cannot help but be used, by design. The Fiat Idea I drove in Italy had an itty bitty little turbocharger that started making boost just off idle. The engine's max torque was available at 1750 RPMs.

[BongoBennie]

Originally Posted by wdb

What's the point of having a turbo/supercharger on an engine if you don't use it? 1750 RPMs.

This is definitely the exemption of the rule crowd, every once in a while, you need some power to pass safely, etc.

[pgfpro]

Originally Posted by wdb

What's the point of having a turbo/supercharger on an engine if you don't use it? Besides which some turbos cannot help but be used, by design. The Fiat Idea I drove in Italy had an itty bitty little turbocharger that started making boost just off idle. The engine's max torque was available at 1750 RPMs.

For me it's available power on demand. When I use my Talon for work there are times i will have around 500 lbs worth of cargo. The extra power and torque (equivalent of a 6.0L) the turbo provides helps me getting on on ramps and going up mountain pass's. Then when I'm at a light engine load running on flat ground it acts like a 2.0L without the reciprocating internal mass and weight of a 6.0L.

At the track it's equivalent is around a 9L without all the torque a 9L makes, so I can run a much smaller with less internal mass transmission and drive-train. Because my engine uses HP at this point to make it fast, not the torque damaging drive-train eater a 9.0L does.

[UltArc]

Originally Posted by pgfpro

For me it's available power on demand. When I use my Talon for work there are times i will have around 500 lbs worth of cargo. The extra power and torque (equivalent of a 6.0L) the turbo provides helps me getting on on ramps and going up mountain pass's. Then when I'm at a light engine load running on flat ground it acts like a 2.0L without the reciprocating internal mass and weight of a 6.0L.

At the track it's equivalent is around a 9L without all the torque a 9L makes, so I can run a much smaller with less internal mass transmission and drive-train. Because my engine uses HP at this point to make it fast, not the torque damaging drive-train eater a 9.0L does.

PGF, I really appreciate your posts and level of intensity with your vehicle. Every community has it's own people who bring in a unique contribution, and the programming w/ ECUs and development you do is appreciated.

I liked the response (normally I "Thank" when I have nothing of value to post, but want to say I like it), but it may confuse people if they don't know how to calculate force and what torque really is.

Marine Engine Torque Vs. Horsepower | Performance Product Technologies Is a decent article, I can't find my favorite (the one that finally taught me how it works).

[BongoBennie]

I must say this to all of you, not only did I barge in on this thread like a bully, but 2/3s of my posts in 2 years on reading this forum are on this thread. I have learned a lot in those 2 years from this place though and it's even my home page. It's tough for me, I've been building cars for many years and at one time, Honda drag racing was my game, now I find myself more interested in fuel economy at 80mpg since that how fast I drive..... Which is why you guys are the best!!! but a bit weird.

[pgfpro]

Originally Posted by UltArc

PGF, I really appreciate your posts and level of intensity with your vehicle. Every community has it's own people who bring in a unique contribution, and the programming w/ ECUs and development you do is appreciated.

I liked the response (normally I "Thank" when I have nothing of value to post, but want to say I like it), but it may confuse people if they don't know how to calculate force and what torque really is.

Marine Engine Torque Vs. Horsepower | Performance Product Technologies Is a decent article, I can't find my favorite (the one that finally taught me how it works).

Thanks that really means a lot to me!!!

I hope I don't come across as someone that thinks he's got it all figure out, because I'm really not that type of person (I'm always learning and making a ton of mistakes along the way).

I try to use my real life experience to explain my ideas and thoughts from some one that's just your average person that loves cars. I'm no engineer,lol just a manager of a local automotive paint jobber.

I have been tuning/building and racing cars since the early eighty's and then got into tuning/building turbocharged efi engines for the last 15 years.

I was about to give up on my project a few months ago, but I got the privilege to listen to Burt Rutan speak (our new neighbor here in Coeur d' Alene) at our local public library!!! He inspired me to not give up! I believe that its the people on forums like this one that will make a difference in future. People on this forum have the freedom to make cars with boat tails, kam backs, wheel covers etc. and not care what the cost analysis is, or is the body shape to much for next years consumer to handle.

So all you ecomodder's keep up the great work!!! The internet is very powerful and trust me people are watching

[elhigh]

I'd be curious to see what kind of mileage you get, cruising at 80. The generalisation is that we're out for maximum range; that drops off rapidly when you keep the speed up.

I might touch 70 or so on my commute home, but that's on a downhill and feathering the throttle to keep out of regen. It would also be an interesting math question to see where the dollars fall: if time is money, is speed economical? At how many dollars per hour does more speed equal a savings?

I would need more/better instrumentation to record instant and average speeds and log those against fuel economy to be able to answer those.

[Superfuelgero]

Originally Posted by slownugly

Bongo- might be easier to play around with the head gasket thickness and shaving the head. Of course watching for valve clearance is part of the deal if its going to be really tight. Could play around with some pistons but I'm sure some flycutting would be in order. I was actually thinking about building a d13 and putting a z1 head onto it. Then some custom tuning would def have to be in order but I would think it would be awesome in a light crx. The z1 swaps in those already yield 60+mpg.

That's right, flycutting wouldn't be needed with a simple deck/mill. i've ran my D15z1 with upto 6 degrees cam advance without damage.

Some of these are on my list to try (along with the knife edging and coatings). I disregarded the D13 (or D12), since gas velocities would suffer while using the D15z1 top end. Going to an adjustable WAI would be better since it will have a similar effect by decreasing the air density, as well as wall heat transfer. My plan is a air to water IC, along with a ported vacuum heat riser (possibly over winter break).

If you guys like the spoiler setup, look into CCCRacing. I have one of their outlaw rear wings that goes all the way out to the bumper edge, and is a professionally made piece (but a little over the top looking).

[pgfpro]

Shouldn't the Import Tuner Magazine Part 3 be out by now???

[Mad Adder]

I just read these eleven pages and have 9 windows up to read and save in a new ECO-MODDER folder! I have known about this site for two years and have checked out a few of the projects here. For the past few days, I have been looking at motorcycle aerodynamics.

I have been thinking lately about picking up a Honda for a DD and Eco-modder changes. Is the Honda Civic VX the best platform to start with? I am not looking for anything more than a commuter with max mpg. Drag racing and high horse power days are behind me. Now I want to look to save money and realize that 90% of my driving is alone, but cold and rain keep me from riding my Shadow every day.

Other than reading as much as I can, where should I get the best start?