RE: RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van???
If I could find a 123 station wagon in good shape in this area, I would definitely think about it. I'll put out some searches for one..Thanks. Dan -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 3:32 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van??? Dan, Have you thought about getting an '80's 123 style diesel Benz? I own an '82 300TD [wagon] which was retrofitted from the r12 to the r134a A/C refrigerant and works great. My 2 cents. -Michael - Original Message - From: Dan Volker [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 12:38 pm Subject: RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van??? Thanks very much for the feedback. Because I live near West palm Beach Florida, it is nearly impossible to drive a car comfortably without AC most of the year. With this in mind, I have to choose a car or van that has a powerful AC unit. I suppose one other option could be to get a Vanagon and then add one of the RV air conditioner units to it ( and an inverter to power it), so I may thinkalong these lines as well. I drive a Honda Insight myself now, and my wife has an old Crown VictoriaStation Wagon from like 1986---it is in very good condition, and the other option I have with this car is to attempt to convert it to diesel-- and then run as biodiesel. This means first finding the right diesel engine to match to this particular car, and then finding the right mechanics to do the conversion. I'm not sure which will be a bigger challenge;-) The ELSBETT engine sounds appealing, but I have no idea how hard it would be to match one to my station wagon, how hard it would be to find a mechaniccomfortable with this relatively unknown engine ( in these parts), and I really have no sense of what this thing would cost from the web page ( cost of engine, shipping fees, cost of mating transmission to it, etc). Anybody have any answers for this ? :-) Thanks, Dan Volker -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 10:32 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van??? Try to find a diesel VW Vanagon. They are sturdy, very roomy, get about 25-30 MPG and they absolutely LOVE biodiesel. They are easy to fix and parts are still inexpensive. They will u-turn in a lane and a half and were the FIRST VW van to REALLY have brakes AND a good ride. VERY EASY to convert into a pop top camper which makes them even way cooler. The rear hatch is a BEAUTIFUL blank pallet for your bumper stickers too. WE have the beater and a diesel Westy camper. LOVE 'em. NOW... They are SLOW and evoke many middle finger salutes here in YUPPPIE land. They will hit 70 on the freeway, but are very happy at 55 and most don't have AC. I keep a coke can in the beater that holds the vent wing open to blow air on me. The camper is nice.the vent window stays open by itself. Check ebay for Vanny diesels. They turn up from time to time. RUST is not nearly the problem that the older Volksys had, but watch the camper models and check them for rust behind the camper stuff. If you can find a Vanny diesel with a blown engine, grab it. There are SCADS of rusted diesel Wabbits out there with great cheap donor enginers. Swapping an engine in a Vanny is EASY. As for other diesels out there, the Sprinter is BIG and roomy and will run just fine on bio (but the water in fuel light stays on), but it is kinda junky. I bought a 2003 and we sold it 8 months later. They could never fix the AC and it had scads of electrical problems that the dealer was nevber able to fix. GREAT engine tied to a crappy van. Can't recommend any Benz, Volvo opr BMW cars of late as the quality is so bad. Benz diesels up to about 86 are very good. They last a long time and love bio. VW diesels are good, but not the later ones. Let me explain. VW cars were always cheap to buy, made cheap, parts were cheap and they were easy to fix. Now, they are getting expensive, parts are EXPENSIVE, they are still cheaply built, they still break a lot and they are no longer easy to fix. BUT, BUT, BUT, they ARE the only game in town for a diesel car that gets good milage. We have an 81 Wabbit diesel that gets 55 mpg on bio and a 99 Golf that gets about 50+ on Bio. I had to put a clutch in the 99 and the clutch kit was 50+ $750 A clutch for a Vanny is $80. Chrysler is putting a 2.5 diesel in the
RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van???
