One more wacky project! ('04 Dodge Intrepid, modified 1500cc Saab V4 + RWD)
 

I have been building high mileage vehicles for years mostly back in the late 70s and early 80s.

I've done a Miller cycle engines on a Datsun 1200 and achieve 67 miles a gallon normal freeway driving. It was running with 14:1 compression ratio, a custom cam for Delong out of San Jose California. Fiat 600 carburetor and a modified intake manifold.

I've done 100 mile a gallon carburetor deal on a 1973 Dodge Monaco running a 400 in.³ engine on vaporized gasoline. This card did achieve 42 miles per gallon, but had horrible drivability and backfired all the time due to the non-homogenous fuel mixture thing put into the engine.

Super Birds and Daytona Chargers set up for high-speed the got reasonably good fuel economy for their power. The maximum speed for my street Super Bird was 183 mph. I could get over 14 miles a gallon at 100 mph.

My son and I have a new project, a 2004 Dodge Intrepid powered by a highly modified Vapor/Miller cycle 1500cc Saab V4, running a reardrive set up through a Ford C4 transmission to a Ford 8 inch rear end running 2.76 gears. The reason we went through the trouble to put a Ford Mustang II front suspension is to give us increase flexibility on our motor, transmission/drivetrain, and gearing combinations choices for future experiments.

We have the lightest wheel and tire combination (late-model Mustang spare wheels and nice steel belted radials)

We're also drastically modifying the front, rear and the underside of the car for superior aerodynamics.

Reason we chose a Dodge Intrepid, is because it is a relatively inexpensive six passenger sedan that has awesome dynamics to start with. And to prove that six passenger sedans can be aerodynamic and efficient also.

My son and I appreciate all of you guys and gals with your technical data that helps people like us make decisions on our project.

Being an aerospace engineer my son and I always try to justify our decisions on sound engineering principles.

Again thanks for the help, Craig

Welcome to the site, Craig.

Hope you'll keep us updated on your progress... and post photos!

Darin

That's really an unusual setup. It's already not so usual to see V4 engines in cars, altough a few ones are still available in motorcycles and outboard motors, and altough nowadays even the Impala features a 4-pot it's not usual to see any engine under 2-litre into an American full-size sedan. And considering the Saab engine is gonna be about 50% the displacement of the stock Intrepid's engine, it would be even more impressive if it doesn't feel underpowered. I also like the idea about converting it to RWD.