Urba Centurion Update - (Kubota diesel, 100+ MPG in mixed driving - Fall 2012 on)

[changzuki]

soD and GreenHornet - you're both correct. Adjustable radius arms would make the rear wheel alignment a piece of cake. These would be easy enough to fabricate even if one used the existing arms as part of the materials.
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It may be time for "hoarding/buried alive" to go on a scavenger hunt in the piles and see if there's anything handy.
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CrazyJerry

[changzuki]

Big Wheelin'!
GreenHornet has started a thread on his Urba Centurion and a recent post was about the size of the steering wheel:
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post483575
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For those considering a Centurion build, consider a 13" steering wheel to be about the largest one you'll want in these cars. Interior room is adequate but a smaller wheel goes a long way in regards to freeing up a bit of space. Just make sure you get one that is "flat" and not "dished". The dished wheel places the wheel closer to you and that is not needed.
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Depending on your seating position and your leg length, your knee may be sandwiched between the 13" wheel and the door. This comes in handy if you need a temporary wheel lock -
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If you still need a bit more room or just want to complete the "go-cart" motif, an 11" wheel will be right at home. These are extremely similar to ones found on the car "arcade" units:
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And for the same 50 cents you might use in the arcade game - you'll likely have more fun for a longer duration in a Centurion!
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~CrazyJerry

[changzuki]

Enough driving has been done between tweaks and improvements to safely say that this project is still headed in the right direction. Lately, my 2014 Mirage is used as a comparison vehicle and the highest mpg with it is 72 mpg and the "normal" mpg is 48-52. These numbers are nothing to sneeze at even though the Mirage is a gas guzzler compared to Centurion.
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The big difference is apparent when coming back from a drive in Centurion and then immediately taking the Mirage out on the same course. Centurion glides, the Mirage feels like it's going though honey. All coast down tests easily go to Centurion even though it's significantly lighter. Uphills are still a challenge for Centurion - but only the really long steep ones. Impressively though, Centurion will hold itself in high gear where other cars I've owned, failed to do so.
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Traffic that is traveling at a steady 55-65 mph is absolutely passable with Centurion. 65 mph comes so easily these days that Centurion is now a very easy car to speed with, something that seems so unlikely with a little tractor engine... That's the latest...
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Happy 4th of July - More adventures to come!
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~CrazyJerry

[changzuki]

Recently, Centurion entered:
THE 17TH ANNUAL GREAT ADIRONDACK CAR SHOW, CRAFT FAIR, GIANT GARAGE SALE & BEACH BASH
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Prior to going, a quick internet showed a 92 mile drive to get to the event:
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There was just two slight problems with this:
1) It was farther than 92 miles..
2) Using all secondary roads, I had 1 hour and 40 minutes until the registration booth closed...
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I had to unleash well over half of the available 17hp to make it on time, and at the gate the Timex clicked-in at 1 hour 32 minutes!
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This was a fairly large event and there were 30 classes. The sun was a scorcher but it did not deter the crowds. Only when the awards ceremony was in full swing did I have a chance to snap a few quick pics:
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Of all the trips Centurion has made thus far, this is the one that is responsible for the next upgrade...
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Did I mention how hot out it was?
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~CrazyJerry

[GreenHornet]

I think Air Conditioning is in order

[changzuki]

Today was a huge boon at the Potsdam, NY car show in Ives Park.
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(Photos courtesy of Francis Bartlett - Potsdam NY - 7-11-2015)
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AND - This weekend ain't over yet!
~CrazyJerry

[changzuki]

Centurion is in a double header this weekend. The next target is tomorrow:
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Curtis Lumber's Car & Truck Show!* State Route 67 - Ballston Spa, NY - SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2015 - Home
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If anyone is in the area, this would be a great opportunity to check out Centurion in person.
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The magic continues - hope to see any of you there!!
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~CrazyJerry

[samwichse]

Loving those "KUBOTA RACING" tires... is that some special rubber paint stenciled-on or did you have that professionally done somehow?

[changzuki]

Originally Posted by samwichse

Loving those "KUBOTA RACING" tires... is that some special rubber paint stenciled-on or did you have that professionally done somehow?

Thanks samwichse!
Earlier attempts at white walls and white lettering tires have not exactly gone too well for me. The white walls below were paint but ultimately didn't hold up (those are 10" tires - lol!!):
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After the 2014 Green Grand Prix, I tried a "lettering paint pen" on Centurion. The white always yellowed out and then finally started cracking:
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So, in looking around I stumbled across treadwearletters dot com. You order the letters along with the size and style. They cut'em out of a thin flexible rubber and then you glue them on with the mother of all crazy glues. The kit is for all four tires and to illustrate the arch that is cut into the letters see photo below. A couple of letters that look like they could just be glued on require a closer look as they are cut to lay a certain way. The red arrowed ones are flipped over for comparison:
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Next, I took a tire and simply placed the letters on the sidewall to see how spacing changes might make a difference in the overall look. I found "eyeballing" the placement to be better than actual measuring because not all the letters looked correct with uniform spacing (look at the "A" how it undercuts the previous letter):
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Once the spacing was decided on, I then "smoothed" only the area of the sidewall where the letters would be. They will stick right over the surface irregularities of patterns and such - but it makes them look lumpy and cheap.
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Each tire took about 40 minutes to smooth out, clean, and apply the letters. They dry in seconds and you don't get a second chance if they're not right.
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After doing just one tire, I was sold:
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And of course, all four completed the "racy" look I wanted:
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I have not had any issues at all with them even while playing with tire pressures. They letters have only been cleaned once and they look like new.
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~CrazyJerry

[changzuki]

2015 Curtis Lumber Car Show!
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And what a show it was!!!!!!!!!!!!

Using an internet map, the journey to the show involved a 155 mile trip through the mountains and then down the interstate. Centurion started her journey at 4:38am to make it there for the 8am registration and beat the inrush of hundreds of show cars.
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We punched in at 8:35am and lined alongside a "Concourse Quality" Porsche.
Having been through a few shows this year - I knew what was coming - but the Porshe's Owner did not - lol!!!
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The following event photos are courtesy of Mark Freedman:
Welcome to Capital Car Shows | CapitalCarShows.com
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These shows are typically a "show-n-shine" so it should come as no surprise that a trophy was way out of reach.
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But, Centurion does "Shine" in her own way as she continues to draw the largest crowds at these events.
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She also was "hands-down" thee most photographed car at the show.
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And she did something no other car at the show could do:
Made it down to the show - - - and home again - - - on a measly two-gallon tank of fuel.
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~CrazyJerry