I have one of the best rear racks already, and one of the best roof racks--but roof racks waste too much gas, and rear racks place your bikes at risk if some jerk runs in to the rear end of your car--even a slight bump is very bad when you have 2 mountain bikes on the back that cost more than many cars ;-) That's why a diesel minivan is what I would most want to find, with a station wagon as a distant second ( long trips to go mountain biking are more comfortable in a minivan). Bikes can go inside in either the minivan or wagon. As an aside, with the Honda Insight I drive most of the time, I can place one bike inside, allowing me to get 50 to 60 miles per gallon averaging 70 miles per hour on the way to mountain biking an hour a way from here. If I use the rear rack ( saris bones rack) for one or two bikes, my mpg will drop to about 30 mpg at 70 And while the Insight is great for business meetings, it stinks for long trips--its not comfortable for drives over 3-4 hours long. Regards, Dan V -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Legal Eagle Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 6:52 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van??? Florida huh? Why not look into the 1995 Mercedes 300series diesel. They are reputed as one of the best after the older W123's. For the bikes you could get one of those carriers that straps onto the rear bumper. Looks crappy but they are removable :) I suppose you could pull a small one axle trailer for all the scooby doo stuff. That would be removable too :) Just a nickel's worth. Luc - Original Message - From: Dan Volker [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 12:21 AM Subject: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van??? I am interested in purchasing a vehicle I can run as a biodiesel--the problem is that where I live in South Florida, the choices for new diesel vehicles are severely limited. I would prefer a minivan, as my wife and I are avid mountain bikers and scuba divers, so I need the space. I don't really need a huge Dodge Sprinter van or the monster Econoline Vans that sell as diesels. Does anyone know about reasonable imports from Europe, of a mfg of minivans or equivalent? Thanks, Dan Volker ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/
RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van???
Dan, The ELSBETT engine sounds appealing, but I have no idea how hard it would be to match one to my station wagon, how hard it would be to find a mechanic comfortable with this relatively unknown engine ( in these parts), and I really have no sense of what this thing would cost from the web page ( cost of engine, shipping fees, cost of mating transmission to it, etc). Anybody have any answers for this ? :-) AFAIK: Elsbett three cyl., 1500 ccm, split piston diesel engine These engines are years out of production. One of the reasons for the financial collapse of the original Elsbett company was a production attempt in south America. Elsbett also sold licensing to Russia. You may perhaps be able to trace one (a narrow chance, though, and you will be forced to heavily auction and beat me :-)) at Ebay, they a re still driving over here in Europe. They are made to replace VW engines mostly, but other car conversions shouldn't be a problem. The present Elsbett company is involved in one or two tank conversions for diesel engines to run on neat veg oil. Fresh oil, not WVO. Also, the inventor of the engine, Elsbett sr., died a few years ago. His son (?, I think) is a lot more into solar/biomass stirling engines. A friend of mine visited him in november '03 and saw the stirling running on wood pellets - took pictures. Wow. Aleks snip ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/
RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van???
Subject: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van??? I am interested in purchasing a vehicle I can run as a biodiesel--the problem is that where I live in South Florida, the choices for new diesel vehicles are severely limited. I would prefer a minivan, as my wife and I are avid mountain bikers and scuba divers, so I need the space. I don't really need a huge Dodge Sprinter van or the monster Econoline Vans that sell as diesels. Does anyone know about reasonable imports from Europe, of a mfg of minivans or equivalent? Hi Dan, If you can find a nearby member of the Alternative Fuels Vehicle Network (AFVN), then that person can most likely assist you. That group should be able to conduct vehicle fleet, fuel usage and operation analysis. AFVN should have access to a data base that will allow selection of potential pumping stations for alternative fuels. Furthermore, they sometimes sponsor awareness program in the area of alternative energy and its impact on the community in which it is produced and used. Many times an education and awareness program is needed to more fully involve the community and its residents and may help many more people than just you. I was also surprised to find out that this group offers training and workshops to potential auto sellers and pumping facilities. It is reported that AFVN has access to training CDs for E85 vehicle dealerships (including sales and purchasing decisions affecting the flex fuel vehicle), government officials and community organizations. Sorry that I don't know the particulars If you become involved, you can teach the rest of us. Having people active in the production and distribution is necessary for end-users to enjoy their convenience. Thanks for supporting all levels of alternative fuel production and use. It all relates to much more than producing alternative fuels. Once someone in your area agrees to work on a feasibility study that could be sponsored by your state, then please let us know. We would love to set up a production facility in Florida. Because our research associates have already demonstrated in a university study over 1000 gallons of fuel ethanol production per acre of cattail, it is a natural next step to set up a growing and production facility. If you own a bog in Florida, let's talk. Best wishes, Peggy ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/
RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van???
