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by walnutclosefarm 999 days ago
I don't see how this conversion makes much sense. He started with a generator that was junked because the ICE was shot. He could have replaced that ICE with an off the shelf 4 cycle engine for under $1000.00. Instead, he's got a car that even as junk was worth half what the new engine would cost, with the space requirements that come with a car, the investment in electronics and build, and the net result is a junked nearly 200hp car running an generator that can only use maybe 10HP tops. A great job of McGivering up something, but I can't imagine why anyone would do the second one.
2 comments
iancmceachern 999 days ago
Plus now no one but him can repair it.

It's a super cool learning experience, and that's the value.

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mathisfun123 999 days ago
> Plus now no one but him can repair it.

electronics aside, you think fewer people can repair a toyota than a random generator? and i'm just talking about common-ase-tech-knowledge type stuff, to say nothing of the availability of parts.

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iancmceachern 999 days ago
Yes.

Small internal combustion engines are super simple, and small engine manufacturers like those that make generators have an equally impressive dealer, spare parts and repair network to automotive manufacturers.

In this case it was a harbor freight generator. They have lots of replacement engines available for very affordable prices (starting at less than $200) https://www.harborfreight.com/generators-engines/engines.htm...

I always say, why buy a Toyota when a lawnmower engine will do do? It's not like Toyotas are more common.

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mathisfun123 999 days ago
> In this case it was a harbor freight generator.

fair enough - i didn't watch the video and couldn't figure out what kind of genny it was.

> It's not like Toyotas are more common.

toyotas aren't more common than lawn mowers okay but cars are more common than lawn mowers (i looked it up to double check).

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4gotunameagain 999 days ago
It is a seemingly free drivable generator. What's not to love?

When you disengage the cruise control clutch the car is still drivable, and he uses it to hoist around stuff and weld things.

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