Shades of Mad Max
These people are located in Oregon and their business is importing very heavy slow diesel engines from China and India for use as generating plants for people who live off-grid. The engines are designed to run for years at a time with minimal maintenance. When maintenance is needed, it can be performed by the owner -- no fancy electronic modules to burn out. The basic design of these engines dates back to the 1800's - no reason to change them if they ain't broke.
The owner had a dead Chevy Metro and a spare diesel 10 Horsepower Engine and the two just seemed made for each other.
Here is the story:
Remember Mad Max Movies?
bq. Gasoline is $100 a gallon, but with this vehicle you're all set! Skim the fat off the stew pot, and transesterify it to make beefodiesel.... you will have enough fuel to get to town and back in this car!
The owner sold the car on eBay to some people in WA State and they drove it back -- here is their report:
bq. The car proved to pull the steepest hill they could find at more than 15 miles an hour with this hefty load! Flat ground produced nearly 50 miles per hour. Later, the car was driven with driver only, and Joel found the top speed to be no more than 50 on the flat, and he did see speeds nearing 60MPH when going down hills, this suggests that the drive system is pretty well optimized as per the ratios...
Very nice idea for a city commuter car. The new owners are reporting 110 MPG although the builder thinks that is a bit optimistic. A conversion kit is available through
eBay Motors.
UPDATE: Someone decried the lack of Muffler Bearings.
Here is a source:
Muffler Bearings
They also stock such useful items as
High Quality Synthetic Blinker Fluid and the
Pilot Wrench
Posted by DaveH at January 20, 2005 6:11 PM