Good day, I live in Los Angeles. How can I become member of the Alternative Fuels Vehicle Network (AFVN) in my area? Thank you, Jonathan Peggy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Subject: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van??? I am interested in purchasing a vehicle I can run as a biodiesel--the problem is that where I live in South Florida, the choices for new diesel vehicles are severely limited. I would prefer a minivan, as my wife and I are avid mountain bikers and scuba divers, so I need the space. I don't really need a huge Dodge Sprinter van or the monster Econoline Vans that sell as diesels. Does anyone know about reasonable imports from Europe, of a mfg of minivans or equivalent? Hi Dan, If you can find a nearby member of the Alternative Fuels Vehicle Network (AFVN), then that person can most likely assist you. That group should be able to conduct vehicle fleet, fuel usage and operation analysis. AFVN should have access to a data base that will allow selection of potential pumping stations for alternative fuels. Furthermore, they sometimes sponsor awareness program in the area of alternative energy and its impact on the community in which it is produced and used. Many times an education and awareness program is needed to more fully involve the community and its residents and may help many more people than just you. I was also surprised to find out that this group offers training and workshops to potential auto sellers and pumping facilities. It is reported that AFVN has access to training CDs for E85 vehicle dealerships (including sales and purchasing decisions affecting the flex fuel vehicle), government officials and community organizations. Sorry that I don't know the particulars If you become involved, you can teach the rest of us. Having people active in the production and distribution is necessary for end-users to enjoy their convenience. Thanks for supporting all levels of alternative fuel production and use. It all relates to much more than producing alternative fuels. Once someone in your area agrees to work on a feasibility study that could be sponsored by your state, then please let us know. We would love to set up a production facility in Florida. Because our research associates have already demonstrated in a university study over 1000 gallons of fuel ethanol production per acre of cattail, it is a natural next step to set up a growing and production facility. If you own a bog in Florida, let's talk. Best wishes, Peggy ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ J.J.A.M., Inc. Jonathan Lynden Dunlap IS Network Systems Analyst Your PC Linux Specialist P.O. Box 4209 Inglewood, California 90309-4209 323-779-2752/Home - Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Address AutoComplete - You start. We finish. ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/
RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van???
Hello Jonathan, Try to google them. That is what I will do. If we don't have any luck, then I will track down the person who is a member from another state. Let us know how it goes with contacting their headquarters. We are interested to know the details and possibly forward their good work. Peggy Subject: RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van??? Good day, I live in Los Angeles. How can I become member of the Alternative Fuels Vehicle Network (AFVN) in my area? Thank you, Jonathan Peggy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Subject: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van??? I am interested in purchasing a vehicle I can run as a biodiesel--the problem is that where I live in South Florida, the choices for new diesel vehicles are severely limited. I would prefer a minivan, as my wife and I are avid mountain bikers and scuba divers, so I need the space. I don't really need a huge Dodge Sprinter van or the monster Econoline Vans that sell as diesels. Does anyone know about reasonable imports from Europe, of a mfg of minivans or equivalent? Hi Dan, If you can find a nearby member of the Alternative Fuels Vehicle Network (AFVN), then that person can most likely assist you. That group should be able to conduct vehicle fleet, fuel usage and operation analysis. AFVN should have access to a data base that will allow selection of potential pumping stations for alternative fuels. Furthermore, they sometimes sponsor awareness program in the area of alternative energy and its impact on the community in which it is produced and used. Many times an education and awareness program is needed to more fully involve the community and its residents and may help many more people than just you. I was also surprised to find out that this group offers training and workshops to potential auto sellers and pumping facilities. It is reported that AFVN has access to training CDs for E85 vehicle dealerships (including sales and purchasing decisions affecting the flex fuel vehicle), government officials and community organizations. Sorry that I don't know the particulars If you become involved, you can teach the rest of us. Having people active in the production and distribution is necessary for end-users to enjoy their convenience. Thanks for supporting all levels of alternative fuel production and use. It all relates to much more than producing alternative fuels. Once someone in your area agrees to work on a feasibility study that could be sponsored by your state, then please let us know. We would love to set up a production facility in Florida. Because our research associates have already demonstrated in a university study over 1000 gallons of fuel ethanol production per acre of cattail, it is a natural next step to set up a growing and production facility. If you own a bog in Florida, let's talk. Best wishes, Peggy ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ J.J.A.M., Inc. Jonathan Lynden Dunlap IS Network Systems Analyst Your PC Linux Specialist P.O. Box 4209 Inglewood, California 90309-4209 323-779-2752/Home - Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Address AutoComplete - You start. We finish. ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/
RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van???
