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Modding for Fuel Efficiency
Posted by: Michael Herman at 8:41AM PST on July 31, 2010
You've probably seen me rolling around Lebanon in my crazy-looking red 1991 Ford Tempo. I've had several questions and compliments on my odd "custom bodywork," and have explained to several people that they alter the flow of air to reduce aerodynamic drag. Ecomodding, as it's commonly called, isn't completely new, but it isn't very well known either. If you're interested about learning more, getting some tips, or just to find out what the heck all those crazy coroplast sheets are on my car, just post here and ask, or visit ecomodder.com and chat with a whole bunch of people doing the same things.
Posted by: BeeSee at 4:39PM PST on October 29, 2009
You may have heard about the 2 OSU students that will participate in the England to Cameroon road rally, Africa Rally, as a benefit for 3 charitable non-profit organizations. Tate Koenig has been on mission trips to Nicaragua and Keegan Warrington has backpacked all over SE Asia. These experiences formed the stimulus for helping others in the world, which led them to enter the Africa Rally. http://africarally.theadventurists.com While I originally wrote them about the tippiness of their donated 1986 Suzuki Samarai 4wd vehicle, I found they could use help with a bunch of other things. Right now, I'm looking at routing and navigation aids since there is no specific route that must be followed. The road trip starts in London and ends up in Kribi, Cameroon. Yeah, it sounds fairly crazy... because it is.
A GPS is expected to be highly useful, but I'm wondering about the map databases that are available for NW Africa. So far I've only found the general "WorldMap" database for Garmin GPS. Magellan has nothing for Africa.
Do you have recommendations for GPS road databases? What do the African truckers use? Also suggestions for a backup in case someone (or an elephant) sits on the GPS unit.... something more precise than an astrolabe?
Posted by: JimPeoria at 2:17PM PST on August 17, 2009
I just wanted to introduce myself and toot my own horn a bit if that is okay.
I own and operate Peoria Electric on the corner of Peoria Road and Hwy 34. I rebuild and repair starters and alternators for anything that moves and some that don't. Did you know that 90% of starters and alternators need less than $25 worth of parts to repair them. Add another $25 worth of labor to repair and you are good for another 60,000 to 80,000 miles in most cases. Another thing to know is that over 90% of all alternator and starter problems are caused by the battery or wiring to and from the battery. When you have a problem start looking at when the last time the cables were changed if ever as well as the battery. Also on cars from around 1995 and newer there have been many issues with the switch. So what I am saying is that before you work hard to take the starter or alternator off and bring it in for exchange at a parts store with lots of cash or to me for repair for a little cash, check all that other stuff first. You may save yourself a lot of money and broken knuckles. You could easily have a rusty ground connection that with a bit of cleaning and a new $10 cable you are back in business. Last resort call me and lets discuss your symptoms and see what needs fixing. I want to save you some money too. So I will not suggest the first thing to do is to replace the starter or alternator. That is always the last thing to do. My number is listed in the phone book under alternators and in the Corvallis white pages.
Posted by: pcinoregon at 7:47PM PST on May 25, 2009
car runs great but when i put it in gear nothing .......I have tranny fluid oil etc...still......
Posted by: Jakes mom at 1:13PM PST on April 24, 2009
Im the very proud owner of a 1987 toyota 4 runner original owner..194000 miles. original motor 22re....time to do the timing chain..ideas on cost .....also need to reseal windshield....replaced the glass once had a leak ever since...
Posted by: Kim Jackson at 2:48PM PST on April 2, 2009
I've got a '39 Plymouth pickup in my driveway that I hope to put back together one day. Anybody know of similar-aged Plymouth or Dodge pickups or parts lying around?
Posted by: blewey at 1:16PM PST on March 14, 2009
Here's a little tid bit that I learned the hardway. In the PNW there is a particular problem with brake fluid absorbing water and rusting your master cylinder. If your fluid is brown, not clear then change it before further damage occurs. Changing the fluid is a pain, sorry. It is your judgement on how often to do this. My buddy who told me this, after I lost my brakes, going down a hill, at 30mph, into a stopped line of traffic, that he changes his every year. My Jeep is 30 years old, so I would recommend changing it more often than every 20 years! Other PNW issues are rusting pads to discs and drum, it is not always a good idea to leave a parking brake on for parking around here, I hear VWs are especially bad for this. Parking brake cables rusting to there casings, my Ford PU and I guess most Fords over the last 15 years have been having this issue. Any remedies for this problems? |
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