What Is Your 1st Mod Going To Be ???

[Coss]

Just like the 2 before me; window tint
Cameras
Then drive it and get in-tune with it; so it can tell me her name, and what she wants.

 

[Buckeyejake]

Roadster fenders like the original prototype.

 

[outsydthebox]

I'm going to copy most of my post from this same subject, different thread from a few years ago regarding NPG coolant:


I think this product is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist if you flush your coolant as recommended.

If the choice is adding a 50/50 mixture of tap water and engine coolant, I'd see the benefit, but modern coolant mixed with distilled water has the proper amount of corrosion inhibitors so I see no benefit with corrosion. Auto mfrs recommend flushing about every 3-5 years, and it is not that expensive. I think my Honda dealer charges about $80. I've changed it once in 165k miles.

If people flush with tap water mixed with coolant, or if you just use distilled water alone that could cause a problem. Tap water has impurities that will coat the cooling system and will deteriorate the cooling capacity and also can start corrosion of the internals. Distilled water alone will also look to pull minerals into it's solution, so it will also eat away at the materials in the engine cooling system, but I don't know anyone using distilled water alone in their cooling system. At auto stores they even sell engine coolant premixed so DIY'ers can do it themselves without worrying about the proper mix.

The boiling point is a moot issue for a properly working/maintained car. If a system is designed to run under pressure then who cares if someone designed a coolant that can run at lower pressure. IMHO, it is a red herring selling point.


Evans coolant is essentially some form of 100% glycol. The viscosity of this stuff is about 10x a water/ethylene glycol mixture and it's heat transfer capability is less. They sell a few products, but one of them, the NPG, is essentially just 100% propylene glycol. The water pump and radiator in any car are designed for a certain amount of flow and heat transfer, maybe this stuff happens to work good enough because the water pump and radiator are sufficiently oversized that people don't see problems but I still fail to see the benefit.

The only cooling system failure I've ever had was on a 20 year old pickup truck when the T-stat froze shut on scorching hot day. Took the sucker out and drove until I got to a parts store to buy a new one. I'm not sure the biggest problem we're going to have with the Elio is engine cooling system problems due to the type of coolant provided from the factory.

When I design pumping systems at work, just changing from a 100% water system to 30% glycol system usually requires pump selection motor hp increases and the efficiencies of the heating/cooling devices and heat rejection devices all are reduced, so the terminal units usually need to be increased in heat transfer surface area. Even though this is a car, it is still just a HVAC system except the heat is rejected from a cylinder block instead of a boiler, evaporator, or condenser barrel.

Evans recommends you completely flush your whole system almost bone dry before you introduce their coolant. Again, I don't see the cost benefit here.

I appreciate this information. In particular, the info about "pumping efficiency" and "heat transfer". I think that because the Elio has been engineered for maximum efficiency (with "traditional coolants"), I can only envision creating more "issues" by switching to NPG: 1) Because of reduced heat transfer, a larger/more efficient radiator may be needed. 2) Because of the higher viscosity of NPG, a larger/more efficient waterpump (not practical) may be needed. Even "if" neither of these ends up being an issue, because of the "thicker liquid" there will be SOME loss in MPG's. Will the loss in MPG's be measurable?...maybe not.
I do hope tho, that whoever chooses to use NPG, will share their results with the rest of us.

Sorry for the hyjack

 

[outsydthebox]

Full belly pan, if not offered as an option from EM.

Making high quality molds of the hood,back hatch, and wheel fairings ASAP [while the finish is as good as it'll ever be] to allow for future modified panels without altering the originals. Won't know until I weigh them, but I'm betting I can make them lighter. SMC has a much higher resin content than what I have planned. Lighter = slightly improved mpg.

Brilliant! Once you get a few parts made, you can figure out pricing to some of your "best est" friends

 

[Maurtis]

Definitely window tint, the summers here in Texas can be pretty brutal. After that, it depends on what we have available for options. Due to the lack of rear window, a rear camera (but I bet that will be an upgrade option). If a good stereo upgrade is not available from Elio, then that would be my next upgrade. Then heated seats.

That should make for a comfy and capable commuter. Then the fun mods. Intake, exhaust, and ECU tune for premium gas for a mild bump in power. To keep the power to the road, some light wheels, with wide, sticky tires with open fenders and upgraded suspension.

That should be good for a bit until I get really antsy, then go all out with the turbo route. Under the hood if there is room, otherwise a remote exhaust mounted unit like the STS setup, but mounted to the passenger side of the Elio.

 

[floydv]

Window tint and fold out radio with 7" touchscreen.

http://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=0N0-004Y-00024

 

[Neal]

I didn't think about it being a mod, but I will definitely be tinting the windows. It's a must in the Texas summer heat.

 

[outsydthebox]

Lets see...The first thing I will change will be...all of the above
But seriously,
1) WINDOW TINT
2) Air horn (already have it)
3) Dash cam/back-up cam....actually, THIS will probably be #1. I'll have it with me when I get my E from the factory & Use it on the way home.
4) design and build a Trailer hitch & trailer

 

[Coss]

Window tint and fold out radio with 7" touchscreen.
View attachment 8525
http://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=0N0-004Y-00024

That would be a great way of doing the screen for the Skyz System

 

[3wheelin]

Mine will be exactly like this:

1. Blue
2. Single wide stripe in the hood w/ racing number
3. racing number on side/s.
4. P3 fenders a must to go with the looks.
5. Re-route the exhaust and expose it in the side just like in the picture above.
6. Replace the stock steering wheel with WOOD making it look like a classic.
7. Needs to work HARD to earn the money to spend for these crazy ideas!
8. I still want a back window ( I know, I know) so I'll cut an opening, glass and rubber molds added and now it has the look of a normal car. More light coming in too! The easiest mod I can really do.
9. Needs to work HARD to earn more money to spend for these crazy ideas! Ok, so I said that already. The wait is just.....