Science
 

Greetings. I've been lurking awhile and figured I'd sign up and join the fracas.

I have been a mechanic for 30 years. Mostly truck and equipment. During the mid 80's I was employed at a national laboratory and got to work on some the earliest OE alternative fueled vehicles, mostly methanol, ethanol & cng. I am presently a mechanic for a major teleco. I am required to keep a CDL license so I drive pretty conservatively - lose the license, lose the job.

I raced stock cars and motorcycles in my earlier years. I still ride motorcycles.

My present vehicle is an E150 conversion van, a serious gas pig. My work commute is only 3 miles round trip. If nobody else drives my van I can go well over a month between fuel ups.

I'm seriously contemplating put together a machine for achieving super mpg. Living in the rust belt kind of places limits on finding a suitable testbed. I have considered doing a motorcycle - if only the Chicago winters weren't so brutal. Metros are generally pretty rusty or used up in this area. I am considering an Echo, Escort or a Saturn, but am still researching the used car market. My ideal testbed would be a small displacement, manual trans, OBD2, no power options, overlooked in the used car market, non problem child, not rust prone machine. Not asking much, eh?

Anyways, good to read many of the tips and tricks and hopefully I can add some good stuff.

Welcome,
Even though you didn't mention interest in your post the candidates that you mention would also be good for an EV that would meet your commute requirements. Save the van for trips that require longer range. You could definitely find one with a blown engine in your area on the cheap, and you have skills for the conversion. Again welcome.

There's a 1993 Escort Wagon on Graigs for 350 right now, you could be on your way.

BTW-I'm from the Elgin area originally. Halfway to Rockford if you're not too familiar with the outlying areas.

Oh yeah, I have been to Elgin many times. I'm in the Kankakee area.

An EV would do very well for my work commute, but I am thinking more of a fueled machine. I had a thought a few years ago about putting together an E85 machine and try for a high mpg record run. There are a couple of stations that sell E85 near my home. What reality says is I will need a vehicle that can be a daily driver, I live in town and the police love writing tickets for unmoved "project" vehicles. So, during the frigid winter months I am putting together a plan for a high mpg machine and will carry it out during the warmer months.

I am keeping the van for road trips & such. It is mechanically excellent and has a very good maintenance history.

I have a friend who buys rust-free Metros where they are available for re-sale in Minnesota. Why not take a vacation and see what you can find? My buddy usually flies out to answer ads and nurses 'em home for an easy re-build.

I have considered traveling out of the rust belt to find a decent Metro. I have checked out a few in the Chicago area and they are either rust buckets or have had a very hard life. I am being patient looking for the right machine. I'm keeping cash on hand and checking CL regularly so if one comes up I can snag it.

I am also looking at other cars to possibly find an mpg diamond in the rough. Just about any automobile has room for improvement, some more than others. With this being a hobby car for me, I am also looking to go low dollar. I intend to gut the car of everything unneeded so my resale value will be wiped out.

In my younger days, I owned several different base Mavericks, Falcons, and Mustangs. Six in a row and three speeds, all purchased for under $100. There was something very enjoyable about the pure utility aspect of these vehicles. That is what I have in mind for this project, though the price tag will certainly be higher.

Trip -

Welcome to EM! Maybe plastic-clad S-Series/L-Series/Ions(aka proto-Cobalts) would be lest rusty in the rust belt. The Ford ZX2 is a good option. The Mercury Cougar comes with the same engine but weighs 400 lbs more. In terms of stripping it clean, look at what bensenvill did to his Cougar :

(bensenvill says) http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...all-11583.html
http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1261896526

CarloSW2

That's what I'm thinking about. I am narrowing my search down and the Saturn SC coupes and Escorts & ZX2 are turning up some nice low mileage cars at very good prices. Sadly, every time I find one that looks to be a keeper, it has an automatic trans. I'll keep beating the bushes, the right car is out there. Station wagons are turning up some of the best deals and I am not opposed to using one for my project as it would be good for going fishing. Bensenvill has taken lightening up his car to the extreme which is terrific. I will need to leave a passenger seat in mine for periodic trips to bring my son home.

Speaking of fishing, last year I put together an eco-bassboat. I used a Lowe 1448 hull and run it with a 15 hp mariner 4 stroke. I can fish hard all day and use less than 1 1/2 gallons.