Car Thread - VROOM VROOM

[Darkholme's Dungeon]

exactly the same as the UK. Buuuuut I've been in the industry for the last ten years and we've not bought any manuals for at least the last 15 years*. I don't get why the yanks love autos for their cars but manuels** for their big ass trucks which we've auto'd for the last decade.

*we've we've been gifted some SCANIA trucks with an auto box but also a clutch. you use the clutch to get you going and in and out of first gear, then its auto.
** see faulty towers.

The other thing I forget, I'm not a CDL driver but when they test supposedly you cannot pass without shifting manually at the correct RPMs set by the regs even in an auto. IDK how true that is.

Most OTR trucks are autos outside of the intermountain west. I wouldn't trust an auto going up/down some of those passes like Lookout, Lost trail, and Homestake. Snoquaelmie (Fuck spelling that name) getting better by the improvement project where they are separating the lanes even more now.

 

[Doggo]

Here’s a really interesting, technical video going over a dual fuel LPG/petrol setup.

 

[Pee Cola]

I miss the days when LPG was cheap and plentiful down here. I probably wouldn't have a dual fuel setup in a sedan as I sometimes lug long items and need that split folding rear seat or ski hatch, but the ones in Falcon and Commodore wagons where an LPG tank would be dropped into the spare wheel well and the spare wheel would sit upright on one side of the boot... *chef's kiss*

 

[Darkholme's Dungeon]

I miss the days when LPG was cheap and plentiful down here. I probably wouldn't have a dual fuel setup in a sedan as I sometimes lug long items and need that split folding rear seat or ski hatch, but the ones in Falcon and Commodore wagons where an LPG tank would be dropped into the spare wheel well and the spare wheel would sit upright on one side of the boot... *chef's kiss*

Waste cooking oil used to be the same thing but for diesels until corporate got involved. Now it's no longer free.

 

[Doggo]

I miss the days when LPG was cheap and plentiful down here. I probably wouldn't have a dual fuel setup in a sedan as I sometimes lug long items and need that split folding rear seat or ski hatch, but the ones in Falcon and Commodore wagons where an LPG tank would be dropped into the spare wheel well and the spare wheel would sit upright on one side of the boot... *chef's kiss*

Yeah, those are donut tanks. As for being a sedan, it does take up boot space but there’s still a fair amount left over.

And yeah, from my observations it seems the further north you go, the less commonplace and more expensive LPG becomes. I saw it at 80c in Melbourne. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Back when we had the oil glut and cheap fuel, LPG started dying out at a more rapid pace. But now that petrol is sometimes nearly 3 times the price of LPG, I wonder if some people are regretting decisions to switch away from it.

I’m very thankful to have it in my car.

 

[God's drunkest driver]

I find that fab shops don't want to do ANY work regarding core supports. I need one (Mine is rusted through, not flaking but bendable with plyers) but I don't have the equipment to bend the beam and they want $250/hr with a minimum of 5k to make a prottype which "may or may not fit properly".

Fabrication shops? Many are into production work and will give fuck-off quotes for small jobs. You really need a body shop that still does some frame work or fabrication. Or... you can do it yourself. It's just folded sheet metal right? Cut the damaged one out, cut cardboard templates to mimic it, CAD them, have them cut by sendcutsend or some other laser and water cutting service, and learn to weld. You can probably do all of that and buy a MIG welder cheaper than paying someone to fix it. It's not like it's a visible body panel, it doesn't have to look perfect.

 

[Bassomatic]

Fabrication shops? Many are into production work and will give fuck-off quotes for small jobs. You really need a body shop that still does some frame work or fabrication. Or... you can do it yourself. It's just folded sheet metal right? Cut the damaged one out, cut cardboard templates to mimic it, CAD them, have them cut by sendcutsend or some other laser and water cutting service, and learn to weld. You can probably do all of that and buy a MIG welder cheaper than paying someone to fix it. It's not like it's a visible body panel, it doesn't have to look perfect.

