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Originally Posted by oldtamiyaphile
As long as you have an auto trans the engine will have to be idling while in motion. Pusher trailer, genset, whatever, isn't going to help much, you're going to be idling a 318 just to lube the trans, turn over the power steering and provide brake vacuum. I can hardly think of a less efficient set up.
Start with aero, E-Fans and an electric power steering set up. You can then add a manual conversion and finally you'll be ready for some of your ideas.
If it were me, I'd buy a Prius (etc) and build a ~800lbs teardrop camper trailer (you'd still have an enclosed space with proper mattress and a usable kitchen). Modern cars tend to need less servicing, not more.
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Could the trans be put in in neutral and have the van roll like it's being towed? Couldn't the brake vaccumm and power steer be supplied by equipment powered by the genset?
There is no money for a Prius and teardrop trailer, plus they'll be fried when the EMP happens. Didn't you read the first post? Modern cars might need less servicing, but that servicing costs A LOT more as the parts are hyperspecialized and labor to install the parts is too.
My parents 2012 DODGE Caravan costs big bucks to keep looking and running like new. The plastic composite bumper got fendered, the replacement bumper cost about $550 and the labor was over $1000, plus cost of a rental car while the van was in the shop. The oil pan was smashed in by a large rock with other undercarrage damage while racing up a patch of muddy dirt road. Cost: About $750, plus $280 rental car to get back to San Jose, then $84 AMTRAK fare to go up to redding to pick the van up, with $8 taxi fare to go to the repair shop at 4 in the morning, and theres still more bodywork to be done.
New cars cost multiples more to fix when things go bust, plus there more new things in new cars with each new model year.
So if/when that new Prius has a mechanical problem that isn't covered by the warranty, have that high-limit credit card ready as the fix has a 4-figure price tag! Good luck in the plains of Wyoming when the computer decides to brick itself, warranting a 200+ mile tow to the nearest TOYOTA dealership; as the dealer is the exclusive mechanic for some of the newest cars! And forget about riding through the inevitable EMP and socio-economic collapse with your computer on wheels. This is why we don't see a lot of Priuses or other high-tech hybrids out in the country.
High-tech usually means high-maintence and high-cost. Rather have an less efficient low-tech drivetrain than an ultra-efficient high-tech drivetrain.
In many cases, older cars can be jerry-rigged and limped back to civilization if required. In many cases, Newer cars can't.
Quote:
Originally Posted by oil pan 4
If you have the stock fuel system then you have the carter thermoquad carb.
I am used to old dodges with the thermoquad run so rich they roll coal.
Why not swap it out for something you can tune like an edelbrock 650, advanced tuning kit and an air/fuel ratio meter?
When a lifted up ram charger with 318, 4.1 gear and 727 transmission can get 12 to 13mpg by some one obsessed with keeping everything stock, to include the junk thermoquad carb you should be able to do a lot better than 7mpg.
If you want better fuel mileage there really isn't any point in modifying anything until you get it running correctly.
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The carb is a HOLLY 2280 2-barrel carb. I looked at racing carbs and fuel injection conversion kits and hybrids of the two costing thousands. Any engine/trans/drivetrain swaps need to be in the low hundreds to be attainable.
Like the 24MPG estimate from a gas-electric traction system, 24MPG highway is even better than my parents 2012 DODGE Caravan minivan! Let's be realistic and say 21 MPG, accounting for all inefficiencies in the motors and controller. Why sip gas on a sore ass when it's possible to sip gas on a pampered ass? Can I have an estimate for the motor and controller, new & estimate for used? Any sources for cheap operational motors & controllers? Very good at perusing bargains on craigslist.
So it's possible to triple or even quadruple the MPG on this rig on a shoestring budget (less than $1000 for all mods)?