Engineer Gets 110 MPG Out Of '87 Mustang

[SpecM]

+1 this is BS

[rodrigo]

and his car STILL has a solid rear axle...


pitty. 100mph in a straight line must be fun,...i guess...

[george graves]

[george graves]

Fuel efficiency goal of contest

By Brian Koeller, Northwest Signal Editor

(Printed April 22, 2008 Northwest Signal)

A small Napoleon company is competing against teams of designers from around the world for a chance at one of the biggest prizes ever offered, as well as helping the environment.

Horse Power Sales has officially entered the Progressive Auto X Prize, a contest sponsored by Progressive Auto Insurance and the X Foundation which offers $10 million in prizes to teams that design a new generation of viable, super fuel efficient vehicles. The goal is to design, build and bring to market a vehicle that can travel the energy equivalent of 100 miles per gallon (mpge). As of March 20 (2008), 60 international teams had entered the contest, and Monday Horse Power Sales also entered.

"This really goes back to my father and grandfather," said Horse Power owner Doug Pelmear. "They designed an engine in the 1940's, but their engine wouldn't work with the technology of the time so it got passed to me."

Pelmear already has designed the Valley Girdle, which he said reduces fuel consumption by 5 percent. That has been just one piece in developing the current engine his company is working on now. He was working on the engine before the contest was announced as a way to help the planet and consumers.

"With the rising costs of fuel, I'm looking at it and saying we need this now," Pelmear said.

His prototype will be on display June 14 at Milan Dragway in Milan, Mich. He said he has tested the vehicle in the wind tunnels, but the test at Milan will be its first real-world test. Pelmear also pointed out his vehicle isn't something that will only allow one person to get from place to place.

"We're not looking at a one or two-person vehicle, but something that carries four people with some creature comforts," Pelmear said. "Our vehicle is the heaviest in the competition right now, it weighs 2,600 pounds."

He added the next heaviest is about 1,500 pounds.

The fuel he selected to run his vehicle is also practical.

"The fuel I chose is E-85 (an ethanol blend) because it's available on the market now," Pelmear said. "It is a resource that has grown."

Pelmear said he has sunk about $1.4 million into the project so far and added patents can be very expensive. Also, the parts are custom made just for this engine and the price of metal and shipping are adding more and more to the cost. Still, Pelmear has made sure all parts are made in the United States, sticking to a promise he made to supporters. "I know I could go outside the United States to get parts made cheaper, but I want to keep it here and hopefully it will help the economy," Pelmear said.
The local project has received sponsorship from CIG Financial Services of Archbold and Jegs High Performance Mail Order of Columbus according to Pelmear. His team is comprised of himself, Jen Rodgers of Van Wert, Mark Schnitkey of Defiance and Kevin Wilson of Wauseon.

The X Foundation previously awarded $10 million to Burt Rutan, who built and flew the world's first private vehicle to space. The foundation is creating prize competitions in five areas, exploration, life sciences, energy and environment, education and global development.

Deadline to enter the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize is mid 2008. Applicants will then undergo a thorough qualification process to assess safety, cost, features and business plans to ensure that only production-capable, consumer-friendly cars compete. Those that qualify will race their vehicles in rigorous cross-country stage races in 2009 and 2010 that combine speed, distance, urban driving and overall performance. The winners will be vehicles that exceed 100 mpge, meet strict emission standards and finish in the fastest time. Host cities involved in the competition route will be announced in the future.

E-mail comments to briank@northwestsignal.net
On the Net:

https://www.progressiveautoxprize.org

www.horsepowersales.net

1.4 million? Bulllllllll-shiiiiiit

[JasonC]

That can't be it? That one there isn't even an 87.

[george graves]

No? (but that is the guy anyways)

[Ryan Stewart]

skinny and fake as shit tits but I would still rail the fuck out of the brunette for her stomach alone.

[DCColegrove]

Won't happen...The numbers just don't add up.

There is no way to get that much power and acceleration with that kind of "economy" in a 2600 pound car and with a fuel that is even less efficient the gasoline.

[Hallen]

This kind of crap popped up all the time in the 70's too. There was always some back yard mechanic/engineer who had come up with the 100mpg car engine. I even remember 60 Minutes ran an episode on one of these guys. He got the car up to a pretty high mpg for the single test that they did, but he didn't get what he said he would. Anyway, nothing ever came of it. The rumor back then was the oil companies and car companies would buy up all these inventions and put them on the shelf. However, it is much more likely that the technology didn't work in the first place. Come-on, it is a competitive marketplace. Do you really think that GM would pass up a patent for an engine that could do 100mpg and still make tons of horse power? No way. They would sell billions worth of cars before the competition could even respond.

Anyway, you can check out the story here about a race car owner who even managed to flim-flam Porsche with his shell game of corporations and a fabricated engine technology. You can even find official "news" stories about it on the interwebs without trying real hard. Needless to say, this stuff doesn't work.

CET LLC and Al Solaroli

[PiercedE30]

Wait, I read a completely different article on this dude (linked to from BF.c) that said he was getting 80 MPG, not 110.

[OrganicMechanic]

if you choke the shit out of the exhaust (major back pressure) restrict the bejesus out of the intake and lean out to the point of barely running, you might get 50-65 mpg. just guessing though.

[SpasticDwarf]

I don't believe this in the least, but if it is true, one of the big companies will pay millions for it so it doesn't get out.

That's what happened with the guy who transformed the chevy V8 into a 2-stroke engine for his drag car.. they bought it off of him and told him never to make another.

[Vedubin01]

I don't believe this in the least, but if it is true, one of the big companies will pay millions for it so it doesn't get out.

That's what happened with the guy who transformed the chevy V8 into a 2-stroke engine for his drag car.. they bought it off of him and told him never to make another.

Any info on this?

[crxb16t]

I'd agree that 100+mpg does sounds exaggerated. What was the reasoning for using a heavy fox body anyway? Picking an Über-efficient car like a metro xfi would be much more suitable. Not that I have any reason to be one-sided;) http://1989geometro.com/

[payney8]

+1 on bs