Mission impossible: modding a Unimog

[UFO]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

Have you ever felt the wind load on a bicycle at 15mph?

Sure, the mileage will always suck, and it will never be the right vehicle for transporting people where there are roads, but are you interested in mileage that sucks less badly?

Yes, and it's pretty light compared to 65mph. The gains from aero mods at low speeds are minimal compared to the costs to get them. Driver adjustments, rolling resistance and engine efficiency are lower hanging fruit.

At least its a diesel.

[SoobieOut]

I love Unimogs too. Just curious about the exhaust system. What is the diameter of the exhaust pipe? Could increasing the size help FE and power?

[bandit86]

sorry about the delay gents, here is some pictures. I ordered the tires today, going from the stock 40 inch tires to 46 inches in diameter. Yes, need more hp to run them BUT the engine will run a bit over 15% lower rpms, making engine very happy.

the exhaust is stock, I believe 3 inch with a crappy muffler. there is also a kink in the pipe, maybe a new pipe is in order.

[Frank Lee]

Yeah but the question is, how is it being used?

Daily driving this thing on the roads is an exercise in futility.

[autoteach]

Frank,
The root of futility is utility, so I have been told. I think a unimog is a great utility vehicle. Say your driving home from work at the office, and you come upon a 2 million acre tract of rough land that is in between you and making it home with the 2 tons of building supplies that you picked up at the home depot, what vehicle are you going to take?

[bandit86]

noit a daily driver, unless things go really right for the first time in years. I still have the passat for most driving.

This is a toy, I always wanted one. I got a real toy one after extended stay in a hospital as a child. I enjoy driving, and this thing is so very basic it's fun. I have to plan all my turns, my stops and hills, never for a minute can I sit back and relax.

I bought it a two weeks before easter, 15 hours on a rebuilt diesel. Drove it home, 305kms or 200 miles, 3 blocks away the engine spun a main bearing and some other fun damage. bought a replacement engine form a faster more powerful one and sawpped it in on Easter weekend, and the cost of the engine broek me so I had to leave it sitting for the last 6 months. Breaks my heart to see it sit. I repainted the cab interior and did some small work, but still needs some work for mechanical safety. got new tie rods coming, so maybe in a few weeks I can take it to a shop and have it on the road

[Frank Lee]

I have toys too, and fe is still a factor but it isn't at the top of the list by any means.

I just tune em up as nice as I can, run bigger tires "overinflated", and use good driving technique. I suppose if it needs work and parts anyway that the usual mods can be done but I wouldn't mod a nice original if it doesn't rack up many miles anyway.

I get about 20 with the Bel Air that way; 30 with the Corvair.

[IsaacCarlson]

Originally Posted by bandit86

Suggestions and ideas? This is so underpowered I slow down to 25mpg on hills that my passable doesn't even notice

WOW!!! And you need help?! If I were you, I would be perfectly happy with 25 mpg!!!!

[vacationtime247]

Make sure all your suspension component are in good working order. You'll be wasting gas with bad ball joints (king pins?) or tie rods. Swap to better rear gears if you don't have to have them. Reduce idle time. Sure listening to a diesel run is nice, but that's not just fuel your burning, it's money too!
VT247

[Cd]

Assuming you are getting around 4 mpg, and If your current Cd is around .75, and you decrease it by 60%, ( to .30 ) you would only boost your mileage by just over one mpg at 50 mph.
At slower speeds, like this vehicle is capable of it would be even less.