What vehicle to consider?

[Klayton]

@Matt: LOL

Oh Oh I know!!! Modified grocery cart made into a non-engine, gravitational driven buggy. :)

[arcangel911]

I drive a 1996 corolla and have nothing but good things to say about it. It is old enough to be repaired by a novice without things going off (car alarms and airbags)....

As for a EMP vehicle, I am a fan of VW Bugs and mainly buses. They are easy to repair and pretty much are hard to kill and or die. Though, I know that some people prefer something a little more modern, I can only say that I like to keep it simple and know what I can fix and what I cannot. VW's and earlier Toyota's are usually easily fixed.

[Bill Foster]

EMP-less

What is the best vehicle that would not be disabled by an EMP. Lets see what you think.

Most vehicles, cars or trucks, became electronic ignition by 1975. EMP will kill the ignition. Most vehicles were electronic carburated by 1981 (only a few exceptions). EMP will kill the computer causing the carbs to go full-rich and flood the spark plugs out in short order. By 1990, most vehicles were electronic fuel injected. EMP will kill the computer again. One can attempt to shield the computer, but any wiring will act as an antenna leading to the computer. EMP wins again. Only pre-1975 vehicles, or vehicles that are backwards engineered will still run post EMP. OR....you can park your new Grand Cherokee in a Faraday cage until it's over. Then, go to the nearest gas station with your charge card and pay-at-the-pump. Of course the electronic pump and credit card system has gone dumb because of the incident. Buy an old vehicle with a points distributor, standard carb, and store extra sets of points and gas for it. If you consider diesel, you will have to make sure the fuel system is mechanical or you will be in the same boat as most others. I am in the process of saving up for an older pickup to restore.

[Mikeg175]

My personal G.O.O.D. vehicle is a 7.3 PSD Excursion , this thing is a freaking tank with tons of storage . It will pull a house down if needed , so my trailer wont even be felt behind it . I went with a diesel because when SHTF I can use just about any kind of fuel out there . I have siphon hoses and NATO cans ready to go , I can fill it up from my heating oil tank and be gone . It has a 700 mile or so range , I keep extra electronics in the truck in a mylar bag and extra set in the house as safe as I can keep them . My Jeep Wrangler has the same setup , but it is gas :( and a lot smaller . I figure I will lead the way with the EX and have wife follow with the Jeep or if needed I scout with Jeep and she follows way behind in the EX . If I can't find fuel for the Jeep , just leave it or trade it for something if possible .
I don't let any vehicle I own get below half tank and I keep fresh batteries in them at all times . I test them just about every time I pop the hood for maintenance and I use the deep cycle ones for best working power , I haven't gotten a dual battery setup on the Jeep yet , but that is in the works . I used these vehicles because the parts are plentiful and semi cheap , you see Jeeps everywhere and the EX is just a f-250 with a suv body on it .

[antishot]

well I drive a 2006 Dodge Cummins 2500 Quad cab (got kidos) this is my daily driver. I run about 600hp under the hood and I still get 24mpg down the high way. a buddy of mine was asking the same thing what should he get for a SHTF deal. if you ask me bigger would be better. That is why I am looking to get a pre 97 Dodge with a Cummins. if something is in my way I could move it, drive around it, or drive over it plus have the ablity to tow tons of supllies if I have to get out of town (not planning on it). Anything diesel would be the way to go.

[runtothehills]

Got the last year of the small Toyota 4x4 04, before they screwed everything up. Got the 4 cyl. std cab. , I't can't tow crap! , but in a bug out, who want's to tow a trailer! Your a sitting duck! I can go where no fullsize truck can go. For that fact, also the jeep, and Iv'e owned both over the years. The Yota is much narrower than the jeep. The fullsize truck is bigger, for more storage and payload, but I can fit what I need. These things are bullet proof! (Not literally) , but you know what I mean. And, I can go farther than any V8. I've have owned Ford 4x4, Chevy 4x4, and several Jeeps, and my Toyota is the best I've owned. Have a freind that has over 300k, and my brother-in-law has close to 300k on his. Can't say that about the others, without an engine rebuild. Plus the first gen. Toyotas hold thier value, look em up on Ebay! Good luck finding one on the cheap! If you do, let me know, I'll buy it!:cool:

