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-   -   Thrifty McGassaver this is your life! (https://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/thrifty-mcgassaver-your-life-16.html)

TomO 11-14-2007 03:11 PM

Thrifty McGassaver this is your life!
 
Just posting up a "How-do" thread to introduce myself.

The name is Tom, the game is ecomodding, the ride is a 1994 Civic VX with over 336K miles on it now.

Some of you know me from another forum that deals with saving on gas consumption.

My plans are to help y'all setup and test your new forum as well as guide the hand of new members as the site grows into a world dominating power!

Just kidding, I promise to use my powers for the good of the world!
This forum shall be the tool to further the knowledgement of mankind.

SVOboy 11-14-2007 03:54 PM

Nice job noticing the two smilies I added myself today. :turtle: ftw. Look forward to have you around.

MetroMPG 11-14-2007 09:41 PM

Hey Tom - welcome, welcome.

It's nice to have a VX guru around. I still kick myself every time I read yet another person has joined your fleet. But there's just no way I have time or room for 3 cars!

TomO 11-14-2007 11:22 PM

Thanks for the welcome.

My army of VX's grows stronger everyday, muahahahah!

SVOboy 11-14-2007 11:45 PM

How's development on the site going?

TomO 11-15-2007 11:04 AM

lol, between work, having a drink after work, making dinner for the family, having an issue with my Photoshop 7 program, and a pregnant wife.......it's going well. I might actually be able to resize all of my How-to pictures today so I can upload them and start posting them to the site.

cfg83 12-19-2007 02:30 AM

TomO -

Welcome to EM! I think that with time, "Thrifty McGassaver" can make it's way into English slang.

CarloSW2

TomO 12-19-2007 10:48 AM

Thanks, but I doubt Thrifty McGassaver will become synonymous with VX ecomodding. The name TomO though is a different story, lol.

I can't wait until I get the rebuilt motor in this spring. I might try out a few tricks like cryo-treating the pistons, just for fun since it's cheap enough.

But the only thing on the docket for the near future is the Lean burn monitor kits and replacing the front wheel bearings that howl like a banshee as I cruise down the highway. They sing a song of decreased FE for me. :(

MetroMPG 12-19-2007 10:50 AM

Lean burn kit? Sounds interesting.

The ForkenSwift and Thrifty should get together for a wheel bearing duet.

TomO 09-30-2009 03:32 PM

Just thought I'd throw together a brief, all encompassing post about the cosmetic and mechanical changes that I've done to my car over the three years I've had it...

When I first bought the car for $1500:
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/1156/img2858m.jpg
Dirty Winter Mode
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/2663/img2857h.jpg
Dented Driver's Door (hard to see but it's there)
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/7590/img2856y.jpg
Driver's side Rear
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/5857/img2855m.jpg
Dinged up tailgate
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/9045/img2854d.jpg
Passenger Rear
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/371/img2851u.jpg
Passenger Front fender
http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/2038/img2852g.jpg
Whole Passenger side
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/9895/img2853i.jpg
Closeup of the passenger door

I then swapped over parts from the 95 Si that I owned for just one week before I got this car. I swapped the tailgate, passenger door, passenger fender, and hood.

I later had rear quarter patch panels installed and painted the entire car Dark blue.

Then I went through a few phases with the exterior:
Denji Projectors, clear side lights and a modified grill insert from a 03-05 Eclipse:
http://thelic.org/users/tomo/frontgrill.jpg

Installed a block heater:
http://thelic.org/users/tomo/blockheater.jpg
http://thelic.org/users/tomo/blockheater1.jpg
Installed WeatherTech Window Visors and Spoon style mirrors:
http://thelic.org/users/tomo/209608776325.jpg
Experimented and made a Kammback for the car:
http://thelic.org/users/tomo/KammProfile.jpg
http://thelic.org/users/tomo/KammRear.jpg
It later came off for some redesigning.

Picked up some rare optional CRX HF wheels to rock for winter use (painted them bronze because the OEM white was covered with rust from the brake system)
http://thelic.org/users/tomo/OEMoptHFWheel.jpg

Made some side skirts and picked up some Enkei Conpe-8 rims for summer:
http://thelic.org/users/tomo/SideSkirt.jpg
http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/749...ftyside.th.jpg

Picked up some OEM fog lights, and OEM front lip, made a belly pan, and found some TYC one piece headlights:
http://thelic.org/users/tomo/VXFront.jpg
http://thelic.org/users/tomo/VXFront2.jpg

Put a Spoon style front lip on and polished the paint and re-cleared the hood:
http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/1...tyfront.th.jpg
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/6...yfront1.th.jpg

Swapped in a freshly rebuilt D15Z1 (stock VX) motor at 380,000miles:
http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/7816/thriftyengine.jpg

Then I made a more aerodynamic front bumper for winter with a couple different versions of front air dams:
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/9318/aerofront.jpg
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/4207/aeroleft.jpg
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6583/aeroright.jpg
http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/5150/vxairdamday.jpg
http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/7356/winterlip1.jpg

So after three years, this is as it sits. I'm making one more version of a front air dam when the material arrives this week. Then it's just driving it through the winter and counting the days until spring when I can work on it again.

