Cannibalize a car

[arcangel911]

Before you do all that, perhaps a word of safety.

Please make sure that the battery is dead or no longer near the car. Also, for OPSEC and saving your own butt, please make sure that it is an older car.

Some of the newer cars out there, have parts that still maintain one hell of a charge after the battery is disconnected. Also, airbags can sometimes go off, if you hit certain parts just right. Being in the front seat sitting their doing your thing, and getting hit with a air bag can be deadly.

Tires as shoes.... probably as good as Croc's.... Also, tires can be used to build houses and green houses if needed. (used for walls) But I am sure that they would make lovely planters...

[adoy]

Signaling from a cannibalized car

Lots of signaling opportunities.

From a wrecked vehicle that you want to be noticed for a long time to come,, turn on the turn signal and pull all flashing bulbs but one. Yank the dash light fuse(s) and the signal will continue to blink for a very long time.

On some cars you can strip a short piece of wire and connect power from (in the fuse box) the now blinking turn signal to the horn fuse. You now have a long term horn intermittently beeping on autopilot.

Rubber and foam for easy to see smoke signal.
Signaling mirrors.

Hang a bunch of the mirrors from a branch by a piece of string or wire,,,, let a bit of fabric dangle below and when the wind blows it will reflect the sun to searchers.

[Bill Foster]

I have an aquaintence that puts the aluminum engine pars on a stack of wooden crates and set them on fire. The fire is so hot it will melt the aluminum engine parts. The aluminum drips down, separates from the steel. He digs a trench that the molten alum. runs to and it makes a clump of alum. that he sells to a scrap metal yard. If one put a mold, or set of molds that the aluminum would run into...

[ssonb]

You can make all types of tripwire and security devices from the airbag modules.............

[Grand58742]

Depending on the type of vehicle.

Bed of a truck can be lined to catch rainwater.

Gas tank (after serious drying and cleaning) could be used for water storage (non potable)

Leaf springs have a variety of uses. They could be made into tools and implements as long as you could form or sharpen them. I know some people make knives out of them.

Makeshift air filtration system out of the air filter and various hoses. Maybe not for gas, but for smoke inhalation? Not sure about this.

On the moccasin idea...I'm pretty certain one could fashion an entire pair of shoes or moccasins out of materials taken from a vehicle. Tires for the soles, upholstery for the uppers or webbing for a sandal style, wiring or sliced seatbelt for the laces and seat cushions formed and cut for the insoles if desired. Might make a neat project for someone more talented than I am in this field. May not be pretty, but would probably be functional.

Still trying to think of something for the axles and frame.

[Bill Foster]

It has been said that automatic trans fluid makes a great gun oil. Most vehicles have 4-7 quarts of the stuff. Power steering fluid has about the same lubrication qualities and flash point. Tires are for Ho Chi Minh trailblazers. (talk to a Nam Vet for explanations on that one).

[hua man]

I read an article where a russian village used a paddlewheel boat plus an alternator to power their automotive household fixtures. Headlights became lamps, dome lights illuminated dark areas. I also know of a US soldier who took a car radio and speakers and made a system for use in the newer vehicles, those with a 12V plug. Know of an old Redneck (self proclaimed, I might add) who uses the seats from cars as his "Around the Fire Pit" seating. Lot more comfortable than lawn chairs. And the Fire Pit made from an old truck rim.

[Triple-sod]

My neighbours used an old (early 80

[Sorcerer]

There are so many parts that are useful where to start? The hood is the first to be seen and used take the hood off turn it upside down attach a rope or ropes to the front you have a sled works good on grass or snow. Front bumper from pre 1990 pickups and vans can be used as a feed trough for goats or chickens. The engine/transmission if it is lack of fuel can be used to power all kinds of machinery by making a wood gasifier to run it on, but it will only produce about half the horsepower. I think that is enough for now.

[barfife]

This idea isn't original, but in the novel "Patriots", a man took tires and used them to make rubber soles for moccosans. I think this is one of the best ideas I have heard yet. The one thing that will wear out that will leave so many SOL is shoes. Even if you have ten pairs of shoes stashed away, they will go faster than you can wear them out. It would be hard to see my brother walking around with rags tied to his feet, when I have two pairs of size 11s hiding.

Showing my age...in the 70s, it was popular to wear sandals with tire tread soles. The tops wore out before the bottoms!

[Grantmeliberty]

The engine block, especially if it is an inline 4 or 6 cylinder cast iron block, can be used as the basis for the multimachine, a home made machine shop... lathe, mill, drill press, whatever you may wish to build. http://opensourcemachine.org/
The axle in a rear wheel drive vehicle can be used in constructing a wind mill system, placing the differential up on the tower to drive a shaft to power equipment or pumps below.
The gear oil is heavy enough to work well as bar oil on a chain saw.

[610Alpha]

Thanks for the link!! This site has free PDF's. Might have to do this with the FIL, my son is too young but later it will be a fun project!!

[snarlbuckle]

There is a reason that wrecked cars on the side of the road in Africa only last about a week before they have been picked clean. Ever seen "Lord of War"? The time-lapse scene where Nicholas Cage sits in front of his airplane and watches it disappear overnight is absolutely normal. Perhaps we should ask the professionals (native Africans) what they use cars for?

[Matt In Oklahoma]

you know my son tried to make headlight solar purifyier which failed but each headlight assembly held 72oz of water securely

[adoy]

Not that this idea has much basis in reality, But if someone were trying to rush your elevated position, a rolling chassis (or many) released to roll down hill in their direction could do some damage. Attach a few spikes on the front to puncture radiators and you have an episode of the "A-Team"

Or even just an axle with tires on it rolling down hill.