Try to find a diesel VW Vanagon. They are sturdy, very roomy, get about 25-30 MPG and they absolutely LOVE biodiesel. They are easy to fix and parts are still inexpensive. They will u-turn in a lane and a half and were the FIRST VW van to REALLY have brakes AND a good ride. VERY EASY to convert into a pop top camper which makes them even way cooler. The rear hatch is a BEAUTIFUL blank pallet for your bumper stickers too. WE have the beater and a diesel Westy camper. LOVE 'em. NOW... They are SLOW and evoke many middle finger salutes here in YUPPPIE land. They will hit 70 on the freeway, but are very happy at 55 and most don't have AC. I keep a coke can in the beater that holds the vent wing open to blow air on me. The camper is nice.the vent window stays open by itself. Check ebay for Vanny diesels. They turn up from time to time. RUST is not nearly the problem that the older Volksys had, but watch the camper models and check them for rust behind the camper stuff. If you can find a Vanny diesel with a blown engine, grab it. There are SCADS of rusted diesel Wabbits out there with great cheap donor enginers. Swapping an engine in a Vanny is EASY. As for other diesels out there, the Sprinter is BIG and roomy and will run just fine on bio (but the water in fuel light stays on), but it is kinda junky. I bought a 2003 and we sold it 8 months later. They could never fix the AC and it had scads of electrical problems that the dealer was nevber able to fix. GREAT engine tied to a crappy van. Can't recommend any Benz, Volvo opr BMW cars of late as the quality is so bad. Benz diesels up to about 86 are very good. They last a long time and love bio. VW diesels are good, but not the later ones. Let me explain. VW cars were always cheap to buy, made cheap, parts were cheap and they were easy to fix. Now, they are getting expensive, parts are EXPENSIVE, they are still cheaply built, they still break a lot and they are no longer easy to fix. BUT, BUT, BUT, they ARE the only game in town for a diesel car that gets good milage. We have an 81 Wabbit diesel that gets 55 mpg on bio and a 99 Golf that gets about 50+ on Bio. I had to put a clutch in the 99 and the clutch kit was $750 A clutch for a Vanny is $80. Chrysler is putting a 2.5 diesel in the Jeep Liberty, but they will only sell it to you as an upmarket EXPENSIVE version to get the diesel. That company is now owned by Benz, so that puts up a red flag to me. Wish the other makes would bring their diesels here..man a diesel Honde El;ement would be cool. So, I ramble. Check out the Vanigon diesels and the PRE 2004 VW Jetta Wagon . BTW, we have a multi bike rack that fits on the back of the Vanny. Cool device, but it DOES cover up some of the stickers Take care and GOOD LUCK Kitch in Scottsdale - FastQ Communications Providing Innovative Internet Solutions Since 1993 ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/
RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van???
Thank you I'll give it a try! Jonathan Peggy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello Jonathan, Try to google them. That is what I will do. If we don't have any luck, then I will track down the person who is a member from another state. Let us know how it goes with contacting their headquarters. We are interested to know the details and possibly forward their good work. Peggy Subject: RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van??? Good day, I live in Los Angeles. How can I become member of the Alternative Fuels Vehicle Network (AFVN) in my area? Thank you, Jonathan Peggy wrote: Subject: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van??? I am interested in purchasing a vehicle I can run as a biodiesel--the problem is that where I live in South Florida, the choices for new diesel vehicles are severely limited. I would prefer a minivan, as my wife and I are avid mountain bikers and scuba divers, so I need the space. I don't really need a huge Dodge Sprinter van or the monster Econoline Vans that sell as diesels. Does anyone know about reasonable imports from Europe, of a mfg of minivans or equivalent? Hi Dan, If you can find a nearby member of the Alternative Fuels Vehicle Network (AFVN), then that person can most likely assist you. That group should be able to conduct vehicle fleet, fuel usage and operation analysis. AFVN should have access to a data base that will allow selection of potential pumping stations for alternative fuels. Furthermore, they sometimes sponsor awareness program in the area of alternative energy and its impact on the community in which it is produced and used. Many times an education and awareness program is needed to more fully involve the community and its residents and may help many more people than just you. I was also surprised to find out that this group offers training and workshops to potential auto sellers and pumping facilities. It is reported that AFVN has access to training CDs for E85 vehicle dealerships (including sales and purchasing decisions affecting the flex fuel vehicle), government officials and community organizations. Sorry that I don't know the particulars If you become involved, you can teach the rest of us. Having people active in the production and distribution is necessary for end-users to enjoy their convenience. Thanks for supporting all levels of alternative fuel production and use. It all relates to much more than producing alternative fuels. Once someone in your area agrees to work on a feasibility study that could be sponsored by your state, then please let us know. We would love to set up a production facility in Florida. Because our research associates have already demonstrated in a university study over 1000 gallons of fuel ethanol production per acre of cattail, it is a natural next step to set up a growing and production facility. If you own a bog in Florida, let's talk. Best wishes, Peggy ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ J.J.A.M., Inc. Jonathan Lynden Dunlap IS Network Systems Analyst Your PC Linux Specialist P.O. Box 4209 Inglewood, California 90309-4209 323-779-2752/Home - Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Address AutoComplete - You start. We finish. ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ J.J.A.M., Inc. Jonathan Lynden Dunlap IS Network Systems Analyst Your PC Linux Specialist P.O. Box 4209 Inglewood, California 90309-4209 323-779-2752/Home - Do you Yahoo!? Express yourself with Y! Messenger! Free. Download now. ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/
RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van???
