Nissan Versa Base 1.6

[skyl4rk]

I had someone ask about the weight of the tail. It is about 20lbs, guessing by having carried it a few times. The taillights are a significant part of the weight.

[NachtRitter]

I was curious... how were you able to get the pattern for the grill openings? I know you said you used a router to follow the pattern of a plywood template (which I understand how to do)... what I'd like to know is what method you sued to get the pattern onto the plywood to begin with.

Appreciate your insights...

[skyl4rk]

Tape a sheet of old plastic dropcloth over the opening.
Use a drymarker to rough trace opening
Cut out plastic in shape of opening
Test fit, mark + areas and - areas with arrows and estimates of distance (1/8", 1/4")
Draw shape with adjustments on coroplast
Cut out with exacto knife
Test fit, mark + areas and - areas with arrows and estimates of distance (1/8", 1/4")
Draw shape with adjustments on coroplast
Cut out with exacto knife
Test fit, mark + areas and - areas with arrows and estimates of distance (1/8", 1/4")
Maybe by the third try I am lucky enough to get very close to the right shape.
Trace out shape on plywood (MDO, paper coverered, sign board)
Cut out with jigsaw
Sand
Screw down plywood pattern to work table
Put some turns of masking tape on the pattern
Stick coroplast on the pattern
Use a router to cut out coroplast
Test fit part, mark + areas and - areas with arrows and estimates of distance (1/8", 1/4")
Sand pattern appropriately
Try again, maybe repeat one more time, by this time you should be very close and have a good fitting part

[NachtRitter]

Thank you!

[skyl4rk]

Mission: Attempt to drive like average conservative driver, drive at speed limit, no hypermiling, engine must stay on.

Location: Rural highway, 55mph, drove through one small town, one stop light, one roundabout (twice each). Wind: S 9mph.

Scangauge Trip Report
May 6, 2009
1.48 gallons fuel used
193F water temp max
63.5 miles
3087 rpm max
1.3 hours
61 mph max
48mph avg
$3.10 fuel cost
42.9 mpg

EPA Highway is 31mpg
42.9mpg is 38% above EPA Highway
This should all be attributed to the mods, since there was no hypermiling technique used.

[akcapeco]

Following up on everyone's kudo's: way to go!

[skyl4rk]

I recently got this email:


"If you could help our family with a heated debate we would be eternally grateful. Please help us to determine the nature of the addition to the car in your driveway. We are guessing it is:

An alternative fuel enhancement; or
An amphibious modification allowing locomotion on both land and water


Thank you,



The Inquisitive ****** family on Phoenix Street"

My reply:

"*****;

The sculpted wing is a tribute to Mr. Spock and the USS Enterprise.

Live Long and Prosper.

,\\//

"

Actually I saw him in the street and told him that is was for fuel efficiency, but I thought his kids would enjoy the Mr. Spock explanation.

[Daox]

haha, very cool skyl4rk. I hope you'll get used to the attention. My guess is there'll be more where that came from.

[skyl4rk]

Sorry about the lack of posts on this build thread. I am trying to reduce my driving, which means I don't get to test out the vehicle as much. The weather has been great so my bicycle gets the most drive time.

My goal is to buy no more than one tank of gas per month. I still have over half a tank left and I think I am pushing 300 miles. According to Scangauge I can expect a 670 mile tank, with current tank average over 50mpg. This includes a lot of hypermiling on country roads, and some local grocery getting miles. No highway miles, I have been choosing routes to avoid speeds above 55mph.

The tail continues to get a lot of attention, from little kids on the street yelling "look at that car!" to people in an outdoor street cafe pointing and laughing, to a carful of kids with their baseball caps pointed to the side saying "what the hell is that thing?". I like being different and think it is great to get people thinking. Especially when I know it is getting me between 20% and 30% better gas mileage.

If I ever empty the tank, I will report back with the Scangauge data. I am planning a long distance tour in late June, maybe it will happen. If it does it will be a hypermiling tour.

[Istas]

Very nice work! Those front opening blocks do indeed look stock, and that boattail being pretty much removable adds a whole other level of complication. Very innovative work, well done.