Metro Xfi build thread (56k beware)
 

Hello everyone, I would like to first introduce myself. My name is Bob, and I recently purchased a 91 Metro Xfi. I was doing work for a customer, and I noticed he had a Metro 5 dr. I asked him if he knew of any for sale he told me "Yes I saw one today on way home from doctor's office, but I don't know if he is selling it." So I found out where it was and went to check it out.

When I left my name and number with the kids grandfather, he said it was not for sale. So I went home and wished he would call, about a week later he did leave a message. He said to get ahold of him ASAP. So I called and he needed money, $440 to be exact. I was there in 15 minutes and bought her up.

Here it is the day I bought it.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...w10/metro1.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...w10/metro5.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...w10/metro4.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...w10/metro3.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...w10/metro2.jpg

Since then I have been very busy on it.
I changed the oil to 5w30 synthetic, plugs, wires, airfilter, tranny synthetic, set timing @ 7 degs.

I also fixed dent in hood kinda, I am no body man. But can spray paint and Rhino linings. Which is where I work at a combination of Rhino Linings, RV dealership, Ambulance remounting, all in the same building. Also do all the wiring on the vehicles that come in. I am the shop manager so I stay busy, and spray some of the best Rhino there can be (not bragging a lot of experience in it 7 yrs.)

Hood after
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c.../hoodafter.jpg

I made Lexan light covers, a how-to I wrote here-->TeamSwift • View topic - Lexan headlight cover HOW-TO should work for any bucket style light.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...Lexanstep7.jpg

Installed gauges air/fuel ratio and voltmeter. I have had these in 4 cars so far and had to modify the gauge pods yet 1 more time, not much left of it at this point.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...w10/METRO9.jpg

Made a Grill block, had extra aluminum roof flashing laying around.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...rillblock1.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...rillblock3.jpg

Made new shifter bushings from nylon bar stock on my Father's lathe. A how-to that I wrote on those--->TeamSwift • View topic - FIX: Shifter bushing. Blueprint
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...erbushing2.jpg

Made a EOC switch, and another how-to-->http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...-how-4356.html
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...fterbutton.jpg

Pizza pan wheel covers, didn't want to spend big bucks for little gain.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...heelcover5.jpg

Passenger mirror delete. Used bottom of lawn mower bagger for the black plastic, I am trying to use super cheap of free for everything I have done.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...rrordelete.jpg

Also lowered the front about an inch and another how-to.TeamSwift • View topic - Found an easy way to lower Front

Before
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...w10/metro6.jpg
After
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...w10/METRO7.jpg

I believe that is about it for now. Sorry for being so long but got a lot done in a couple weeks. This car is like Crack for a wrencher, so cheap and easy to work on. I keep thinking of new things to do everyday it seems like. And I love this site by the way.

Planned mods:
Rear wheel skirts just looking for free materials still, yea I am a cheapskate.
Front wheels skirts? maybe like Basjoos but different.
Air dam
wiper cowl
antenna delete I listen to cd's anyways
undertray/ diffuser
Some ideas?? suggestions I am a big boy I can take em.

You are getting off to a great start already with that XFi man! Good for you! As far as the antenna goes, have you seen my antenna relocation thread..............

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...-mod-2617.html

I love the lexan covers and I thought about lowering my Metro also. I think MetroMPG is also considering lowering his Firefly.

That is great idea, I have a RV radio antenna laying at work mount is broke on it so junk for a camper but great to do that.
I think you and MetroMPG has about the cleanest looking metro's one here.
Great idea on the antenna though I am going to check that one out.

There are a couple of other clean Metro owners here besides me and MetroMPG, but yeah, the vast majority of these cars are pretty beat up. Looks like yours could use some rocker panel work before it gets too bad. Be sure to post all repairs and mods right here so we can follow up ;)

Mine has dents in the front fenders that are small, but not bad. My hood is getting chipped up pretty good as of late since the township just tarred and chipped all the secondary routes around here.

Got some coroplast today found some at work a 4'x8' piece an old Leer sign we had stored away boss man gave it to me.:D :thumbup: Now gonna make some skirts and an airdam. I also picked up some 1/8"x1/2" aluminum flat stock to make the supports for skirts, had to buy that though.:(

I made an airdam from the coroplast I got at work today. I measured the lowest point on car which was lower a-arms @ 6" ground clearance. I made the airdam to sit at 5". Does this sound about right? I may also raise the middle of airdam into a slight taper up from outside edges, and build in tires "dams?" I also need to know how much should this help mileage, anyone?

I am new to modding for mileage I have done for speed power but not mileage, always the other way. I am addicted now. Only had car about 3 weeks and can't keep my hands off it, I just don't wanna do the wrong things. I have no instrumentation yet going to build the MPGuino one but saving pennies again for it.

Here is a couple pics of the airdam.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...10/airdam2.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...10/airdam3.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...w10/airdam.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...10/airdam4.jpg

People who know more than I do would say that's right.

The 'Guino should definitely be on the to-do list. I had a chance to see Ben's in action today.

The other thing I'd look into right away is making sure the lower control arm mounts are OK (rust wise), and if they are, oil them up so they stay that way.

Fantastic thread. Lots of ideas to "borrow". Keep it coming, thanks

The airdam looks sweet.

MetroMPG, So I take it Ben's works good, I have been trying to figure out if they do before gettin one. I checked my a-arms/mounts too not too rusty yet, I may end up sandblasting underside when weather turns and drive my truck for a little while while I patch the body on the metro. Wanna save her from a horrible death.

Will, Go ahead borrow all you want that is part of the reason I am doing this, tired of threads with no pics. I find it alot easier to "see" what they are talking about.

