What are your 2008 mod goals / wish list?
 

With the worst of the '07/'08 winter in the rear view mirror, thoughts turn to plans for the return of tinkering weather (for those of us stuck in more northerly lattitudes...)

I'm granting myself some flexibility between "goals" and a "wish list" because I've proven I'm lousy at making & sticking to actual goals on a specific timeline. Even so, I can probably realisticaly divide between attainable vs. hopeful...

So here are my ...

Metro goals:

- properly affix rear skirts (brackets)
- make permanent partial kammback
- experiment with front air dam
- develop front wheel skirts
- test airtabs

Metro wish list:

- lowering

ForkenSwift goals:

- dissassemble, clean & repaint everything (motor, racks, engine compartment)
- install battery pack LED monitor
- add DC/DC converter

ForkenSwift wish list:

- add 2 more batts on a controller bypass circuit for 60v turbo mode

better rad block

remove front emblem

remove rear wiper

OT... but Frank - what's your avatar?

crossing my fingers in the hopes that all the the nasties are behind us now.

So here are my ...

Thrifty McGassaver goals:

• Build a Coroplast Kammeback
• Finish rebuilding the spare D15Z1
• Install said rebuilt D15Z1
• Experiment with front air dam
• Test out Pulstar Plugs on the D15Z1
• Purchase and install new suspension
• Take care of the last little rust spots
• Refinish my under pan

That is a snapshot taken out the rear of my cousins car going over the bayou 10 miles NW of New Orleans.

Looking out an entire year isn't easy for me. I change my mind way too much. :)


Matrix Goal: Average tank mileage to 40 mpg
-Improved grill block
-Underbody panel
-Possibly rear wheel skirts


Paseo Goal: Average tank mileage to 55 mpg
-Grill block
-Underbody panel
-Possibly rear wheel skirts
-Install new reworked head
-New exhaust system



There are many other possibilities that may turn into mods. I'm more into the engine side of it than most. I designed a descent fuel heater that I originally canned since the Matrix already heats its fuel to some degree. However, the Paseo does not so there might be benefits from it. I also just ordered some material for a electrolysis unit for onboard browns gas generation. So, we'll see how that progresses. That'll most likely go on the Matrix. I also have to get my Tercel back on the road. Its going to be a busy summer thats for sure.

Your homework has told you that's not a net loss proposition?

And then is next year's goal rebuilding the "other" spare D15Z1?

Not when properly designed. The engine doesn't run on the browns gas (hydrogen/oxygen from breaking down water). The browns gas only enhances the combustion event.

When I actually start building and using it you can be sure I'll be posting info.

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.au...7/img_7330.jpg
That spoiler. I even have the materials and know I'm going to make/prototype it :D I even have a modification for it so that my trunk stays usable/accessible :D

Another goal... My super secret $15 easy to apply belly pan. I've been cooking up this idea for about 6 months now and I think I've finally found a suitable material that's easy to apply, should be easy to remove, weatherproof, can take a bit of heat and is available almost anywhere (in stock in many home improvement stores!). It's also cheaper than coroplast and much lighter - but it's not structural at all. And should it just fall off - it won't hurt anything (just make a bit of a mess as it disintegrates).

I've also been meaning to show off my $1 grille block that's just about perfectly formed to my existing grille and doesn't leave any sticky tape residue :)

For the Elantra:

- Complete lower grill block: This one is ready, I just need to install it on the car, will do next week. It does not look all that bad, but will have to pass aesthetic inspection. If the GF rejects it, I plan to make an ABS one with paint and clear coat.
- ABS half belly pan a la autospeed
- Active upper grill block.

[Lame Mode: ON]

Only thing on the list so far is a GPS. Would have saved about 50 miles last year. :thumbup:


I'd like to get one tank over 30 before gutting the interior and getting Ti license plates and lugnuts.

oooh, can't wait for the details! :thumbup:
looking forward to that one as well.

Probably going to sell it on here. now if I rebuild it or not before doing that is another story. This motor has some fame going for it now....over 369K miles now and still going strong. :turtle:

Oooo!

You've got my curiousity piqued. Weatherproof and biodegradable?

Well, not biodegradable - it just won't be a road hazard (it will break apart rather than break a car)... Although, I should see how much a sheet of soy plastic is :D That would be weatherproof and biodegradable.... Just more expensive.

I have no plans I am just going to drive my car 'as is' :rolleyes:

[QUOTE=MetroMPG;11653]With the worst of the '07/'08 winter in the rear view mirror, thoughts turn to plans for the return of tinkering weather (for those of us stuck in more northerly lattitudes...)QUOTE]

I honestly enjoy my two HPVs more than my car- so I plan to get another enclosed velomobile when the one I have wears out (and finish putting that VeloKit on my trike).

