Kids Build 65mpg Car

[GWguy]

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

If the kids can do it, why can't the major manufacturers do it?

[Crewdawg141]

Originally Posted by GWguy

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

If the kids can do it, why can't the major manufacturers do it?

Because the kids are driven by desire, not profits like major manufacturers. I hope that these kids can take these lessons and apply them for greater things in the future.

does it have 15 mph bumpers and crumple zones


how save is to drive

[glhs837]

Exactly, they don't have to meet all applicable federal regs, and they don't have to make a product that people will buy.

[GWguy]

Did you guys look at the video? It's a production vehicle that they changed the drive train on. Same vehicle that's on the roads. How does that suddenly become unsafe?

As far as fed regs, not sure, but I'll bet everything they put in is already covered by some reg. Harley motor with I'm sure a much improved exhaust system, etc...

To me, no different than removing a 289 v-8 from a Mustang and shoehorning a 427 in there with a different tranny and rear end. You'd fully expect it to pass inspection, wouldn't you?

[Crewdawg141]

Originally Posted by GWguy

Did you guys look at the video? It's a production vehicle that they changed the drive train on. Same vehicle that's on the roads. How does that suddenly become unsafe?

As far as fed regs, not sure, but I'll bet everything they put in is already covered by some reg. Harley motor with I'm sure a much improved exhaust system, etc...

To me, no different than removing a 289 v-8 from a Mustang and shoehorning a 427 in there with a different tranny and rear end. You'd fully expect it to pass inspection, wouldn't you?

Yes, I did look at the video. I honestly would like to see the build sheet for their Ford. Did they get the engine and motor secondhand or did they go for something new? I am also curious to know if the stock Ford transmission was retained or did that get swapped out too?

[glhs837]

Originally Posted by GWguy

Did you guys look at the video? It's a production vehicle that they changed the drive train on. Same vehicle that's on the roads. How does that suddenly become unsafe?

As far as fed regs, not sure, but I'll bet everything they put in is already covered by some reg. Harley motor with I'm sure a much improved exhaust system, etc...

To me, no different than removing a 289 v-8 from a Mustang and shoehorning a 427 in there with a different tranny and rear end. You'd fully expect it to pass inspection, wouldn't you?

Did they mount the engine in such a way that it moves like the stock one in a crash? Did they crash test any cars? Did they do the same sort of longevity testing of this drive train that a maker does? How long does a Harley motor stand up when pushing 3,000 llbs? Hell when SRT needed to alter the transmission programming on the early 6.1 liter cars, it was six months of required testing after the fix was developed. Just for altered transmission programming.

The point is that a one off is easy, but a product that has to live in the real world, operated by idiots and worked on by part replacing monkeys? For over 100,000 miles? Not so easy.

[GWguy]

Originally Posted by glhs837

Did they mount the engine in such a way that it moves like the stock one in a crash? Did they crash test any cars? Did they do the same sort of longevity testing of this drive train that a maker does? How long does a Harley motor stand up when pushing 3,000 llbs? Hell when SRT needed to alter the transmission programming on the early 6.1 liter cars, it was six months of required testing after the fix was developed. Just for altered transmission programming.

The point is that a one off is easy, but a product that has to live in the real world, operated by idiots and worked on by part replacing monkeys? For over 100,000 miles? Not so easy.

Ok, I guess that's valid. Just seems that if the kids can do it, the big boys could have easily done this by now.

[glhs837]

Maybe they have, and decided it cant make money, because it wont sell. I"m pretty if they thought it would sell, they would make it. Hell, they sold Pontiac Aztecs fercrissakes!!!!!!

[Chris0nllyn]

Government regulation would make it tough.

I'm sure you'd need millions of dollars, 40,000 sheets of paperwork, and a lobbyist to be able to mass produce it.

Hell, there are disel cars in Europe that get 60+ MPG, but for some reason the US doesn't like diesel fuel.

Our government is run by lawyers, not engineers. Talkers, not doers. I doubt 1 out of 100 of them even knows how a diesel engine differs from a gasoline engine (other than the fuel it uses). So I'm not surprised by the government's inability to see how much it would help – everything from "the environment" to the economy – by knocking down the stupid regulatory roadblocks that are keeping diesel cars on the other side of the pond.