Vintage Voltage

[James1979]

I'm wondering what's the situation with electric cars using the Euro tunnel now, do they let them on? It's been a few years since I've been on it, LPG vehicles were banned but camper vans that had gas on board for the cooker were OK. Always had a member of staff check that the bottle had been turned off before driving on but what's stopping some numpty turning it back on/making a cup of tea I always thought. Lol

It makes you wonder. As I recall from the last few time swe have been through, if its a cylinder you are fine, but if its a installation ie a tank, you arent allowed on. Thats why when I did ours I stuck with bottles rather than a refillable LPG tank.

 

[Ton-up]

Wasn't impressed they left the engine bay filthy and unpainted?

 

[Bullet2012]

This is a big issue in the marine world at the moment. What do you do if that happens on the car deck of a ro-ro? The traditional suppressants and sprinklers wont work on these, or so they say. Still in touch with guys in the industry and apparently all they can do is put them right up against the bow doors where they are on CCTV and keep an eye on them

put them in the stern, if one lets out the magic smoke open rear doors, push, bye bye. No worse than what some cruise ships dump overboard. Allegedly.

 

[Greeves246]

Nobody watch episode 2? ( repeated 6pm today on Quest ). Fiat 500, nice conversion BUT I was horrified to see holes cut in bodywork and no paint or rustproofing put on after. Also hammering the coupling onto the motor shaft. For a £17k conversion I would expect more care and attention to detail.

 

[Cobbler]

It makes you wonder. As I recall from the last few time swe have been through, if its a cylinder you are fine, but if its a installation ie a tank, you arent allowed on. Thats why when I did ours I stuck with bottles rather than a refillable LPG tank.

I understand tanks are ok now, not sure about LPG vehicles, I’ll have a look....... tanks are ok with a size limit, but gas powered a no,no!

 

[earthman]

Nobody watch episode 2? ( repeated 6pm today on Quest ). Fiat 500, nice conversion BUT I was horrified to see holes cut in bodywork and no paint or rustproofing put on after. Also hammering the coupling onto the motor shaft. For a £17k conversion I would expect more care and attention to detail.

I watched it this evening, I agree with your observations, would have thought that they could have tried another coupling or opened the hole up on that one a tad,...didn't they have a lathe there after all?

 

[Rrobson]

I’m currently watching it, second episode and I’m even less impressed with the quality of their work. Just seem to be typical mechanics in over their head. That motor coupling was a joke. Hmm, it’s a bit tight, I know, I’ll get it glowing then try hammering it on to subsequently got it stuck and knacker the motor shaft and coupling pulling it off! Then I’ll clean the burrs off after, and make it sound like I’m reducing the diameter of the shaft with emery! Idiots, a courtesy measure beforehand would have been an idea and maybe tickle out the coupling.
Then I’ll make a complete hash of trying to hole saw the body and not protect it afterward.
No engineering skill with these unfortunately, I don’t think I can bring myself to watch another. Can’t say I was right impressed with the seat belt either but I guess anything is better than nothing...

 

[Bullet2012]

It was the guy working under the car with it just on a jack, whilst he fitted a battery that made me cringe. As well as the shoddy hole cutting and welding with no mask whilst making the hinged cover thingy.

 

[RWD3M]

I’m currently watching it, second episode and I’m even less impressed with the quality of their work. Just seem to be typical mechanics in over their head. That motor coupling was a joke. Hmm, it’s a bit tight, I know, I’ll get it glowing then try hammering it on to subsequently got it stuck and knacker the motor shaft and coupling pulling it off! Then I’ll clean the burrs off after, and make it sound like I’m reducing the diameter of the shaft with emery! Idiots, a courtesy measure beforehand would have been an idea and maybe tickle out the coupling.
Then I’ll make a complete hash of trying to hole saw the body and not protect it afterward.
No engineering skill with these unfortunately, I don’t think I can bring myself to watch another. Can’t say I was right impressed with the seat belt either but I guess anything is better than nothing...

Everything he said!

And those seat belts were decorative rather than functional!

What troubles me is how they get away with it. Does nobody do their due diligence anymore?

 

[Rrobson]

I don’t know when it was filmed but you need extraction when welding now, and as said no ppe. Makes you wonder if hse ever watch these programmes and have a trip round

 

[gordon stephenson]

Re; the coupling fitting, First requirement is to check the sizes to ensure the correct interference fit before heating,

 

[mechman]

Nobody watch episode 2? ( repeated 6pm today on Quest ). Fiat 500, nice conversion BUT I was horrified to see holes cut in bodywork and no paint or rustproofing put on after. Also hammering the coupling onto the motor shaft. For a £17k conversion I would expect more care and attention to detail.

Totally agree, Bit OTT when surprisingly the fix seemed to be a little bit of emery cloth instead of 2 attempts with a hammer. A couple of minutes in a lathe with the coupling would have been a better fix ( more professional etc))entertaining though.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

On the Fiat one, I thought it was just me who'd think there was such lack of attention to detail/planning, but I'm glad to read I'm in good company.

 

[Greeves246]

Last nights episode was converting a Royal Enfield to electric. Again, lots of detail omitted, what was top speed, battery range etc. I wonder how they get the DVLA changes through without a VOSA test, several cars have had major suspension and brake changes? Do they become road tax free? Should be fun insuring one.

 

[ronan]

Watched it once and didn't like it. Par for the course with these new programmes. I watched this bloke, who does conversions, much cheaper than that lot. Removes the engine and uses the original transmission.

 

[gt6s]

Just off the phone with my idiot mate he had a Li battery explode in his pocket today in a bank. Don't ask