Last message on previous page: Oh, if you like, I can do that V8/RWD conversion for you. Just pick up a wrecked mustang with a good engine and I'll use the engine, transmission, rear axle, rear suspension, and transmission tunnel from the mustang on the sable (allong with some 2x2 square tubing and a little flat sheet to fill the voids). From there feel free to add all the mustang engine hop-ups you want, or have the engine rebuilt to race specs.
<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>
I read a better article on this at Vulture Central. I figure it must have been one of the Associated Press pickups. Still, it's a cool new battery. I'll take one for my laptop and a huge pile of them for my electric motorcycle.
<pre> <font color=purple>Yes I'm insane, but it's a <font color=blue><i>good</i></font color=blue> kind of <font color=red>crazy</font color=red>. </font color=purple></pre><p>@ 184K -> 200,000 miles or bust!
I belive it was an ultra-lightweight permanent-magnet flywheel, suspended magnetically in a vacuum, spinning at an insane speed, to generate power. The idea was you'd plug the car in long enough to spin up the flywheel, then the energy would return from the flywheel as you drove off.
<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>
The leaning trike is an interesting concept. Unfortunately I'm not a big fan of the look. :\ I mean you're typically just one step away from a clown car then. **ROFL** (And yes, I'm aware that I could get my arse kicked for saying that. I've got a friend that'd do it personally if he heard me say that.)
So I'll stick with my dream for a (possibly) complicated split wheel system so that when I'm racing along my bike will be all sleek like a Ducati supersport. Well, okay, so it probably won't look that good when I find a home for all of my batteris, but maybe a futuristic techno similarcum anyway.
<pre> <font color=purple>Yes I'm insane, but it's a <font color=blue><i>good</i></font color=blue> kind of <font color=red>crazy</font color=red>. </font color=purple></pre><p>@ 184K -> 200,000 miles or bust!
I belive it was an ultra-lightweight permanent-magnet flywheel, suspended magnetically in a vacuum, spinning at an insane speed, to generate power. The idea was you'd plug the car in long enough to spin up the flywheel, then the energy would return from the flywheel as you drove off.
Oh. Wow. I think I'm following you now. But that's pretty close to impossible right? I mean that'd be like some weird almost-perpetual-motion machine storing your 'energy' kineticly, no? And what would happen if that flywheel ever <i>broke</i>? As if a piston shooting through the head isn't bad enough...
Of course there's a question: Would it be possible to design a vehicle that generated enough electricity through alternator style electrical production to keep itself moving with electrical motors at whatever speed a highly-efficient gas engine could get you up to? It'd perform like crap of course and hybrids seem to lean the opposite way...
<pre> <font color=purple>Yes I'm insane, but it's a <font color=blue><i>good</i></font color=blue> kind of <font color=red>crazy</font color=red>. </font color=purple></pre><p>@ 184K -> 200,000 miles or bust!
Actually, turbines can generate power nearly as efficiently as fuel cells. I had plans to convert a 1967 Riviera to a mini turbine electric generator system. The advantage over direct turbine power is that the electric generator can run at peak speed all the time, with the load going up and down.
That advantage negates the failure of direct turbine power: Turbines use a huge amount of fuel to accelerate, but operate at super high efficiency once up to speed. Direct turbine power failed because the cars used enormous amounts of fuel during very slow acceleration.
The problem with my plan of course is that I couldn't find any backing. The WORST part was when I told people about it, they recited the problems I just mentioned with direct turbine power and wouldn't listen to the advantages of turbine-electric power. These SAME PEOPLE know turbine-electric has been used on TRAINS for YEARS.
The cool part about my car idea was that the turbine would have been so small as to allow me TWO TRUNKS in the car!
<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>
That's an interesting idea. I'm not sure if I'd persoanlly find a use for two trunks, but that's another topic all together. Heh heh.
Is there any way that you could built your own prototype as a proof of concept? It would be interesting to see how reality would meet theory on that one.