Thanks very much for the feedback. Because I live near West palm Beach Florida, it is nearly impossible to drive a car comfortably without AC most of the year. With this in mind, I have to choose a car or van that has a powerful AC unit.I suppose one other option could be to get a Vanagon and then add one of the RV air conditioner units to it ( and an inverter to power it), so I may think along these lines as well. I drive a Honda Insight myself now, and my wife has an old Crown Victoria Station Wagon from like 1986---it is in very good condition, and the other option I have with this car is to attempt to convert it to diesel--and then run as biodiesel. This means first finding the right diesel engine to match to this particular car, and then finding the right mechanics to do the conversion. I'm not sure which will be a bigger challenge;-) The ELSBETT engine sounds appealing, but I have no idea how hard it would be to match one to my station wagon, how hard it would be to find a mechanic comfortable with this relatively unknown engine ( in these parts), and I really have no sense of what this thing would cost from the web page ( cost of engine, shipping fees, cost of mating transmission to it, etc). Anybody have any answers for this ? :-) Thanks, Dan Volker -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 10:32 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van??? Try to find a diesel VW Vanagon. They are sturdy, very roomy, get about 25-30 MPG and they absolutely LOVE biodiesel. They are easy to fix and parts are still inexpensive. They will u-turn in a lane and a half and were the FIRST VW van to REALLY have brakes AND a good ride. VERY EASY to convert into a pop top camper which makes them even way cooler. The rear hatch is a BEAUTIFUL blank pallet for your bumper stickers too. WE have the beater and a diesel Westy camper. LOVE 'em. NOW... They are SLOW and evoke many middle finger salutes here in YUPPPIE land. They will hit 70 on the freeway, but are very happy at 55 and most don't have AC. I keep a coke can in the beater that holds the vent wing open to blow air on me. The camper is nice.the vent window stays open by itself. Check ebay for Vanny diesels. They turn up from time to time. RUST is not nearly the problem that the older Volksys had, but watch the camper models and check them for rust behind the camper stuff. If you can find a Vanny diesel with a blown engine, grab it. There are SCADS of rusted diesel Wabbits out there with great cheap donor enginers. Swapping an engine in a Vanny is EASY. As for other diesels out there, the Sprinter is BIG and roomy and will run just fine on bio (but the water in fuel light stays on), but it is kinda junky. I bought a 2003 and we sold it 8 months later. They could never fix the AC and it had scads of electrical problems that the dealer was nevber able to fix. GREAT engine tied to a crappy van. Can't recommend any Benz, Volvo opr BMW cars of late as the quality is so bad. Benz diesels up to about 86 are very good. They last a long time and love bio. VW diesels are good, but not the later ones. Let me explain. VW cars were always cheap to buy, made cheap, parts were cheap and they were easy to fix. Now, they are getting expensive, parts are EXPENSIVE, they are still cheaply built, they still break a lot and they are no longer easy to fix. BUT, BUT, BUT, they ARE the only game in town for a diesel car that gets good milage. We have an 81 Wabbit diesel that gets 55 mpg on bio and a 99 Golf that gets about 50+ on Bio. I had to put a clutch in the 99 and the clutch kit was 50+ $750 A clutch for a Vanny is $80. Chrysler is putting a 2.5 diesel in the Jeep Liberty, but they will only sell it to you as an upmarket EXPENSIVE version to get the diesel. That company is now owned by Benz, so that puts up a red flag to me. Wish the other makes would bring their diesels here..man a diesel Honde El;ement would be cool. So, I ramble. Check out the Vanigon diesels and the PRE 2004 VW Jetta Wagon . BTW, we have a multi bike rack that fits on the back of the Vanny. Cool device, but it DOES cover up some of the stickers Take care and GOOD LUCK Kitch in Scottsdale - FastQ Communications Providing Innovative Internet Solutions Since 1993 ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van???
