|
|
Old Car Performance/Efficiency Suggestions
|
|
|
| |
|
|
RoboDisko
User
Mar 15, 2014, 12:52 PM
Post #26 of 33
(1025 views)
|
|
Re: Old Car Performance/Efficiency Suggestions
|
Sign In
|
|
Daily driver race car that gets great mpg, of course!
But really, if you haven't got the contest clues, I'm 17 in high school. My high school is acrossed the street, so if my car dies it really isn't a big deal. I am currently very interested in working on my car. Spring break is next week, which would be a great time to take the head off. From what I understand, what that would entail is the following:
1. Take timing chain cover off (I think it is a chain)
2. Take timing chain off, take note of timing positions so it can be put back on properly.
3. Take valve cover off.
4. Probably some bolts and bearings holding the cam. Remove them.
5. Remove the cam.
6. Remove exhaust and intake manifolds.
7. Find head bolts and remove them.
8. Remove the head?
9. Clean all parts thoroughly.
10. Reassemble in opposite order, putting gaskets where necessary.
11. Fresh oil?
How close am I? Obviously each step is fairly large, but taking them 1 at a time can't be too hard, right?
Anyways Discretesignals , I have already used a recip saw right behind the cat, and it would take about as much time to measure back pressure as it would to simply remove the cat.
Also, this isn't the first engineering I have done. As a one man team, I went to nationals for robotics, and ranked in the upper half. I know how to build and maintain efficient mechanical things.
As for a dynamic compression test, I don't think I have any of the tools that would require. I don't know where I would find the tester, and I don't plan on buying one.
What do you guys think I should do?
|
|
| |
|
|
RoboDisko
User
Mar 15, 2014, 1:01 PM
Post #27 of 33
(1019 views)
|
|
Re: Old Car Performance/Efficiency Suggestions
|
Sign In
|
|
I just took a flash light to my cat, and it is COMPLETELY HOLLOW. No honeycomb structure AT ALL. It is simple a large hollow black area. I was hoping to get performance improvements... Do you still think removing it will help?
(This post was edited by RoboDisko on Mar 15, 2014, 1:31 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 15, 2014, 1:10 PM
Post #28 of 33
(1019 views)
|
|
Re: Old Car Performance/Efficiency Suggestions
|
Sign In
|
|
Quote"How close am I? Obviously each step is fairly large, but taking them 1 at a time can't be too hard, right?"
You don't even own a compression tester or able to borrow one that I believe yet and going to take on this? Trust me, it will be a learning experience but will never run again, even poorly.
You have to do your diagnosing before tearing into it. At best if you did a perfect job, sent head out and all fine the lower end could give up fast.
This could have cracked magor parts you can't see at all without some tests.
Soooooo, you've got essentially no investment in the thing and unless somehow this car is in exceptional shape in all other aspects just part it out before you lose your shirt. It's worth something as just metal by weight,
T
|
|
| |
|
|
RoboDisko
User
Mar 15, 2014, 1:50 PM
Post #29 of 33
(1013 views)
|
|
Re: Old Car Performance/Efficiency Suggestions
|
Sign In
|
|
You have a point. I don't plan on parting out my car. As far as metal weight, this thing is one of the lighter cars on the road. I think it is under 2K lbs.
Besides that the head, what other fun mods could I do to it? I was reading about water injection, which sounded interesting.
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 15, 2014, 2:12 PM
Post #30 of 33
(1007 views)
|
|
Re: Old Car Performance/Efficiency Suggestions
|
Sign In
|
|
Water injection now! Did someone lace something you ate?
You lost about $100 for a junk converter already as even dead ones are good for the metals they use. Rest of car call local salvage for what they would pay for whole vehicle delivered or if they pick it up.
A couple ways you could make some bucks would be to find a good party for St. Patrick's Day, paint some shamrocks all over it and get a baseball bat and charge $5 buck a whack at it for the fun of it.
Do what you want but you clearly are NOT in any position to make this a decent running car from the read of this thread.
It's your $$ but I'd start off the learning thing with something that at least runs well right away and work on details not something that is quite this hopeless - your call,
T
|
|
| |
|
|
RoboDisko
User
Mar 15, 2014, 2:16 PM
Post #31 of 33
(1003 views)
|
|
Re: Old Car Performance/Efficiency Suggestions
|
Sign In
|
|
The car is running pretty well right now. I just would like to make it run better.
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 15, 2014, 2:30 PM
Post #32 of 33
(998 views)
|
|
Re: Old Car Performance/Efficiency Suggestions
|
Sign In
|
|
General rule of thumb is don't modify your daily driver. If your daily driver was running bad and had problems, you would have to diagnose and repair those problems. If this is something you drive to school or work everyday, you don't want to play around with modifying and racing it because you depend on it.
Majority of people that own race cars also have daily drivers that are bone stock and reliable. You really can't have both in one, unless you have lots of money laying around and not too concerned about breaking down or breaking things.
Being young and wanting to go fast is a normal thing for a teenager to dream about, especially with all the Fast and Furious related movies around. The reality is as you get older you start to realize things aren't cheap and your constantly paying bills, trying saving money, and working you hind off to make things meet.
I'm not trying to be a parental figure, but giving you the realities of life.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Mar 15, 2014, 2:32 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
RoboDisko
User
Mar 15, 2014, 4:12 PM
Post #33 of 33
(985 views)
|
|
Re: Old Car Performance/Efficiency Suggestions
|
Sign In
|
|
Although it is my daily driver, I can easily do without it, and that is why I am not afraid of taking a chance with it. My high school is acrossed the street, and the tech center (part of school) is like 1/4 mile away. I do have a bike.
I also try to be very conservative with my limited funds, and have never watch Fast and Furious movies. I just like building things.
So what are some fun mods I could do to the engine? Preferable low cost and low risk ones.
(This post was edited by RoboDisko on Mar 15, 2014, 4:14 PM)
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
2011 Dodge Nitro OBD scanner seems to drain battery in 10-20 minutes
Grounding Cable, 2017 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
equipment
Howdy