I would like to cut the back off an Aspire to put one wheel on, but that is financially hard: getting project room tied up. Mainly a dream!

I feel guilty since I have not done a thing to my Aspire, although I have been looking into fender skirts and air dams/skirts all the way to the front wheel.

countersTrike

Finish installing a manual active grill. I've installed the actuator cable, but need to build the hinged inlet in the nosepiece.

Install a tach on the dash.

Convert running and tail lights to LED.

Do some work on the latch release mechanism on my boattail's hatch.

Modify and install the reshaped windshield.

Upgrade my underbelly panelling to aluminum sheet if I encounter a reason (servicing, etc.) to need to remove it this year.

My goal is to use my bicycle to displace as many vehicle miles as I possibly can.

I'm in car limbo right now so I can't comment on any modifications... I think I am inheriting the '92 Corolla now so I will need to get a wish list going for that. First up is instrumentation, regardles of the vehicle.

- Flat Wheel Covers
- RH Mirror Delete cover
- Windshield wiper cover
- Lower Grille Block with removeable plugs
- Upper Grille Block
- Complete underbody panel
- Enhanced tire spoilers
- LH Mirror faring
- Sell the Conti's and get new Integrity's

My goal is 70 MPG at 60MPH. Currently, with temps in the low 70's and with the integrity's I can reach 64MPG AT 60mph.

Here is what I have so far:
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1073

I want to mount some solar cells to the front hood and roof of my Insight, so my hybrid HV and booster batteries can be topped off whenever the car sits in the sun.
http://www.99mpg.com/resources/artic...ingintothesun/
;)

MetroMPG -

Oh man, there are too many to think of. Here's a list that I may edit :

1 - Test "pulse plug" spark plugs
2 - Kamm-back
3 - Momentary fuel cutoff switch
4 - Front Aero nose treatments : Active grill block, Below/front engine pan using coropolast, Remove/angle/improve front license plate.
5 - Side view mirror downsize
6 - cheap wheel disk covers
7 - Hot Air Intake improvement
8 - Get my ElmScan 322 from www.scantools.net online so I can see my EFIE in action, which leads to ...
9 - ... Hydrogen Generator + EFIE, which leads to ...
10 - ... My hopeless quest for a reasonably priced NOx sensor

11 - The time to actually DO some of this stuff.

CarloSW2

Well, since all my short/stop + go trips are mpg killers. I planning doing more trips by bike. Once the weather gets a bit warmer (and the sun starts coming up earlier) I really want to get into the habit of riding my bike to work.

Also, I would like to go at least 1 week with no trips by car (just for the challenge).

Crikey! I try to stay away from the cars when on my bike.

Goals - Camry:
Rear Wheel Skirts
VGs
Front Airdam
Lose some unneeded weight
Partial front bellypan
Momentary interrupt switch
Buy Scangauge II
Smaller, non-retracting antenna

Wishlist:
E-bike
Re-tune to run on E85
More efficient car
LED headlights and taillights for Camry

Goals
 

1. Change the Auto-Trans Fluid to Synthetic ATF (have it, need the time)
2. Find Cool Air:
__a) To source ambient air for the Vent setting in the Summer (engine heat is currently being drawn)
__b) A cool air source to regulate IATs to a target of 100F (difficult thus far -- need to plumb tubes around engine components)
3. LED indicator of Fuel Injector Activity
4. Engine cut and restart on the shifter stalk
5. Get on that Bike instead :o
6. Remove the radio antenna and mount an array internally
7. Whatever the latest and greatest is from EcoModder.com! (OK, cheesy -- but true).

RH77

It does break down to both readily achievable goals and a wish list.

F350 Goals
1. Improved front bumper/air dam
2. Side skirts
3. Mooneyes
4. Fender skirts
5. Improved “canopy” and tail gate “cone”
6. Gap seals
7. Overdrive unit (target: 1350 RPM @ 70 MPH)

I think these will get me to 30 MPG.


F350 Wish List
1. Rear view cameras to replace side mirrors
2. Cab-operable radiator block dampers
3. Sloped hood
4. A MPG smackdown road trip against the “Diesel Power” Dodge Cummins fakes.

Vindication is priceless.


F350 Really Out there
1. A Miller-cycle cam and control for the engine.

If I could do all this, I think I could realize 34 MPG and that would be about all I think I can get from a pickup that I intend to use as a pickup.

Build an electric car.