Dan, Have you thought about getting an '80's 123 style diesel Benz? I own an '82 300TD [wagon] which was retrofitted from the r12 to the r134a A/C refrigerant and works great. My 2 cents. -Michael - Original Message - From: Dan Volker [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 12:38 pm Subject: RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van??? Thanks very much for the feedback. Because I live near West palm Beach Florida, it is nearly impossible to drive a car comfortably without AC most of the year. With this in mind, I have to choose a car or van that has a powerful AC unit. I suppose one other option could be to get a Vanagon and then add one of the RV air conditioner units to it ( and an inverter to power it), so I may thinkalong these lines as well. I drive a Honda Insight myself now, and my wife has an old Crown VictoriaStation Wagon from like 1986---it is in very good condition, and the other option I have with this car is to attempt to convert it to diesel-- and then run as biodiesel. This means first finding the right diesel engine to match to this particular car, and then finding the right mechanics to do the conversion. I'm not sure which will be a bigger challenge;-) The ELSBETT engine sounds appealing, but I have no idea how hard it would be to match one to my station wagon, how hard it would be to find a mechaniccomfortable with this relatively unknown engine ( in these parts), and I really have no sense of what this thing would cost from the web page ( cost of engine, shipping fees, cost of mating transmission to it, etc). Anybody have any answers for this ? :-) Thanks, Dan Volker -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 10:32 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van??? Try to find a diesel VW Vanagon. They are sturdy, very roomy, get about 25-30 MPG and they absolutely LOVE biodiesel. They are easy to fix and parts are still inexpensive. They will u-turn in a lane and a half and were the FIRST VW van to REALLY have brakes AND a good ride. VERY EASY to convert into a pop top camper which makes them even way cooler. The rear hatch is a BEAUTIFUL blank pallet for your bumper stickers too. WE have the beater and a diesel Westy camper. LOVE 'em. NOW... They are SLOW and evoke many middle finger salutes here in YUPPPIE land. They will hit 70 on the freeway, but are very happy at 55 and most don't have AC. I keep a coke can in the beater that holds the vent wing open to blow air on me. The camper is nice.the vent window stays open by itself. Check ebay for Vanny diesels. They turn up from time to time. RUST is not nearly the problem that the older Volksys had, but watch the camper models and check them for rust behind the camper stuff. If you can find a Vanny diesel with a blown engine, grab it. There are SCADS of rusted diesel Wabbits out there with great cheap donor enginers. Swapping an engine in a Vanny is EASY. As for other diesels out there, the Sprinter is BIG and roomy and will run just fine on bio (but the water in fuel light stays on), but it is kinda junky. I bought a 2003 and we sold it 8 months later. They could never fix the AC and it had scads of electrical problems that the dealer was nevber able to fix. GREAT engine tied to a crappy van. Can't recommend any Benz, Volvo opr BMW cars of late as the quality is so bad. Benz diesels up to about 86 are very good. They last a long time and love bio. VW diesels are good, but not the later ones. Let me explain. VW cars were always cheap to buy, made cheap, parts were cheap and they were easy to fix. Now, they are getting expensive, parts are EXPENSIVE, they are still cheaply built, they still break a lot and they are no longer easy to fix. BUT, BUT, BUT, they ARE the only game in town for a diesel car that gets good milage. We have an 81 Wabbit diesel that gets 55 mpg on bio and a 99 Golf that gets about 50+ on Bio. I had to put a clutch in the 99 and the clutch kit was 50+ $750 A clutch for a Vanny is $80. Chrysler is putting a 2.5 diesel in the Jeep Liberty, but they will only sell it to you as an upmarket EXPENSIVE version to get the diesel. That company is now owned by Benz, so that puts up a red flag to me. Wish the other makes would bring their diesels here..man a diesel Honde El;ement would be cool. So, I ramble. Check out the Vanigon diesels and the PRE 2004 VW Jetta Wagon . BTW, we have a multi bike rack that fits on the back of the Vanny. Cool device, but it DOES cover up some of the stickers Take care and GOOD LUCK
RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van???
