Hey Jake what do you have for us on the MPG engine Options

[LarryR]

I would really like to know what you have for 914 in the way of a hi mpg, respectable performance package.

I figure the 914 should be able to kick out 40+ mpg and get a 0 - 60 time in under 7 seconds.

The new tdi jetta coming available in July will go 0 - 60 in 6.9 seconds and get 41 mpg in the city and 53 on the highway. However id does weigh 3300 pounds. I figure the 914 should be able to smoke that with the 1300 pound weight advantage.

I am really looking forward to seeing what you have come up with Jake.

trying not to hi jack the emissions thread but keep it on 914 world (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

BTW you said you need 10 or 12 additional people. I would be # 2 ... I would gladly buy a super efficient 914 engine as opposed to buying a tdi jetta. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

[Jake Raby]

Pete,
Yeah.. I'll ring you this evening..

Keep this realistic guys... If you have the money for programmable EFI- you also have the money to spend on a Super 2 Liter...

There are constraints we must work around on this one:
Prioritized
MPG
cost
reliability
longevity
performance

That means making an engine that needs no special support equipment! No 2K headers, no external oil coolers or DTM systems, cost effective ignition and induction.

Its a big picture and I'll tell you now that programmable FI would not be cost effective on this one, it would cost 3K to get 2 extra MPG. do the math.

The 1911 base engine would be easy for 2.0 guys to source a complete new core to build the engine from and the 1911cc parts are dirt cheap and VERY strong!!

I think the best way to proceed with the design of the project is a "you design it, I build it" approach... I'l start a thread on my forums where I'll give a list of goals and give a list of available components along with a list of objectives. We'll get everyone involved designing the engine online.
Then I'll build it, dyno it and optimize it.

But all that critical info can't be shared where I don't have all copyright control over it, unfortunately..

[LarryR]

Pete,
Yeah.. I'll ring you this evening..

Keep this realistic guys... If you have the money for programmable EFI- you also have the money to spend on a Super 2 Liter...

There are constraints we must work around on this one:
Prioritized
MPG
cost
reliability
longevity
performance

That means making an engine that needs no special support equipment! No 2K headers, no external oil coolers or DTM systems, cost effective ignition and induction.

Its a big picture and I'll tell you now that programmable FI would not be cost effective on this one, it would cost 3K to get 2 extra MPG. do the math.

The 1911 base engine would be easy for 2.0 guys to source a complete new core to build the engine from and the 1911cc parts are dirt cheap and VERY strong!!

I think the best way to proceed with the design of the project is a "you design it, I build it" approach... I'l start a thread on my forums where I'll give a list of goals and give a list of available components along with a list of objectives. We'll get everyone involved designing the engine online.
Then I'll build it, dyno it and optimize it.

But all that critical info can't be shared where I don't have all copyright control over it, unfortunately..

Ok I could not resist I went ahead and did the math. If you figure it @ 3 mpg based on 4 dollar a gallon gas and my driving 26K miles a year it would take ~20 years to recoup the investment...

Then I figured well they are saying that gas is supposed to hit 5 bucks a gallon just this summer... At that rate getting just 3 mpg better recoups the investment in only 16 years...

If you give a constant linear growth to the price of gas it gets more interesting though since gas seems to have been going up roughly .39 per year over the last 6 years if it really hits 5 bucks this summer.

so the yearly savings @ just 3 mpg goes from 144 @ $4 ->180 @ $5 -> ~216 @ 6

I am not saying it is worth it ... Just that with a fairly typical bay area commute a 3 mpg difference is worth maybe 1K over a 3 year period.

Oh lets not forget the Iran factor if things heat up there and hello 10 dollar a gallon gas I guess I will have to throw in the towel and put in a cot at work (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[RJMII]

Ok I could not resist I went ahead and did the math.

LOL me too.

i had to see the numbers and spent the last two hours playing with the kids and making a graph.