Summer EcoModding and Maintenance Plans

[Kincurd]

I figure, I'm thinking about this stuff all the time, winter months are still waning and I have no garage to work in, plus I'm waiting to swap out the Winter Tires for summer wheels+tires. It never hurts to share your plans.

What I've already done:

- Scangauge
- Nearly 100% grill block. Perfect for winter.
- Side mirror deletion. Thin fiberglass and black primer covers the hole.
- Lots of general, simple weight loss. Spare tire and jack replaced with hand-pump and tire repair kit (plus I have roadside assist, but I go to the mountains a lot where I don't get cell service). Cleaning out junk I don't need in the car at all times, like spare oil, anti-freeze, detachable roof-rack, etc.
- Keeping tires at 50 PSi (Using the hand pump, no less.)


Our only vehicle is my '02 Corolla, at the moment.

Plans for summer that I have materials for:
- Light alloy rims (birthday gift, woo!) with permanent wheel covers on them, and a removable center cap (crafted with scrap carbon fiber).
- Swapping to those hot weather tires I have.
- Complete undercarriage paneling made from aluminum flashing and aluminum rivets.
- removable radiator-assistance scoop that attaches to the belly pan or something for summer.
- Spark plug replacement

Other stuff I might squeeze in if I get the wherewithal:
- Exhaust wrapping using aluminum flashing + high-temp ceramic alumina glue
- Cheap seat replacement/modification, to lighter, lower-'slowy paving the way to the chopped top' seats . Thinking of keeping the stock steel mounting/sliding bracket for the seats for convenience/cost, and making a nice mesh-type seat to help keep me cool.
- Changing to those legendary 14" tires. I'm a tad concerned that they're taller than my stock tires and will have to accommodate the change somehow. Plus the cost. Oh and I don't have numbers on my Sears brand tires, so I don't know how much gain I can expect.
- Maybe remove the power-steering.

So what're your plans? post 'em so we can hold you to 'em!

[Ecky]

I'm planning to install a coroplast underbelly and get a timing light to do a proper timing advance, aside from general (non-eco) maintenance. A/C is not optional in Florida summer (which begins around mid-March) so I should probably top it off with R-134 so the compressor doesn't have to work as hard.

I just finished putting new control arms and an axle in, need to take it in for an alignment.

[Kincurd]

Originally Posted by Ecky

I'm planning to install a coroplast underbelly and get a timing light to do a proper timing advance, aside from general (non-eco) maintenance. A/C is not optional in Florida summer (which begins around mid-March) so I should probably top it off with R-134 so the compressor doesn't have to work as hard.

I just finished putting new control arms and an axle in, need to take it in for an alignment.

I haven't heard about the R-134 thing. Good to know. That's what I like about discussing these things. Always more to learn.

A/C is optional in Colorado (I went an entire year without using it once, and didn't have to roll my windows down at highway speeds, either). Car sales where the A/C is optional tend to be semi-popular around here (friend had a Dodge Neon that didn't come with an A/C.) but we're planning a move to Arkansas within a few years, and A/C is mandatory. On the plus side, I won't have to use anti-freeze over there and can run on pure distilled water + water wetter for more efficient cooling.

You've also reminded me of the power-steering removal. It's kind of a bottom-list thing, since I have to proceed with so much caution and it seems a little over my head, even with the wiki article.