I've taken a couple of days off this week for a four-day weekend, to work on cars with my son. So this weekend the plans include:

1. install flat windshield wipers and cowling.
2. install Taurus chin tray on my Cavalier.
3. not indexing the plugs. the race shop didn't get the indexing washers in time for my long weekend.
4. test alternator disable. If the engine runs okay without the alternator, I've got the switch, wire, ammeter and A-pillar pod ready to install. (I'm good at buying parts before I need them)

So this summer's plans include
3. spark plug indexing
4. (maybe) alternator disable switch w/ ammeter
5. flat wheel covers. I priced aluminum pizza pans online for $5-7. This week I found pans at Walmart that fit my rims perfectly fo $3 ea. I grabbed them. Steel pans. I returned them :rolleyes: Target has aluminum pans online, but I checked the store today and they don't carry them.
6. air separation lip around the entire, rounded read end. Not VG's. Yes, Metro, I'll do ABA testing.
7. lower the suspension
8. water vapor injection
9. WAI. I wish I had done that last fall
10. EFIE. homebuilt from online plans. I want to learn electronics anyway



What's not gonna happen: Better gearing. This Cavalier has a 3-speed auto w/ lockup. It really needs better gearing. The options I see are:
A. swap in a manual. Too much work and no garage. I'd be better off finding a manual tranny, 2 door with a blown engine and swap in my engine.
B. swap in a 4 speed OD automatic and ECU. I stopped at the tranny shop today and picked their brains. They don't want to be involved in this. I don't have a garage or spare car to drive during the swap.
C. swap the sprockets on the final chain drive. Yes, chain drive. This would put my final drive = OD, in all gears. Unfortunately, the sprockets are the last thing you reach on a complete teardown. So $800 to pay the shop to swap sprockets.

I guess the smartest thing would be to replace the dented fenders, sell the Cavalier, and buy something to play with that has a better baseline than the Cav's 25mpg combined.

^^ where can you get flat windshield wipers? I didn't even know they made such a thing, that would be awesome! Hey man, you're starting around where I am and I get about 30MPG around town, you should be able to get that if not better.

Attainable Goals:
- Sell Gloria (should've done that last weekend when I was at home)
- Sell the Geo
- Get a carrier for my bicycle so it's more useful
- Find a job that's within walking (not biking) distance from where I live

Dream list:
- Custom build some sort of a 25-mph pedal-powered vehicle that features an enclosure for all-season use

A geo for sale!?!?!!?


Dibs! Sell it to me!

LOL! Of all the Geo Metros out there, you want mine?!? Metros sell for so much cheaper in the 'States.

I'm planning to wait just 'till gas inevitably hits $5 a gallon here in Canada and then put on my sales pitch for the poor souls that spend $80 to fill their Cavaliers.

Darn.

Worth a shot.

I just started doing that and I love it! It takes me about 30 minutes to get to work by bike so I have to plan a little further ahead to make it work but the outcome is that I have knocked almost 40 miles of gas usage off of my total weekly driving! That's almost 2 gallons of gas per week that I save by riding instead of biking, I'm paying myself basically another $6/week to ride instead of drive and I'm getting back in shape in the process! $6/week x 4 weeks in a month = $24/month x 12 months = $288...not bad.

Also keep in mind that there more to running a car than gasoline, so you're saving huge money elsewhere too :)

Will Do's
1) Homebrew Bio Diesel
2) Rear Wheel skirts
3) Clean up underside

Hopes
Inflatable Tail
Larger Injectors
Alligator Tune
Taller fifth

Mehbe I'll scrape together the money to get myself a d15z1 for the CRX.

At the very least I want to get the proper ECU and otherwise fix the dang thing, :p

O'Reilly has Anco and Trico flat wiper blades. They replace both the blades and arms (or brackets, or whatever you call them). Cost: $12-15 for either flat or regular blades/arms. Refills: Regulars, $6. Flats, another $12, since you're replacing the whole unit. It's supposed to be 60*F here Saturday, so I should be able to mount (ie, glue) the cowling then. I'll post pics when it's done. I'll remount the old blades and measure the height difference too.

I took the Cav to 31mpg avg. last summer, but I've been able to keep it over 30 this winter. So I'm anxious to see what that means this summer.

What I want to do and what I'll be able to do are probably not the same.

Anyway - - -
Revised front air dam, cleaning up the imperfections in what's there now.
Lexan (polycarbonate) covers for headlight openings in grill panel.
Underbody flat covering
Rear wheel skirts
False windshield??? Do I have the nerve for that??
New summer grill panel if this one doesn't pull in enough air