Hi everyone. New here hoping to learn as much as I can. I work in management in a factory. I've had a lot of job titles, kin of a jack of all trades. I'm currently the Lean Manufacturing Coordinator, and Quality Assurance Supervisor, and acting temporarily (I think temporary..) as Quality Assurance Manager. Just got a 94 ranger and I'm looking to squeeze as much FE out of it as I can, while keeping full functionality. It's what I have to work with for now, and I figure its a good way to learn. In a year or so I will find a small car more suited to aero modding and really see what I can do. I have a real interest in finding simple inexpensive common sense solutions for making things efficient that's what got me into lean manufacturing. Makes no difference to me if I'm squeezing pennies out of a manufacturing process, mpg from a truck, or making my home more efficient. It's a fun and challenging puzzle.

Welcome to the forum.

(Hope you don't mind I copied your post from the "work" thread to the "intro" subforum - will get a few more eyeballs.)

Like the list of planned mods for your truck, with instrumentation right up top.

I take it the rest of the AC components were physically removed?

Looking forward to your project(s).

Hi MetroMPG, don't mind at all and thanks.

I really need to get that MPGuino ordered. I also saw a post where someone was using some datalogger software. My job supplies me with a laptop, and I have one of those small power inverters that plug into the cigarette lighter, so that sounds perfect.

I couldn't sleep last night planning out how I want to make my tonneau cover. It's important to me that I can just un-zip/snap/velcro? it quickly and have a truck again, otherwise I should have gotten a hatchack.

All of the a/c components are still in the truck. Would I see any significant gain by removing them?

not relay, the weight is only about 100#. not worth the effort.

Re: instrumentation - whatever works! But there's something to be said for a display that you can have in/on your instrument cluster where it can be easily eyeballed & become part of your driving routine.

I'm sure you've seen bondo's professional looking aero shell - it works like a hatchback AND you can remove the hatch if you want. http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...d-cap-583.html . Something to think about. (Aero shell = better than a flat tonneau.)

Savings from removing all the AC components would be minimal, but real. Likely not detectable in tank-to-tank results, but I'd yank them if you don't want/need them and it's not hard. Automakers are beginning to scrounge these days to pare any extra weight they can. Finding 50 lbs to delete would be like manna from heaven to them!

I agree about instrumentation. Being new at this I need some immediate feedback so I can learn the driving techniques.

I have seen Bondo's aero shell, it is VERY nice. If I had the money to spend I would definitely consider just buying one. I'm trying to do something a little different (and cheaper). Hopefully I can get to work and start a thread on it soon. Well, after I record a little more data that is.