Seeing as some of you think its a joke or stupid.. I've set a goal. I can already squeeze out 30 mpg by changing driving technique and turning the ALDA in( I can still beat a school bus off the line)

Here are the plans

- mirror delete ( passenger side done, might just leave it that way)
- smooth wheel covers ( undergoing design and then testing)
- rear spoiler, thinking W123 AMG spoiler
- rear wheel skirts ( removable and no mods to the body work)
- front air dam to divert air
- partial grill block ( reason to wire the AUX fan so it can be used to aid in cooling while stopped)
- some form of mechanical based mpg computer seeing as we don't have obdII ports
-front skid plate ( I still know of a few for sale.. factory of course, maybe mod it to it extends to the back)
- telemetry... analog of course, gotta keep it real. EGT's, coolant( digital monitor instead of the guage cluster), boost, and something else.. voltage maybe.
- lower it ( wish I didn't sell my vogtlands now.... )

I need to get a frontal area shot done so I can calculate frontal area and do some tests to determine the .cd of the car ( isn't there factory specs on that somewhere or is that the w126)


What I will not be doing is stripping the interior, I've already removed and reinstalled it 10 times, cut into the body(except to repair the rust spot I have), do anything that compromises the safety of my, my passengers or te general public and the most important of all. I don't care how many mpg's removing the hood star will save, it stays!


why am I doing this? Because, it's my car, I can do as I please as long as its safe. To give other members insight and maybe ideas, to save fuel since I think green, a lot. Also because it interests me and is something I would like to do with my degree in engineering whenever I get it. See, that is my goal in life, to design and engineer things that are green and go above and beyond.



so, say what you want, do what you want, but it's my car and I have the last say.

Let the project begin...

Code name " Aero Brick"

There is no way you are going to get a 35% gain in efficiency without some major bodywork and getting rid of the 617 for a 616.

I've thought about how to do this. It's a little complicated in that you need to measure the difference between the fuel delivered to the IP and the fuel returned through the return line.

Not impossible, just complicated.

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Bob
'82 300D Petrol B-G Metallic

yea, very. But it has been done before.


ok.. maybe not 40mpg... I'll settle for 35

Lance, you're going for power. I'm going for efficiency/mpg's.

I'm not going for power, I'm going for drivability and mechanical efficiency.

If I wanted power I'd have the GT3576V turbo and a Myna pump on there right now.

ok then.. I'm just working with what I've got.

I'm with you all the way, I have done the 2:47 swap and have gained about 20% on the highway. I to am looking for the high mpg out of my 123.
I'll keep you posted on a couple of other things on my up coming trip to Cincinati.
Peter

1984 300d

Drive 30 MPH on the highway and you will get 40 MPG stock.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

I'm running a 2.88 rear end on my car. I do 60 on the highway. I did see a good line of cars doing 55 yesturday.. more reports of that occuring are coming in... or Old people are driving more.

Hopefully soon I'll get my 5-speed installed. I'm betting that wil boost my economy by 3-4mpg similar to what happened when I swapped the 3.69 rear end for the 3.46 (22mpg to 25mpg last year).

I can't wait to see the results. I might swap for a manual since I have a friend with one for sale..

Maybe this will help you:

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

ooo, I like the blacked out trim. lol

the AMG spoiler would probably help, I don't have a wind tunnel that large to my disposal, I do have one that will fit a 1/18 scale model car......


ebay!

You should make some aluminum belly pans to cover the driveshaft, etc

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

to soon for that.. lol. I'm not going all out.... yet

a belly pan would help with my oil droplets