A wagon as a bug-out vehicle?

I am still in the planning stages on this.
I am leaning toward having a torque cammed 302. Trick is I dont know what the most common Ford engine is. 302? 351? 400? I could use advice on that.
I am going to recommend fuel injection over carb because of reliability, economy, and commonality. EFI works well no matter the vehicle angle and is less problematic overall.

Set it up with electronic ignition ( both VERY easy conversions no matter the year) it should be simple and bulletproof. You dont need to go fast but to go EVERY single time you turn the key.
The comment about the voltage isolator is right on the money
There are many ways to generate AC electricity in small but dependable amounts..
The windows need to be replaced with thick Lexan instead of glass.

 

Eaglefreek, you are so right. Eventually, unless society and technology triumph within 10 years, we will be on horses.

 

An electro-magnetic pulse from any number of sources can take out any electronic ignition or fuel injection systems rendering the car nothing more than a shelter for sleeping in.
Nice try, but not a good idea for a "bug-out" vehicle. Better think more basic.

 

I agree with Jairus. No fuel injection, no electronic ignition. One of the OLD Mercedes Gelandewagens makes a great choice. Mechanical fuel injection on the diesel engine. Bog simple. They made that 3 litre 5 cylinder right through until the mid 80s that way. That is why I chose a 71 or 72 Ford or Mercury full sized wagon. Plus, almost any of the large Ford engines will slide right on in. A good 4 bbl carb will prove at least as reliable as any fuel injection system, too. Common as dirt!

 

Ya see! Big ol' meteorite hit in mother Russia! Head for the hills! Head for the hills! mg: This is it! :16suspect1: Jump in that family wagon.. don't forget your bugout bag and run! Take plenty of tootsie rolls and peanut butter~! Aggggghhhhhhh!!!!!! :Blasting_anim:

 

Super, I don't fear the event. I fear the aftermath of chaos, riots, no clean water or food. All grocery stores would have empty shelves in less than 8 hours. Gas stations would triple the prices until the tanks ran out.
Police and Fire would be completely overcome.

Best thing to do is get out of any metro area if possible... but most roads would be blocked with others doing the same thing in a matter of minutes.

Those in the rural areas... life would go on nearly normal. The city however would become a living hell.
Of course this all depends on how widespread the "event" is.

 

For what it's worth, popular mechanics put the buick roadmaster on the top ten list for best end of the world cars
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/pictures/10-best-vehicles-for-the-end-of-the-world#slide-7

 

Jairus,
ANY electrical system that contains an unshielded coil or coils of any sort, lengths of unshielded wiring will be be instantly rendered useless.

This means that ANY vehicle that does not have emf shielded and proofed wiring, starters, and alternators, will be disabled by an EMP hit. I have worked with military contract researchers and have first hand experience in what happens to them. Unless you are going to proof then ENTIRE electrical system, an expensive but mostly PITA process, you will need to be driving around in a mechanically ( not electrically) cranked mechanical diesel, a steam tractor, or a horse.

The great majority of military vehicles are not proofed well against EMP. If they use one, it will probably harm their own unless it is an Air Drop. If it is an air drop then they are readying an area for full occupation. This means a great number of well trained men with excellent firepower on the ground backed by mobile armor. Something that even the very best prepper gets the cold willies over.

In the WCS people will survive by distance,mobility, and awareness.

 

Yeah, I saw that! It burst over the city and the debris and pressure waves were terrible!

 

Could you just have a shielded supply of, alt, distributor, battery, starter?

 

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This is why I always wear a sheet of tin foil around my head.

 

You could most definitely do that. But what about vehicle lights, auxiliary power, winches, windshield wipers, radios, etc.?
They would need to be shielded as well to prevent back spiking into the system.
And that is a pain in the buns! Yessir!
ONE thing that could be done, and its going to be HUGELY annoying is to run all the vehicle wiring in metallic spiral conduit:







Ground this cable and then all you have to do is use copper mesh:






To create a faraday cage enclosure around starter, alternator, distributor and etc etc etc and then ground them and then ground the vehicle to earth with a drag chain.

Yep... it can be done... and yep.. its a PITA.

 

This car has about 5 wire circuits. I like to hide wires in my hot rods and if you shielded your car you be one of the few. I'm worried more about solar flares. Would the same shield work?

 

Mileage would be gawdawful but I've been wanting "Draco" for some time.

http://www.gizmag.com/go/3708/picture/8421/
http://www.steelwheels4x4.info/-/steelwheels4x4/gallery.asp?LID=&cat=109084

 

Yiiiii... hmm... given a sufficient proximity to a source of sufficient power, almost any shielding can be overwhelmed. The sun is INCREDIBLY powerful.
It could even 'blow away the Van Allen Shields around the Earth itself.




If this happens, life on this world on this plane ceases instantly. No amount of prep will mean anything. This world will be a sterile rock.

With THAT qualification in place, under most circumstances the shielding that I have recommended will be sufficient.