Just another niggard in a Civic

[thebrad]

I bought the car with the intention of swapping in a k-series motor, but was really impressed with the 40 mpg so I began ***** footing it as much as I could to see what I could do, I recently plateaued at 50 mpg so I'm trying every little thing I can. 60 mpg is my current goal.




I was pretty bored after class today so I stripped the interior.







If anyone has any information for a company who makes a single din sized tray to mount the scan gauge in, I'd appreciate it. I currently have it mounted over the steering wheel.

[brucepick]

About the DIN tray for ScanGauge -

A stereo "installation kit" for your year Civic should do it.
From Best Buy or anyplace that sells car stereo stuff seriously (probably not WalMart).

It would fit your console opening and would have a DIN cutout.
If the DIN cutout is bigger than the ScanGauge then put a flat black sheet behind the installation kit panel, and mount the ScanGauge on that.

Boy, ya sure did gut the interior!

[SVOboy]

Welcome to the site! Sweet whip,

[cfg83]

thebrad -

Welcome to EM! Great job on the gutting. Have you weighed all the stuff you took out?

What's that gizmo left of the steering wheel, next to the A-Pillar? At first I thought it was am A'PEXi-style fuel controller, but now I think it is an indoor/outdoor thermometer.

CarloSW2

[thebrad]

Originally Posted by cfg83

thebrad -

Welcome to EM! Great job on the gutting. Have you weighed all the stuff you took out?

What's that gizmo left of the steering wheel, next to the A-Pillar? At first I thought it was am A'PEXi-style fuel controller, but now I think it is an indoor/outdoor thermometer.

CarloSW2

GReddy Infometer, it's what I was running as my tach before I swapped out the CX cluster for the Integra GSR cluster. I tired to run it in series with the scan gauge and that led to the problem of one taking priority (my instrumentation thread).

I'll weight the stuff a little later, but I would guess it's probably 50 lbs max.

[MetroMPG]

No, you took out more than 50 lbs. I once took out less than that from my Firefly and weighed it - near 100 lbs. You've taken out more than I did (panels, speakers...)

Anyway, belated "welcome" from me as well.

[heyfox]

Good looking hatchback. I drive a red one, same year and cx model. Everything stock no a/c, I average what you were averaging before ~40mpg. I wouldn't have the nerve to gut the interior like that, especially my stereo. I'll probably end up getting similar wheels/overinflated tires as yours. I'm dreading facing the summer without a/c...I'll prolly start taking measures soon -- tinted windows, 12v dash fans, etc. Any ideas? Thanks for the pics!

[lovemysan]

You still have 10lbs of seatbelts, door panels, and carpet to do. After that dry ice to chisel all the sound deadener off. Come on...get with the program.
Really, your more hardcore than me. I driven and owned a few gutted vehicles before. I guess I'm getting old.

[FEET_]

Originally Posted by heyfox

Good looking hatchback. I drive a red one, same year and cx model. Everything stock no a/c, I average what you were averaging before ~40mpg. I wouldn't have the nerve to gut the interior like that, especially my stereo. I'll probably end up getting similar wheels/overinflated tires as yours. I'm dreading facing the summer without a/c...I'll prolly start taking measures soon -- tinted windows, 12v dash fans, etc. Any ideas? Thanks for the pics!

i saw a site maybe instructables.
guy made a DIY Lunch cooler A/C unit. looks really ez to do too.

1. get a Lunch cooler, Heatercore from the junkyard that will fit on top of the cool lid. 12v fans , bilge pump for a boat + ice water

2. connect it so the pump, pumps the ice water thru the heater core, fans blow thru the fins and into your car.

im making one for this summer, as i dont have A/C either

[thebrad]

Haha, thanks for the compliment but I think you might need to get your glasses prescription adjusted, the previous owner did a pretty good job of beating this car up.
The stereo really isn't that big of a deal, it's really just one more thing to distract you when you're driving. I took it out when I bought the car and figured I would miss it, but it's really not that big of a deal. Longer distance drives (3+) hours can get a little boring, especially on long open stretches but I manage.

Not having an interior is find, I never have an passengers and I had I been smart before buying the car in a hurry I could have got a CRX or an Insight, but whatever this is the choice I made.

My big deal for staying cool right now is drinking a lot of water before leaving and then staying hydrated while driving.

I was thinking about buying a cool suit, but not quite ready for that level of commitment in my proclamation of insanity...yet. Plus, I am planning to begin biking to school and all distances under 25 miles round trip.

Lovemysan, seat belts have to stay in for the off chance that I have passengers. Door panels will probably come off soon enough, but the carpet and sound deadener will stay until I get the car painted.

No hardcore, just insane. I really doubt it makes any difference other than aesthetic.
Car picks up a bit more, but I haven't seen conclusive MPG gains.