<pre> <font color=purple>Yes I'm insane, but it's a <font color=blue><i>good</i></font color=blue> kind of <font color=red>crazy</font color=red>. </font color=purple></pre><p>@ 184K -> 200,000 miles or bust!
I don't have the cash to buy the engine. We're talking easily 15 grand for a relatively tiny turbine (it doesn't have to be very large).
The other problem I would face is exhaust heat, I'd really need to collaborate with a turbine expert to reduce it. I've heard of methods to capture more of the exhaust heat and use it to produce additional power, but when it comes to turbines, I'm just a newb.
<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>
Do you suppose that the exhaust heat could be enough to run a steam engine? Then it'd be a car that runs on water. (Just kidding.)
But yeah, $15K for a turbine is kind of nasty. I doubt that a Pay Pal donation setup is going to raise the money for that. (Though then again, make it sound geeky enough, and who knows?)
I guess that means it's not a very commercially viable product to make cars like that though until the price of the turbines comes down.
<pre> <font color=purple>Yes I'm insane, but it's a <font color=blue><i>good</i></font color=blue> kind of <font color=red>crazy</font color=red>. </font color=purple></pre><p>@ 184K -> 200,000 miles or bust!
One of the other issues is the cost of maintenance and parts. High speed moving parts cost mo money! Some of the lubricants can be really nasty, too...
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<font color=red>You're a boil on the arse of progress - don't make me squeeze you!</font color=red>
Wait. :\ Actually, there are a <i>lot</i> of cars that I can't afford already. So maybe it's a viable product after all? Or do I just not have enough disposable income to weigh this sensibly?
<pre> <font color=purple>Yes I'm insane, but it's a <font color=blue><i>good</i></font color=blue> kind of <font color=red>crazy</font color=red>. </font color=purple></pre><p>@ 184K -> 200,000 miles or bust!
On a slightly more sane note, I wonder if it's possible to buy the hybrid components of another vehicle to mod your own non-hybrid with. :\ That'd be cool if I could improve my gas milage.
For that matter, do <i>any</i> of those fuel saving devices actually work? (You know, like the Tornado thingy on TV that I have a hard time believing in.) I think my uncle even said to put a jar of water on the engine and the steam will save you gas. :\ That didn't make any sense to me either. (Besides, wouldn't the heat and bumping around shatter the jar anyway?)
I mean hell, I guess I could just cut my air/fuel a little leaner. (Not that I have any idea <i>how</i> to.) But then I'd lose HP, right?
Damn. Now I'm rambling. All I want is to be able to afford to drive to work. (Since I can't afford to live <i>close</i> to work.) Is that too much to ask? Damn rising gas prices...
<pre> <font color=purple>Yes I'm insane, but it's a <font color=blue><i>good</i></font color=blue> kind of <font color=red>crazy</font color=red>. </font color=purple></pre><p>@ 184K -> 200,000 miles or bust!
Typically you spend as much or more on those <b>gimmicks</b> than you would on the gas.
The only things I have done that has improved my gas mileage:
1. K&N Filter/throttlebody kit. It increased my fuel economy from 14MPG to 15.28MPG (tracked over 10K miles)
2. Oil additive called SFR oil (Super Friction Reducing Oil). It has taken my average MPG up to ~16MPG.
I spent $250 on the K&N. Over the life of the vehicle I <b>may</b> break even from gas savings. The bonus plan is that it gives an extra 3-5% HP - to me it was worth it. My father-in-law distributes the SFR, so it is very cost effective for me for the MPG AND it will greatly increase the longevity of my engine. I expected no miracles so I wasn't surprised when I didn't get them. I actually got this truck to pull my gas-guzzling boat. I need to get a hybrid for driving around town and going to work!!
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<font color=red>You're a boil on the arse of progress - don't make me squeeze you!</font color=red>
<font color=purple>Yes I'm insane, but it's a <font color=blue><i>good</i></font color=blue> kind of <font color=red>crazy</font color=red>. 
Rugger94@gmail.com 
I need to get a hybrid for driving around town and going to work!!