Johnny, Thanks again I am going to trim it out a little today will upload new pics today sometime.

Nice clean car and excellent clean mods.

It looks like you've gotten a good start on it. Once you get underbody panelling, wheel spoilers, double side skirts, and wheel boattails installed so that the underside is aerodynamically clean, then you could lose that air dam, which adds to the frontal area and is only beneficial if you have a aerodynamically dirty underside you need to divert the air away from.

Basjoos, Thanks for the input. I am planning underbody cleanup. Going to convince the wifey it is a good idea to save the car first. Once I get body work all fixed or find a good southern rust free one. I will do undertrays.

Greenwar, Thanks and there are more on the way, keep checking back.

I made rear skirts tonight, I was worried I wouldn't like the look of them. They are actually growing really fast on me. I did a 55mph run tonight and it seems quieter, pleasantly surprised.

I also believe this is going to be a great tank, I am really perfecting my driving techniques on this one. I starting to not even having to think about how I drive. I believe the change in habits is the HARDEST part of all of this. I don't even feel like driving fast anymore + it bothers me when I see people drive how I used to.

I think I will surpass 60mpg on this tank, feel pretty confident of it. Watching and training every aspect of how I am driving, stopping, coasting, and turning. Trying to do everything within the highest efficiency boundaries. I am driving like I ride my BMX bike, trying not to wind the car so to speak. Let it set the pace.

I will post pics of the airdam mod I did today and the rear skirts, when I get up in the morn. Was too dark tonight and it didn't show up with the flash too good.

Sweet start dude! Like all your mods. Someone has been paying attention. LOL

Thanks a lot, Reading almost every night, I am trying to do only the things I have seen figures on.

thanks for posting the how to's. I like your eoc switch, in particular.

Thanks, Me too I love it. Use it all the time. Don't have to wear out the ignition switch with it.

Well I have some more pictures, I should slow down. :cool: :D Sun finally moved so I could shoot them.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c.../airdam2-1.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...w10/skirts.jpg

The skirts get some mixed reactions, some laugh, some stare "like what the H are those for" I kinda like them myself, but I am beginning to have Mileage OCD.

Any plans for a Driver side mirror replacement?

Not until today at lunch was looking at it and said that has to go bye,bye. Gonna look for a spot mirror for inside that I like first, can't afford camera. I want to find something I can still see well with.

I was also thinking maybe a motorcycle mirror outside, smaller, and less frontal.
Plus would still have outside mirror for better vision, I use them a lot especially since beginning hypermilin. Gotta watch for speeders coming up on me.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...irrormaybe.jpg

Maybe like that one $15.95 at Dennis Kirk.
http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/produc...d=41008&mmyId=

I have spent only $20 up to this point on everything I have done so far. So how much gas did that buy you. I have increased mileage probably at least 10 MPG from everything I have done.
Plus read MetroMPG's testing on this subject 1.27 mpg from mirror delete. Do some research before posting please.
Reflections on side mirrors: testing drag vs. MPG - MetroMPG.com
And where is your gas log at??

That's true. Most if not all of us Ecomodders use free stuff and do simple mods that cost little or nothing at all. That 1.27 MPG increase over 1 year adds up. Add that to all the other little improvements and some people can save over $1000.00 per year in fuel alone!

My antenna relocation mod = $0.00
Passenger mirror delete = $0.00

Larger purchases like the "Aerocap" and a Scangauge would also pay for itself in fuel savings over a period of time unless you are one of those people who get a new vehicle every couple years.

I like the looks of the new airdam!

Me too plus less frontal!!

And how is that?? Replacing with a smaller mirror. Get a life, and keep supporting the oil tycoons vacations, or terrorism at that. Oil= Iraq, Afghanistan 9/11 remember that day? So yeah a mirror is worth 1-2 MPG for me. How much is it worth to you.

Or you could go back to you quick bustangs and F.lip O.ver R.ead D.irections website.

No No and No I do Research before I do anything, Plus I am not taking mirrors off. My car came equipped on my model without a passenger mirror, look up an Xfi once. Also replacing Drivers side with smaller more aerodynamic one. I am done with you, Period.

Don't feed the trolls bbjsw...................

Safety features and other things on my car that were removed or modded.............

Passenger mirror
Daytime Running Lights
Cat converter
Jack, spare, tools
Rear seat and seatbelts

Does it look like I care about safety? I am driving a Metro for Pete's Sake!

Not trying to feed the trolls just smash them under my boot. Metro and safety don't belong in same sentence shame on you.:)

Looks like our friend got banned already? Haha.
I was just reading all the informative posts he made in his profile ;)

Great thread ! Great mods !

Me too,:p I reported his and his friends posts.
Thanks and good seeing friendly faces, bit of a run in with trolls. Check out your car pretty nice. And must be fun to drive that lil thing in the twistys of Pennsylvania. I love it over there, my wife has family in Chicora.

This little button works pretty damn good.......... http://ecomodder.com/forum/images/em...ons/report.gif

You got that right:thumbup:

Thanks, Yea, It is fun to drive. To many hills/mountains though...I swear it's up hill both ways to work (140 miles round trip). At least that's what my vaccum gauge says:(

Ouch only about 8 for me.

8 miles! Man that's dream for me....

Another "mod" if you can call it that. More of a precaution. I haul my 7 yr. old around quite a bit.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...xtingisher.jpg

Oooooh! A kid whacker!

No more like kid mace.......:thumbup:

That's funny.....Seriously, though that's a great idea! I'm going to do that this weekend.

Well gonna fuel up my car tonight, I am only down about a couple gallons my guess. But getting anxious wish me luck. Aiming for 60.