Now you know a little more about the work I've put into my VX. Any questions and comments are welcomed as long as they're positive. :)

TomO 11-06-2009 09:40 AM

Just a little update:
I installed my HID lights into those TYC one piece projector headlights and have been super happy with the results.

Light output has almost doubled (1500 lumens with halogen, 3200 lumens HID) and light coverage is way better.

I've gotten high beamed a couple times with the halogens even though they were aimed right. They did have a horrible hot spot in them. Now with the HIDs in there, I have not gotten beamed once. The light is much more evenly spread on the road.

I also have the final version of my rubber lip on my car (will get pics today). It looks just like the green one posted above but is black, lol.

The next project that I'm tackling is a full exterior LED conversion. I am in the process of making the boards to place inside the rear tail lights. The running/brake lights will consist of 240 red/orange Lumiled LEDs and the turn signals will consist of ~160 Amber Lumiled LEDs. Total wattage for this setup will draw only 48Watts while braking, that's less than half of what the stock incandescent light system draws. Along with the 40W reduction from the HID system I'm dropping just over 120W from my electrical system, for a whopping .16HP increase, lol.

I'll be taking pictures of the whole process this time around so others can see and hopefully be inspired.

TomO 12-21-2009 04:59 PM

Thanks to some inspiration from Daox, I installed my external plug for my block heater last night so I don't have to pop open the hood on my car anymore.
You can also see the black rubber version of the front air dam that I am currently using.
http://www.thelic.org/users/tomo/Heaterplug.jpg

alohaspirit 12-21-2009 06:37 PM

you got a great write up going


hopefully you got those visors cheap
(i looked into them for my ride and they were pricey)
spoon mirrors are always bad ass too


i think i like the plug for the block heater the most tho

(i want one even tho i have nothing to plug in)

Christ 12-21-2009 06:57 PM

What kind of plug did you use there? I was going to use a 12V cigarette lighter socket and lighter plug on the exterior for a battery maintainer on one of my old cars, but I ended up just putting a 110 socket inside the fuel door.

Oval_Overload 12-22-2009 12:50 AM

Christ, he used the same type of plug I use on Zap Xebras. Its a recessed male socket in a weatherproof housing with a rubber gasket around the wires. Ours are made by Helga Electric or something like that.
Make sure the contacts stay dry! After 3 years of use, the plug on a customer's delivery truck corroded and the rust dribbled across the contacts. The car still worked, but plugging it in unbalanced the electrical system in half our building.

~Jimbo

TomO 12-22-2009 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alohaspirit (Post 149278)
you got a great write up going


hopefully you got those visors cheap
(i looked into them for my ride and they were pricey)
spoon mirrors are always bad ass too


i think i like the plug for the block heater the most tho

(i want one even tho i have nothing to plug in)

Thanks!
I did get the visors cheap, in fact for free...they were a birthday gift ;) But yes the weathertech stuff is not cheap, but the quality is worth the price as well as the customer service.
I had the passenger side fall off on a trip by some freak act of nature. Sent them an email the next day asking if there was anything that could be done or if I could purchase just the passenger side. One hour after I sent the email I recieved and email stating that the passenger side was being shipped out today and had a tracking number already at no cost to me. the part arrived just 16 hours after me sending the initial email! :eek: So Weathertech gets two thumbs up from me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christ (Post 149283)
What kind of plug did you use there?

Marinco recessed plug is what I used, and the link is for the cheapest I could find it shipped.
Quote:

Originally Posted by Oval_Overload (Post 149347)
Make sure the contacts stay dry! After 3 years of use, the plug on a customer's delivery truck corroded and the rust dribbled across the contacts. The car still worked, but plugging it in unbalanced the electrical system in half our building.

~Jimbo

The plug is protected from getting splashed by the OEM splash shield in the wheel well as well as it has a rubber boot that fits real snug over the wires in the rear and the back of the plug itself. I also put a dab of black RTV to completely seal up the wires in the back.

hmong337 04-01-2011 08:55 PM

HEY MAN! Sick eco project!!!

I gotta question: What headers are you using with your d15z1? Is it getting good fuel mileage? Is it a 4-2-1?

The reason why I ask is because my VX exhaust manifold is cracked and I need a new one. I'm not made of money so I'm looking for something comparable and pretty thrifty.

THANKS

TomO 04-02-2011 12:46 PM

I'm just using the Ebay special Stainless Steel 4-2-1 with two O2 bungs (one on runner #4 and one at the collector).

