Archive for October, 2009
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27
Oct
2009
Save energy – Ride a bike.
If you don't like gas prices ride a bike. At least Rep. Patrick McHenry didn't recommend walking, because that would be taking things a bit too far.
5
Oct
2009
The new old VW fenders for the Beetle
My project didn't come with rear fenders and I think I have spent the last 3 months trying to find some locally. I couldn't even find crappy ones. But all that changed yesterday as a guy going to school at Iowa State had some left over parts from a build. But for $20.00 and I got some used, good condition rear fenders for the VW bug. So, I immediately got them home and cut them up into bits. Hindsight, I might have trimmed them a bit short, but I wanted to clear a nasty dent on one of them... and I didn't want them to extend too far back from where the body had been cut. I'm sure the local police will let me know if I don't meet the street legal requirements.
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1
Oct
2009
Alltrax AXE 7245 Controller
Got the controller for the Bug today. It is an Alltrax AXE 7245 controller. 24-72 Volts, 450 amps. Just need to get this thing DONE. Parts are coming in, excitement is brewing. Photo... I need to find the SD card for the camera (think the kids have it in the Wii). If you don't know about Alltrax you can find their website here.
If you want to know prices or where to purchase... I got mine here from EV Drives.
Will update with photos. It looks snazzy!
Alltrax AXE 7245 Controller - also pictured is the Kilovac contacter, pre-charge resistor, diode and fuse.
1
Oct
2009
Buying locally
I give every effort to purchase locally. We are a small town of about 1500 people (census 2000). And we are about an hour from what I consider the "big city." So, it makes sense to buy locally vs drive time and gas just to save a buck.
But... I am already boycotting one of the two auto parts stores in town, mainly due to the owners attitude after I wanted to return a fan belt for a Jeep I had. My Jeep had an aftermarket AC unit so the stock belt didn't fit. So I returned it. He gave me grief because I waited a day before returning it. Then harped even more after he realized I paid with my debit card (I understand he probably got charged a fee, but from my knowledge he should get it returned from the bank). So, there's one business I refuse to do business with. But still I try.
So, anyway I got to the local farm store (which is part of a larger chain). *cough*Orscheln*cough* And I needed to get some bolts for the rear swing arm of the Bug. So I grabbed some lock washers, flat washers and nuts on the bolts, and threw 6 sets of them in the little nuts/bolts plastic bag (2 washers and a nut on each bolt). At checkout the lady rudely told me that the lock washers are not the same price and that "you almost got away with it" because I had washers and nut on the bolts. Even though the nearest sign to the lock washers was $1.79. So, as I was leaving the difference in price if she would have charged them all the same was 9 cents.
How does that ballgame heckler chant go... oh yeah, Nuts and bolts, we got screwed!