Flash944's attack on a 50 MPG beater
#1
Flash944's attack on a 50 MPG beater
I've never really had an 'official' build thread on here but I guess it is time I started one. Not to steal JD's thunder or idea, but the high gas prices (gone up 80 cents in 36 hours here because of the hurricane) have inspired me to start the onslaught toward a 50 mpg daily driver, with power steering and A/C. Eventually I’m going to throw a 14b on there to make up for the 3.25.
I found this car for $300 not running, a 93 Civic EX auto. It had great tires, and a working battery, which is what I needed at the time. Pretty much paid for its self cause I used those on another car. Anyway, I had a well seasoned d16z6 and a CX 3.25 final drive transmission lying around. Swapped the auto junk out and put the manual stuff in and I just got it running today. I still have some small details to work out like the neutral safety switch and O2 sensor, but 48 in first gear is interesting. That automatic brake pedal is way too big so I’ll have to do something about that too. I haven’t had time to go through the suspension yet so I haven’t had it on the main highway to see where the top of second is. Pretty sure a driver’s side CV joint is bad, so that will get swapped out as soon as I get a chance. So for now, I want to baseline this thing and see where I’m at just with everything stock. Then the modifications will ensue. Comments welcome.
*Pictures added*
I'm not wild about the paint on this one, but for 300 bones and hopefully darn good gas mileage, I'll take it. Be sure to check out the siliconed raidator. Quality work there, but at least it doesn't leak.
Z6 + P20/000A CX tranny + all the options. A/C P/S sun roof power windows power locks tilt wheel. Car has a ton of options, should make for a nice daily.
The interior is by far the worst part. It's like someone didn't clean the car ever. Carpet was so nasty (had mold where the heater core was leaking) I just pulled it out and haven't decided what I want to do with it yet.
A shot of the auto to manual bracket work I did. Pretty much eyeballed it, and its close enough to work. HMT > expensive conversion mounts.
I found this car for $300 not running, a 93 Civic EX auto. It had great tires, and a working battery, which is what I needed at the time. Pretty much paid for its self cause I used those on another car. Anyway, I had a well seasoned d16z6 and a CX 3.25 final drive transmission lying around. Swapped the auto junk out and put the manual stuff in and I just got it running today. I still have some small details to work out like the neutral safety switch and O2 sensor, but 48 in first gear is interesting. That automatic brake pedal is way too big so I’ll have to do something about that too. I haven’t had time to go through the suspension yet so I haven’t had it on the main highway to see where the top of second is. Pretty sure a driver’s side CV joint is bad, so that will get swapped out as soon as I get a chance. So for now, I want to baseline this thing and see where I’m at just with everything stock. Then the modifications will ensue. Comments welcome.
*Pictures added*
I'm not wild about the paint on this one, but for 300 bones and hopefully darn good gas mileage, I'll take it. Be sure to check out the siliconed raidator. Quality work there, but at least it doesn't leak.
Z6 + P20/000A CX tranny + all the options. A/C P/S sun roof power windows power locks tilt wheel. Car has a ton of options, should make for a nice daily.
The interior is by far the worst part. It's like someone didn't clean the car ever. Carpet was so nasty (had mold where the heater core was leaking) I just pulled it out and haven't decided what I want to do with it yet.
A shot of the auto to manual bracket work I did. Pretty much eyeballed it, and its close enough to work. HMT > expensive conversion mounts.
#3
Re: Flash944's attack on a 50 MPG beater
My ---- is going to be different, I don't have the parts or the know how on some of the topics to be able to pull off what he can. Number of efi cars I've tuned = 0. He has a huge advantage there, but I'm hoping to learn. Stock motor, stock transmission. No high compression stuff to get the efficiency up like he is doing, no hybrid transmission. This is going to be a simple, easy to repeat project in hopes that someone else might find the information useful.
It might be a common goal, but we are going about it with two totally different approaches.
It might be a common goal, but we are going about it with two totally different approaches.
#10
Re: Flash944's attack on a 50 MPG beater
My mileage figures are not impressive. The stock engine/trans combo you mentioned should beat it.
My mileage figures combined with my power figures are impressive - hell, they surprised me. I essentially replicated a fresh reman B16 swap that gets ~50 mpg, for under a grand.
My mileage figures combined with my power figures are impressive - hell, they surprised me. I essentially replicated a fresh reman B16 swap that gets ~50 mpg, for under a grand.