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

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by Mad Adder

Is the Honda Civic VX the best platform to start with? ... Other than reading as much as I can, where should I get the best start?

For driving that has lots of steady-state freeway miles in the mix, a VX is a great platform. But a 1996-2000 HX is nearly as good, and if you swap in a 1992-1995 VX or CX transmission to the 1996-2000 HX (and it is a direct and simple bolt-on) you'll have about the same performance at a VX on the freeway. The advantages of the HX are that they are a little newer (lower miles), they are OBD2 (which is better for instrumentation), and have 14" wheels (for a few more high-FE tire choices).

Reading? ... always the 65+ mods list and the 100+ tips list at the top of the EM pages. After that... the coolest "mod" is an UltraGauge or a ScnGauge for your OBD2 port... because it helps adjust the nut behind the wheel best, which is where some of the biggest, quickest, free FE gains will be.

Welcome!

[elhigh]

For my part, I say drive what you like. If your highest priority is maximum mileage, then the CX and VX are a good place to start.

I think it's pretty important to enjoy your car, whatever you decide. If you find yourself viewing the car as a noisy little econobox with a painful ride, then all the fuel economy in the world won't change the fact that you don't like being inside it. You'll just resent it less.

[pgfpro]

Looks like they added some more development on their project. Part 3.

1992 Honda Civic VX - Import Tuner Magazine

[samwichse]

I like the Insight rear drums. All aluminum outers with just a pressed steel insert for the frictional surface. They are shockingly light.

Those skirts though... the classic black plastic lawn edging actually looks better IMO.

[brucey]

Upgrade the front brakes with monsters after going on a big lightening spree. THEN change out the rear with drums that ARE lighter but potentially less powerful.

Ecomodding by committee.

[justme1969]

Originally Posted by 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.

If im running late always a morning issue due to traffic and single dad life issues. my mileage at 75 is dropped from 37avg. to a 31 0r 32 so speed has high cost. Ive still not procured the next larger diameter drive tire yet because at times I get clutch slippage during hard first gear pull outs. but think it would make a good difference at 75.

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by brucey

Upgrade the front brakes with monsters after going on a big lightening spree. THEN change out the rear with drums that ARE lighter but potentially less powerful.

Ecomodding by committee.

If they were really serious about weight reduction they would go with ceramic rotors.

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by samwichse

I like the Insight rear drums. All aluminum outers with just a pressed steel insert for the frictional surface. They are shockingly light.

Those skirts though... the classic black plastic lawn edging actually looks better IMO.

Strange as it is I think most of us would agree on that.

[Superfuelgero]

Originally Posted by justme1969

If im running late always a morning issue due to traffic and single dad life issues. my mileage at 75 is dropped from 37avg. to a 31 0r 32 so speed has high cost. Ive still not procured the next larger diameter drive tire yet because at times I get clutch slippage during hard first gear pull outs. but think it would make a good difference at 75.

On a properly mod'd vx: 183 miles @75-80mph = just under 3 gallons (last Saturday). Fyi, the Falken website has some good info and pics on their build.

[Compaq888]

I wouldn't reject any aftermarkets parts especially when they reduce my car by 300lbs+

I would also love to see what kind of mileage they get from that header/exhaust combo.