turbine engine for a geo metro
 

For all those people representing metro's. Found a Turbine engine mounted to a metro torque converter and auto transmission. 100 hp. and only weighs 68lbs. From what I've read turbine engines are 60% efficient, as apposed to ICE's 30%. It's a lot of money to double your FE but it would be awesome.

eBay Motors: TURBINE ENGINE JET ENGINE TIERNAY TT10-1 FREE SHIPPING (item 170268610227 end time Oct-09-08 13:28:02 PDT)

That's crazy....I like it!!! Now, where did I leave the extra 5 grand I had layin' around?

LoL!

Noisy little suckers!!! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUlrIUHqVNg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60NqUGPkSqE

EOC with one of these would be hilarious!

And what do you do about the flame torching out the side of that thing in the second video? Your inner fender would be cherry-red and your tire would melt and pop! Like a said before...I like it!

More to the point
 

where would you get a low-power turbine and get it to generate electricity for a Volt (or a Prius that can run full-electrical):p? Obviously there are plenty of (force-induction) turbos in junkyards, but I wouldn't expect them to be something that could be modified for this type of thing (wiki claims it is done by hobbyists, but google let me down in finding them.:(

I think it would be a great engine to run as a series hybrid. Turbines are very efficient... within a very narrow rpm range. The low rpm variability has historically made the turbine a poor choice compared to the Otto.
But running it as a series hybrid with a good battery system would be very nice. Let the batteries discharge down to ~50%, start the turbine to recharge and run the electrics back to full and turn it off. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Additionally, you could run a turbine on just about any fuel, depending on your injection system.

I have to wonder about the ad, though. Wouldn't you think that for that asking price, the seller would have someone check the spelling & grammar? Some of the lines are classic, though, such as "MOTOR MOUNTS USE TO BE NEW". Really?

Pretty typical for eBay, unfortunately.

I Don't Believe It

Gas turbines only surpass ICE's after they pass the 100,000 HP level - what turbine people call Frame 8s. That little heat loss thing, y'know.

It might fit, and it would probably go like a scalded dog. But like the Hyabusa engine in a Smart it would get lousy MPG.

Did you ever stop and ask why - in a hypercompetitive auto market - nobody ever offered a turbine?

It must be the Big Oil conspiracy! :D :D ;)