[antishot]

I don't disagree about yotas they are great if you ask me the are 4wheels with heat and a radio. I have had a few and have beat the heck out of them. But for me they don't work any more because I have 6 peeps in my family so I need a big truck. Now that said I have taken this cummins in places that you wouldn't think it would come out of plus I have taken it to the drag strip to see how fast the pig would go and the fastest it went was 106mph not bad for 7000lbs truck. I have put a back up fuel tank and that allows me to run up to 1200 miles. Plus if I keep my foot out of the turbo I have gotten 26mpg but that was setting the cruise at 65 but that doesn't happen often. I average 22mpg. Like the yotas the Cummins hold there value real good. I know I have looking for a pre 97 dodge with a cummins for my EMP rig and anything with a good body extended cab are going for about 7-10k.

[barfife]

With the EMP cloud over our heads, it set my mind to thinking. Now a days a lot of hot rodders are taking 80's and 90's v-8 mustangs and adding distributors and carburators to hot rod them. What not take a 2000's model ford, chevy or dodge 4WD, straight shift (easy to find, plentiful, can be low mileage, keep your power steering and a/c and around $3000 on a good day) and spend another $700-800 making it carburated. Any mechanic types out there that give feed back on this or is it impractical?

[antishot]

I could do that but I want a diesel. I could spend the cash and put a aftermarket fuel pump and a mechanical injector pump and 6 new injectors. Just the injectors would run me about $3500. But then I would have to fire ring my head too handle the extra HP tha would be ok with me. Plus I could run other fuels easier than just diesel.

[Metal]

With the EMP cloud over our heads, it set my mind to thinking. Now a days a lot of hot rodders are taking 80's and 90's v-8 mustangs and adding distributors and carburetors to hot rod them. What not take a 2000's model ford, chevy or dodge 4WD, straight shift (easy to find, plentiful, can be low mileage, keep your power steering and a/c and around $3000 on a good day) and spend another $700-800 making it carbureted. Any mechanic types out there that give feed back on this or is it impractical?

Most of your later model cars and trucks are direct fire ignition COP (coil on plug) and lack a provision to install a distributor.
You would need to use either an older engine or adapt a aftermarket ignition system or race type crank trigger.
There are intake manifolds and carburetors available for most brands (keeps or adapts oem ignition), but your best bet is to buy an older carbureted vehicle or swap in an older drivetrain.
just my .02

[Spock]

[QUOTE=Metal;14326]Most of your later model cars and trucks are direct fire ignition COP (coil on plug) and lack a provision to install a distributor.
You would need to use either an older engine or adapt a aftermarket ignition system or race type crank trigger.
There are intake manifolds and carburetors available for most brands (keeps or adapts oem ignition), but your best bet is to buy an older carbureted vehicle or swap in an older drivetrain.
just my .02

[barfife]

could you convert the factory engine 5.2 (318 cu in) to carb and distributor in a 2001 dodge truck?

[Metal]

could you convert the factory engine 5.2 (318 cu in) to carb and distributor in a 2001 dodge truck?

AFAIK the answer is yes but you would need to buy a non computer controlled distributor (need to check for change in firing order),
and a dual plane intake for the magnum series engines. Be warned your dash will light up like a christmas tree and you WILL lose many functions.
Like cruise control and possibly the ABS system (checks engine rpm vs. wheel speed), So be prepared for it not to be a weekend project.

[barfife]

thanks for the info

[jimmydiablo]

I would say jeep Cherokee. My 87 for a everywhere, 86 is carburated, I have 265k on it. Roof rack that holds over 400 pounds (home built). I get 22 highway it is 4x4 with 31x10.5r15 tires I tow with it I wheel with it and it has the reliable 4.0 straight 6