This is what I have found so far... http://www.nyserda.org/afvprogram.html http://www.gm.com/automotive/innovations/altfuel/ http://facultystaff.vwc.edu/~gnoe/avd.htm Please let me know if you come up with anything else. Thanks, Jonathan Peggy [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello Jonathan, Try to google them. That is what I will do. If we don't have any luck, then I will track down the person who is a member from another state. Let us know how it goes with contacting their headquarters. We are interested to know the details and possibly forward their good work. Peggy Subject: RE: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van??? Good day, I live in Los Angeles. How can I become member of the Alternative Fuels Vehicle Network (AFVN) in my area? Thank you, Jonathan Peggy wrote: Subject: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van??? I am interested in purchasing a vehicle I can run as a biodiesel--the problem is that where I live in South Florida, the choices for new diesel vehicles are severely limited. I would prefer a minivan, as my wife and I are avid mountain bikers and scuba divers, so I need the space. I don't really need a huge Dodge Sprinter van or the monster Econoline Vans that sell as diesels. Does anyone know about reasonable imports from Europe, of a mfg of minivans or equivalent? Hi Dan, If you can find a nearby member of the Alternative Fuels Vehicle Network (AFVN), then that person can most likely assist you. That group should be able to conduct vehicle fleet, fuel usage and operation analysis. AFVN should have access to a data base that will allow selection of potential pumping stations for alternative fuels. Furthermore, they sometimes sponsor awareness program in the area of alternative energy and its impact on the community in which it is produced and used. Many times an education and awareness program is needed to more fully involve the community and its residents and may help many more people than just you. I was also surprised to find out that this group offers training and workshops to potential auto sellers and pumping facilities. It is reported that AFVN has access to training CDs for E85 vehicle dealerships (including sales and purchasing decisions affecting the flex fuel vehicle), government officials and community organizations. Sorry that I don't know the particulars If you become involved, you can teach the rest of us. Having people active in the production and distribution is necessary for end-users to enjoy their convenience. Thanks for supporting all levels of alternative fuel production and use. It all relates to much more than producing alternative fuels. Once someone in your area agrees to work on a feasibility study that could be sponsored by your state, then please let us know. We would love to set up a production facility in Florida. Because our research associates have already demonstrated in a university study over 1000 gallons of fuel ethanol production per acre of cattail, it is a natural next step to set up a growing and production facility. If you own a bog in Florida, let's talk. Best wishes, Peggy ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ J.J.A.M., Inc. Jonathan Lynden Dunlap IS Network Systems Analyst Your PC Linux Specialist P.O. Box 4209 Inglewood, California 90309-4209 323-779-2752/Home - Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Address AutoComplete - You start. We finish. ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ J.J.A.M., Inc. Jonathan Lynden Dunlap IS Network Systems Analyst Your PC Linux Specialist P.O. Box 4209 Inglewood, California 90309-4209 323-779-2752/Home - Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Address AutoComplete - You start. We finish. ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/
Re: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van???
reputed as one of the best after the older W123's. For the bikes you could get one of those carriers that straps onto the rear bumper. Looks crappy but they are removable :) I suppose you could pull a small one axle trailer for all the scooby doo stuff. That would be removable too :) Just a nickel's worth. Luc - Original Message - From: Dan Volker [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 12:21 AM Subject: [Biofuel] How to choose a Biodiesel car or van??? I am interested in purchasing a vehicle I can run as a biodiesel--the problem is that where I live in South Florida, the choices for new diesel vehicles are severely limited. I would prefer a minivan, as my wife and I are avid mountain bikers and scuba divers, so I need the space. I don't really need a huge Dodge Sprinter van or the monster Econoline Vans that sell as diesels. Does anyone know about reasonable imports from Europe, of a mfg of minivans or equivalent? Thanks, Dan Volker ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ ___ Biofuel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://wwia.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/biofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel archives at Infoarchive.net (searchable): http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/
