What are your modding goals / resolutions / wish list for 2010?

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Goals for the ForkenSwift:

• install tires with lower rolling resistance than the snows that are currently on it year-round

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Man, oh man. It rolls so much better now.

[NeilBlanchard]

So, you can slack off the rest of the year?!

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

So, you can slack off the rest of the year?!

...nah, he's gonna "coast" thru the rest of the year (pun intended)!

[user removed]

This year things have stabilized. Any improvements would be more of refinements and possibly some semi boat tail experimentation.

Using the Insight CVT locally my average is closing on 70 MPG, with the VX closing on 60 MPG on the highway.

My real pursuit this year is the patent and a motorcycle project that will use the patented design in wheel IVT, with a small pressure washer motor (Honda) and a small accumulator to provide a real demonstration of two main points.

First is hydraulic hybrids do not need to be heavy. The bike will weigh about 200 pounds when finished, compared to close to 375 in its original configuration (1972 Honda CB 350).

Being an antique in Virginia, it will not need to be scrutinized by a state inspector that might reject it for no rear brakes since that will be accomplished by stroke reversal and regeneration. The front brake will only be used in emergencies. This easily allows complete regenerative recovery of all potential inertial forces.

Hopefully it will be operational this fall or winter, before my 60th birthday. It would be nice to see it capable of 50+miles on its fuel capacity of 1.1 quarts. The engine weighs only 27 pounds, accumulator will be about 35, and the rear wheel will weigh about the same as the original. Might even get the weight down to 180, less than I weigh.

I'll see how it does with no aero, hoping for 55 MPH, then add aero to improve top speed.

Probably carbon fibre spars and Mylar covering for little weight increase.

Should be an interesting year, the Patent is due in the next 3 months.

regards
Mech

[mcmancuso]

I really need to get the rocker rust fixed on my 2 metros, I'm sure its causing some nasty drag I just lowered the vert by 1 coil in front. Now I need to drop the sedan. It sits way too high. And fix the oil burning problem too...

[MetroMPG]

Neil: are you kidding! My to-do list never gets shorter.

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

a motorcycle project that will use the patented design in wheel IVT, with a small pressure washer motor (Honda) and a small accumulator to provide a real demonstration of two main points.

Once you have patent protection, will you be able to post the project progress on EcoModder? I'd definitely like to follow it.

[Nevyn]

Now that I'm out of that godforsaken Lumina, I'm ready to REALLY tear in.

2010 Goals for The Crimson Crawler

• Underbody paneling
• One tank over 40 MPG
• Smooth wheel covers

[user removed]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Neil: are you kidding! My to-do list never gets shorter.



Once you have patent protection, will you be able to post the project progress on EcoModder? I'd definitely like to follow it.

The Patent was approved last October, and has been published, which means all of the information, including my name and address is now a matter of public record.

You can search the complete Patent document under the application number in the attached documents and see the whole thing including the illustrations.

Also attached are a photo of the bike and the bearings I will be using on the IVT drive that will replace the hub of the rear wheel on the bike.

Being a legal antique in Virginia means you get a permanent tag, no county tags, and no state inspections are required. Also before 1974, there was no requirement for turn signals. I will use a cordless tool lithium battery for lighting so I do not need any charging system. Probably won't be driving it at night anyway. If I need to drive it more than 50 miles, I can just carry spare fuel in 1 quart plastic oil containers.

The bearing is 90 MM ID, plenty of room for my offset journal. It is load rated at 6500 pounds per bearing, so there should be no issues with strength. Under the bearing is the correct seal, which will be subjected to only low pressure, in the 10-40 PSI range, and only on one side of the hub assembly (see drawing).

Further patents are in process for improvements and control strategies. Those are the ones that will not be disclosed although technically they are already protected by the filing of any provisional applications which cost only $100 for a 1 year protection period.

I did not file internationally. It would have cost about $250k US. Call it a gift to the rest of the world. In many cases, assuming the potential I see for the design is realized, it would be and endless legal entanglement, of suits and court cases in the countries where the originality of the design was disputed, subject to the bias and agendas of their legal system. I may file internationally in the future if I gain outside financial support.

China would ignore the Patent anyway. I figure, after finding out how ridiculously hard it is to get anyone in the US to support this financially, that if the Chinese build it, I will just wait for anyone to bring it into the US.

Feel free to move this post if you feel it is necessary. When I have concrete progress, I will start another thread in the proper location.

regards
Mech

[Dave's Civic Duty]

99 Corolla,

So far I've got the Tires aired up to 50PSI & I'm going to install my ScanII. Getting right around 40MPG at the moment. Very happy w/ that, I was expecting only 30MPG. The Elantra auto I drove for a while, the best I could do was 33MPG, & that to me appears to be a smaller car.

Need to get my struts/shocks updated, rotors at least turned, tranny fluid changed. Thinking about maybe some SS flat wheel covers.

Funny gave me a link to the Garage for some ideas on what the guys w/ Corollas are doing.

Really need to get the car to handle better first!

Dave

[jamminjimmy]

Many mods/experiments planned, but just want to find a way to put my CRX SI into the 50 mpg's and average solid 40's without extremely extreme measures..... And of course, learn along the way....