If you can, sometimes you can find OEM VX manifolds for sale for about $40 too. That way it's a simple bolt on affair (if your catalytic converter is still good) and you don't have to go changing your whole exhaust system.

California98Civic 04-02-2011 01:54 PM

Thanks for these pics. That aero front bumper you made is perfectly cool. How did you make it? Must have required quite a shop, or are there techniques that bring it closer to the reach of those of us with fewer skills?

hmong337 04-02-2011 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomO (Post 229430)
I'm just using the Ebay special Stainless Steel 4-2-1 with two O2 bungs (one on runner #4 and one at the collector).

If you can, sometimes you can find OEM VX manifolds for sale for about $40 too. That way it's a simple bolt on affair (if your catalytic converter is still good) and you don't have to go changing your whole exhaust system.

thanks tomo.

vx manifolds are near impossible to find. will a 96-00 dx/lx manifold work?

Canary5_0 04-02-2011 09:54 PM

Welcome!

TomO 04-03-2011 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by California98Civic (Post 229438)
Thanks for these pics. That aero front bumper you made is perfectly cool. How did you make it? Must have required quite a shop, or are there techniques that bring it closer to the reach of those of us with fewer skills?

No problem, happy to share pics.
I used an OEM bumper and filled the fog light areas with "Great Stuff" expanding foam, then shaved them down with a hacksaw blade and used Fiberglass Resin to build it up and feather the edges. then lots and lots of sanding, then painting. Same thing happened for the middle grill. No shop involved, just sweat and tools. I eyeballed everything so it wasn't perfect by any means.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hmong337 (Post 229449)
thanks tomo.

vx manifolds are near impossible to find. will a 96-00 dx/lx manifold work?

I know the 96-00 will bolt up since they have the same pattern to the head, but the oil dipstick on the VX might need to be pushed towards the block to make some room. The 96-00 Civics have their oil dipstick off towards the timing belt.

California98Civic 04-04-2011 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomO (Post 229582)
filled the fog light areas with "Great Stuff" expanding foam, then shaved them down with a hacksaw blade and used Fiberglass Resin to build it up and feather the edges. then lots and lots of sanding, then painting. Same thing happened for the middle grill. No shop involved, just sweat and tools. I eyeballed everything so it wasn't perfect by any means.

I see my summer in these words.:thumbup:

TomO 04-05-2011 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by California98Civic (Post 229880)
I see my summer in these words.:thumbup:

Just make sure that if you use the "Great Stuff" brand of foam to allow it to fully cure the 24 hours it requires before cutting/shaving/shaping it. That way the foam is consistent and will not expand further once you cut it. Ask me how I found this out the first time I made this bumper and only waited 2 hours ;)

jedi_sol 04-05-2011 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomO (Post 229951)
Just make sure that if you use the "Great Stuff" brand of foam to allow it to fully cure the 24 hours it requires before cutting/shaving/shaping it. That way the foam is consistent and will not expand further once you cut it. Ask me how I found this out the first time I made this bumper and only waited 2 hours ;)

Oh, NOW YOU TELL ME. :D

caeaves 04-19-2011 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomO (Post 229951)
Just make sure that if you use the "Great Stuff" brand of foam to allow it to fully cure the 24 hours it requires before cutting/shaving/shaping it. That way the foam is consistent and will not expand further once you cut it. Ask me how I found this out the first time I made this bumper and only waited 2 hours ;)

How is it holding up?

Also, the CX manifold has the same design just with a single wire 02 sensor.

Christ 04-19-2011 12:00 PM

I have a manifold that's either a cx/vx, or hf... The difference is the bolt pattern for the cat, but dimensionally, the manifold are identical. If anyone needs it, pay shippingand I'll send it out. Shipping via usps will be close to $16.

TomO 04-19-2011 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caeaves (Post 232556)
How is it holding up?

The first bumper I did suffered a little adhesion problem along the bottom of the grill area and detached. I ended up ripping the center section out, using a new foam and then used all fiberglass jelly on the second version.

The second version was doing really well until a Stupid SUV Driver backed right into me, splitting the entire bumper and causing multiple cracksin the fiberglass jelly.

The bumper will be rebuilt once again, but this time I'm going to plastic weld panels in place.

OG VX 05-07-2015 01:39 PM

This was a great build! Wish there were more updates since last post in 2011. Bumping for any current VX owners who haven't seen this gem of a build/thread.

Love the block heater plug. Was thinking about looking for something similar for next winter.

Any updates? Still own? FG bumper was awesome! Any process pics you can share of how you built that?

TomO 05-19-2015 12:36 PM

Thanks for the kudos!
I sold the car a few years ago to a member on here.

The External plug that I used is a Marinco plug that can be found on Amazon for under $20 still.

you can see all my bumper iterations and some progress pictures here: AeroBumper for Thrifty


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