I've asked for two parts from fab shops and both they said no, despite me saying blank check and flexing some numbers both on paying customers and my own willing down. They legit don't want to do it. It's kinda annoying, I don't know if things changed or it was always like this but ugh.

Saw new Aston Martin SUV today amazing fit finish, super laid paint, but man it's ugly from the back.

 

[God's drunkest driver]

I've asked for two parts from fab shops and both they said no, despite me saying blank check and flexing some numbers both on paying customers and my own willing down. They legit don't want to do it. It's kinda annoying, I don't know if things changed or it was always like this but ugh.

I can't say I'm very surprised. It's usually only a small independent shop or automotive focused shop that will do things like that. I don't know what kind of car you're doing this for, I can't remember seeing it mentioned before, but I really doubt it's a prohibitively difficult part for you to make yourself unless it's a very complicated stamping. If originality isn't a concern you could always tube frame it too and just weld brackets to the tubes to hold the radiator, AC lines, whatever.

 

[Darkholme's Dungeon]

You really need a body shop that still does some frame work or fabrication. Or... you can do it yourself. It's just folded sheet metal right? Cut the damaged one out, cut cardboard templates to mimic it, CAD them, have them cut by sendcutsend or some other laser and water cutting service, and learn to weld. You can probably do all of that and buy a MIG welder cheaper than paying someone to fix it. It's not like it's a visible body panel, it doesn't have to look perfect.

It's actually a handlebar mustache shaped D-beam that holds several sets of wires that are held on by screws (WHY??? USE TUBING). Bigger issue is that it's load bearing for the following and secured only to the fenders by weak wield that breaks easily over time.
Radiator (three core)
Power steering cooler
A/C
Coolant reservoir
Battery + tray
The heavy as fuck splash shield and cast iron bumper
There's also some electrical grounds so I am trying to find an alternate wiring solution to that.

I'm thinking of almost adding in L brackets to the fenders and bolting them on after they get wielded on.

I can't say I'm very surprised. It's usually only a small independent shop or automotive focused shop that will do things like that. I don't know what kind of car you're doing this for, I can't remember seeing it mentioned before, but I really doubt it's a prohibitively difficult part for you to make yourself unless it's a very complicated stamping. If originality isn't a concern you could always tube frame it too and just weld brackets to the tubes to hold the radiator, AC lines, whatever.

All the small shops here went out of business during covid and the auto body shops are chains or retards who just replace parts now.

 

[God's drunkest driver]

All the small shops here went out of business during covid and the auto body shops are chains or retards who just replace parts now.

An unfortunate reality of being a car guy in the 2020s. Machine shops and fully equipped body shops are hard to find now. A friend of mine shipped his old Mercedes to Mexico to have it painted not too long ago because of this, the shop there does great work on old German cars and the cost is under 1/2 what you would pay a reputable restoration shop in the US.

 

[Darkholme's Dungeon]

. A friend of mine shipped his old Mercedes to Mexico to have it painted not too long ago because of this, the shop there does great work on old German cars and the cost is under 1/2 what you would pay a reputable restoration shop in the US.

Damn, too bad mine would get stolen in Mexico considering the model... Popular and made until the 2010s...

Debating if I should setup a spot to paint it myself eventually.

 

[Thiletonomics]

Nissan's financial troubles are becoming more and more severe, as an executive warns that the company can only last 12-14 months, unless they can find another investor to keep the lights on. / Archive Renault has also sold Nissan shares, dropping below 40% now.

The big question now is, if Nissan does expire, what car brand will take over as the choice for two-digit credit score people that drive triple digit speeds on the freeway with body damage and a Check Engine Light? Hyundai/Kia is the obvious choice, but Dodge Hornets could also be a possibility, as those are not selling quickly, dealers may get desperate to push them off of their lots, and Stellantis is also experiencing financial troubles.

And it's also funny that a second-rate at best CUV in the Hyundai Tucson managed to outsell all of Stellantis's brands in the US. / Archive

 

[God's drunkest driver]

Nissan's financial troubles are becoming more and more severe, as an executive warns that the company can only last 12-14 months, unless they can find another investor to keep the lights on. / Archive Renault has also sold Nissan shares, dropping below 40% now.

