To sum up the first half of my post- I have a 94 civic ex coupe. 200k mile d16z6 with an edelbrock performer X turbo kit/5 speed. my latest fascination has been with improving the fuel mileage from my Civic. After researching alot on the vx civics and the wonderful economy of the d15z1, I'm determined to get my beater up around that level. Although I'm not sure what direction to take. Currently I get around 28city 32hwy. Not bad, but I feel like it should be capable of better. I've read the edelbrock turbo link box runs the AFR's a bit rich and could very possibly be too safe- dumbing down performance and economy. I could get it retuned- but feel like most shops would have NO idea how to tune with their software.
Another option: sell the turbo kit and run the d16z6 NA again, or sell the d16 as well to make room for a complete vx swap. It wouldn't be terribly hard to do, but hunting down all the necessary parts could be time consuming. I've also heard that the d15 is painfully slow, which could get old fairly quickly. Last option would be sell the whole car and buy a VX to start with, but I'm happy with my shell atleast currently

Any idea which direction I should take? Do you think standard mileage mods would make any substantial impact?(air diffusers/block off plates/ extra grounds/removing PS/AC / 1 piece headlighs) Or swapping the head or tranny on my d16. I've read that the VX trans would bolt up, but the power band of the d16z6 wouldn't match the gearing in the vx trans. Kammback spoiler for a coupe? Just looking to pool some idea's!

 

I really like that G-body. lol I'm looking for a 78-79 Cutlass. The Civic is good as a commuter/daily because it's easy on gas, and very easy to work on. If you have other toys leave it alone. Don't convert to a VX, just try to find one.

 

yea...I agree with furious. You didnt post a location but up here in the northeast you can pick up vx's for $600-800. (Now Im not saying you wont be fixing some rust holes, however you said you did the body work/paint on your current "slo-vic and it looks decent in the pics)

 

OP -- To focus your thread on tech, I moved your introduction to the stickied Member Introductions thread at the top.

 

Sorry guys- I'm located in belair MD. Northeast of baltimore...and VX's down here are few and far between. The ones for sale especially clean ones fetch from 2-5000 Bucks...kinda rediculous for high mileage old civics!

 

Welcome aboard...always nice to see another Marylander!

You could probably get better mileage by turning down the boost and using a fuel computer that can be tuned with a laptop. Then you could have someone tune it the way you want.

Also, what is your wastegate set to? Turning down the boost would help too, if possible.

 

Per factory specs the kit is set to 6psi. I believe you can increase it up to 9 on without changing anything. IE the turbo link will compensate for the boost (has a vacuum line going to it to monitor air pressure) and the fuel system can handle it. I dont have a wideband so I wouldn't wanna push anything up yet. I would almost think that raising the boost could lean out the mixture to normal level when not in boost

 

im assuming since u said your running the turbo link your running the edelbrock turbo kit which is a good kit. you can get stock gas mileage as long as u stay out of boost. im running the same turbo kit without the turbo link and running a chipped ecu on crome pro and get 28mpg not driving aggressively. they do make a tuning module for the turbo link if u can 8-9lbs of boost on the link u should be fine without changing anything.

 

yes- I'm running the turbo link at factory specs for the kit. Still making around 6-7psi and letting the turbo link do the tuning. I'm averaging around 28mpg driving conservatively, 32 hwy, and 24 when I'm beating on it most the tank. Can attain 28 doing 1 or 2 WOT pulls during the tank