Project: AeroTank

[Big Dave]

If you can get a T-56 cheap I'd recommend doing it.

As you said, a number of people have swapped manuals into Panthers. It ain't easy but Mustang master/slave cylinder kits help a lot.

The T-56 will tolerate massive torque - they are common in Corvettes, vipers, and performance Mustangs. This massive torque rating translates into a very, very reliable transmission for a low-power ecomodder, and as an ecomodder you can get away with a very light clutch. Also they are available with a truly massive overdrive top gear - either 0.67:1 or 0.5:1. Lower engine speed at a given road speed equals lower air flow and engine frictional losses. Mucho efficiency.

I would beware of engine-off coasting with an automatic. With the engine off, you are getting no tranny fluid flow through the cooler.

This project is so right. I didn't know that vintage of Panther had such a good Cd.

[slowmover]

I didn't know that vintage of Panther had such a good Cd.


It needed it with that teeny little motor, ha!

The mid-90's Chevrolet Impala/Caprice had a fire-breather "big" V8 by comparison. But the FE was poor if one had even a slightly heavy foot.

.

[svt98t]

Look at that roof line!!
Well, it looks ok, until the roof ends. Then it looks like there's much work to be done.

The Cobra T-56 has the 0.50 6th gear which makes it pretty much perfect for this.
No transmsission pump in neutral? I though the pump still functioned even though the car is off. It is a mechanical gear pump. ?
The current transmission does has 210k on it. Still running strong.

-ryan s.

[Big Dave]

Check with your favorite automatic tranny shop, but this is why they won't tow automatic cars on their own drive wheels. In most cars the torque converter drives the fluid through the cooler.

[MetroMPG]

When you're messing with The Tempate (TM), don't forget to match the road plane of both vehicles.

The owner's manual may offer a clue about the transmission: look for a section about towing - can you "flat tow" (4 wheels on the road) this car in neutral? Or must the drive wheels be lifted? (Sometimes only if going over certain speeds/distances.) FYI, I would say that most cars with autotragics don't have lubrication when the engine is off.

[Big Dave]

We’ve talked about the MPG possibilities of Crown Vics on this site in the past.

If you are getting 28+ MPG on your Crown Vic you are the boss Crown Vic MPG guy.

I think that with the mods you are proposing (including the lightweight engine) 30 MPG in mixed driving should be do-able. Add in the T-56 and 32-33 should be in order.

One guy wondered if you could get 40 out of a Crown Vic. My take is no – unless you go to a diesel engine. The diesel gives you 25-50% better efficiency although it weighs quite bit more.

Here is a youtube on a guy who put a Cummins 4BT3.9 into a Crown Vic. He claims 33 MPG mixed and 40 MPG highway using the stock automatic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYAnvSEVLBY

I haven’t been able to find any more on this car, but it looks like a good job. Sure hope he put lots of sound deadener in it. The Cummins is noisy.

Other options might be a M-B 617. Super reliable but underpowered and mating the engine to an American drive train requires you know a thing or two about DIN bellhousings. I don’t.

Another possibility is a VW TDI turned way up, but you are back to the weird DIN transmission connection.

I don’t think a GM 6.2 can be stuffed into a Ford engine compartment. A 6.2 or 6.5 will barely fit in a GM “B” body but forget the turbo.

The 4.5 Powerstroke (from a Ford LCF truck) might fit and it is just a 6.0 Powerstroke with two cylinders missing but it is a bear to find and a worse bear to source parts for.

Oriental fork truck and generator diesels do not have injection systems set up for road vehicles.

[svt98t]

No more EOC's for me. I mean I can, and will, just not with P&G. We'll see. If I burn it up, it just gives me a reason to put in a manual. Lol.
My current mileage best is from driving normal. No hypermiling techniques at all. I know with some of these, it will help greatly.
I've heard of the diesel Vic. Didn't hear about the mileage though.
I know that diesels generally get better mileage. I like your suggestions.
I was thinking the other evening, what about the new 3.5 EcoBoost motor? It could definitely have enough power to move the car. And with the turbos, it could have a better FE than my archaic 4.6L. But who knows!
I'll start a fuel log tomorrow and document my normal driving so I can have a baseline for city and highway/trip mileage.

Thanks for all the input guys! I appreciate it!

-ryan s.

[LeanBurn]

I know you love these cars (with much passion apparently) and everything, but from an outsider looking in....it would be cheaper and easier to obtain and build up an aero-modded econobox than work to achieve the last <2% the car is capable of.

[MetroMPG]

This is true, and I bet Ryan S. knows it.

I also bet he has so much of a thing for these cars that he isn't planning to shop for an old Civic any time soon. Just a hunch...

[svt98t]

True statements.
I don't want to buy a cheap eco-car and ecomod it.
That's alreafy been done.
No offense, but I don't think those cars could carry my full size digital piano in them
With a 32x8 mixer.
And two JBL 125 JRX speakers.
And the bass players half stack.
And still ride like a couch.

As far as I know, this hasn't been done. And I'm the kinda guy who likes to figure stuff out.
So, with the collective input of you guys on the forum, I can propose my ideas to the pros, get feedback, and decide if certain mods are worth doing.
And I've already learned so much.

Thanks guys. Stay classy.

-ryan s.