The big question now is, if Nissan does expire, what car brand will take over as the choice for two-digit credit score people that drive triple digit speeds on the freeway with body damage and a Check Engine Light? Hyundai/Kia is the obvious choice, but Dodge Hornets could also be a possibility, as those are not selling quickly, dealers may get desperate to push them off of their lots, and Stellantis is also experiencing financial troubles.

And it's also funny that a second-rate at best CUV in the Hyundai Tucson managed to outsell all of Stellantis's brands in the US. / Archive

Dodge already is the Nissan for the American car buyer. As for the tucson being a hot seller, it is a cheap crossover, that segment is basically goyslop: the car. I'm not really surprised that a cheap car with an ok reputation, designed specifically for the lowest common denominator sells well. Nobody wants an alfa or a fiat.

 

[Thiletonomics]

Dodge already is the Nissan for the American car buyer. As for the tucson being a hot seller, it is a cheap crossover, that segment is basically goyslop: the car. I'm not really surprised that a cheap car with an ok reputation, designed specifically for the lowest common denominator sells well. Nobody wants an alfa or a fiat.

Stellantis also shot themselves in the foot by killing off the Charger, Challenger, and 300, which were cashcows because the R&D for them was paid off many years ago, and not offering an actual replacement for them, yet.

 

[God's drunkest driver]

I wonder how necessary discontinuing them really was even in the ever tightening regulatory environment. The Charger was not nice at all inside when introduced but as it aged became a decent car. I had them as rentals over the years on travel and there was a definite interior improvement with time. In the past few years they were undoubtedly the best looking sedans on the market. There was really nothing wrong with that platform for a general purpose sedan and it even took well to upgrades in the widebody hellcat, it would have taken well to a refresh or hybrid options.

 

[Darkholme's Dungeon]

There was really nothing wrong with that platform for a general purpose sedan and it even took well to upgrades in the widebody hellcat, it would have taken well to a refresh or hybrid options.

Eternal beancounter and EPA strikes again. They (US autos) keep getting pushed out and out by foreign manufacturers since the 70s. First it was "they under cut muh prices", then it was "we can't compete cause muh mileage", now it's "We priced ourselves into the high end corner and are about to reap the whirlwind".

 

[Super-Chevy454]

Jaguar has become faguar. They even mixed cases in their stupid minimalist typeface and the new logo is a circle with two fish hook Js in it.
View attachment 6671562

The only positive side that Jaguar ad created: a flood of memes.

But some staff members of Jaguar aren't happy about these memes.

 

[Doggo]

For anyone interested, here’s a video of me switching my car between LPG and petrol and back again. You have to have some load on the engine to switch over otherwise it may stall and require a restart. Only once though. This typically happens when the car is warm. If I start the car within maybe 10 minutes, it lights off instantly, because the LPG gas mixer is like a carburettor with a Venturi. As the engine shuts down, the venturi is still sucking gas into the intake, so unless it evaporates, it’s enough gas to start again very quickly.

The car always starts on petrol and flicks over to LPG almost instantly. I want to make tweaks to the LPG computer so that I can raise the engine RPM threshold so that it won’t switch over until the engine is driving and under load. I’m thinking between 2250 and 2500rpm should provide a nice switchover and never stall. More modern systems will switch to LPG once the engine temperature is above a certain level (40C is the figure I found).

This change can be done in the LPG computer, I just don’t have the cable or software.

And here’s the video. You might be able to hear the clicking from the relays in the LPG computer switching over fuels.

 

[Cats]

6-second Magnum

 

[Doggo]

6-second Magnum

View attachment 6721760

View attachment 6721761

With a hairdryer that big, 5 of those seconds is probably turbo lag.

Also, don’t run tap water for long periods, kids. The radiator cap, water pump, and thermostat are all bad. I shouldn’t have been lazy. At least nothing cost more than $60 to fix.