Ben Nelson's Electro-Metro Build thread

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by bennelson

I plan on being at the next meeting. Hopefully, it works with my schedule and I can bring the motorcycle out too!

(PSssst! YouTube! ... For the rest of us...)

[Daox]

Was Tom B the guy who sells Amsoil? I talked with him a bit (we both drive Paseos). If that is the same guy wow is he busy. He also mentioned that he was building an alchol engine.

[Ryland]

Originally Posted by Daox

Was Tom B the guy who sells Amsoil? I talked with him a bit (we both drive Paseos). If that is the same guy wow is he busy. He also mentioned that he was building an alchol engine.

If he's the one with the teal-ish Paseo, then it is a small world, I spoke with him at the Mid West Renewable Energy Fair two years in a row, he was getting in the high 50's if I remember correctly, and another guy who was there was getting in the 90's with his Insight, both had scangauge, and warm air intakes.

[bennelson]

Not sure if that is the same guy or not. I only met him briefly and just spoke about electric vehicles.

His last name is Brunka. Works at a carbon company - said he could get any kind of motor brushes I might need.

[WaxyChicken]

Ben,
Have you checked Vehicle Impound Yards for cars?
I don't know how it works in your state, but here if someone doesn't pickup a car after a month then the impound yards will clear-title and sale off the cars.

Some will replace the ignition or get replacement keys from the auto companies and sale to the public.

The one here is pure gold for anyone that doesn't mind doing a little auto work. And seeing that most of the stuff will be ripped out anyway then you might be able to find a good deal from an Impound lot. They had a '08 Mazda 626 for sale for only $1,200 (and it ran). The cars they don't have keys made for yet or don't run they will sale for just $200 or $300 depending on the body.

Plenty of times they simply must sale those that are over a month because they have run out of room to store towed cars for a month.

[bennelson]

Originally Posted by WaxyChicken

Ben,
Have you checked Vehicle Impound Yards for cars?

I hadn't even thought of that yet.

I don't even know where the nearest impound lot would be. There are occasionally Police Auctions and that sort of thing through municipalities in the area

I can start looking around for those and see what's out there.

[MetroMPG]

The best way to find beaters is to tour around your area and look for obviously un-driven cars, and then knock on doors. (That part took a bit of getting used to.)

We found 6 dead Metros parked beside garages, or by the barn, or in driveways within a 20 minute drive from the house. And that's only Metros. There were dozens of other makes & models out there.

The red & blue ForkenSwift donors were just such yard finds. The red one ($75) was in the country, the blue one ($175) was in the city & I just knocked on the doors and the owners were happy to sell them to me. Both were driven away after a jump start.

[WaxyChicken]

Originally Posted by bennelson

There are occasionally Police Auctions and that sort of thing through municipalities in the area

I think the auctions themselves would be a waste of time. They would probably rather junk the cars ($$ off the scrap) they know won't sale at auction instead of tow them back and fourth.

Metro, I just might try your method out of curiosity to see what I find.

[bennelson]

Thanks for the tip Metro,

I just saw a listing on Craigslist:

"1994 geo metro - $550

Reply to: see below
Date: 2008-02-18, 1:45PM CST


1994 geo metro manual trans great gas mileage 88000 miles save money on gas great mileage cheap transportation"

I called the guy and he said it already sold! It was posted less than 3 hours earlier!!!!!

Maybe this Saturday I can waste gas and drive around neighborhoods looking for expired license plates....

[WaxyChicken]

Any luck on cars yet?

Because my budget is currently shot and you might beat me to the punch on the next EV Build doesn't mean i don't still root for you.