my low budget dream car build

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by timmy2

A 50 amp heater on a 75 amp rated alternator isn’t going to leave much room for anything else.
Fuel pump and headlights will put you at the max.

Good information, some numbers will help.

I had my alternator rebuilt, so I assume it's 70 not 75 amps, pretty much the same thing.

Looks like there is a 175 amp alternator for a grand, based on a search for my year car.

https://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/SuperCat/0788/POR_0788_ELCHRG_pg1.htm#item1

EDIT:

In the Battery Recommendation thread, a suggestion that may be applicable to monitoring electrical loads.

Is there a better way?

Maybe something in between the battery and directly wired heater in addition to monitoring the main electrical system?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/1082535-battery-recommendation.html

Originally Posted by darrin

85911 -- if you haven't already addressed, worth picking up a digital volt meter that plugs into the cigarette lighter so you can detect the transient high voltage spikes caused by a failing voltage regulator. Seems that with our Carreras, voltage spikes (which can harm the battery and electronics) are more of a "when" and not "if" scenario --

EDIT-2:

https://www.motor1.com/news/405607/1985-porsche-911-tuned-restomod/

Taking this 911 out on a chilly day might be rough because there's no heat exchanger for the HVAC system. Instead, a ceramic fan heater warms the floor. For defogging the windshield, there are electrical heating wires in it.

Source: DP Motorsport

[Jonny H]

It is a big challenge. 600W is not enough - about the same heat output as 12 tea candles burning. For a little context, a petrol heater is 2000W and a classic mini heater is 2500W.

We designed the electric heating system for the Singer DLS, which led to the development of the high output alternator for the 911 and 964 engines (see our website). The DLS has 1600W of heat which is marginal for ‘real world’ use. It is deemed enough for a supercar that will live a cherished life. 1600W is 125A continuous which has the effect of pulling the battery voltage down. This results in the current going up so you end up in a voltage / current death spiral unless the load is managed.

The solution involves smart / adaptive software control of the heating power based on demand and alternator output. We have a similar control strategy in our electric AC so we are working to adapting this to the heat solution.

[Focker]

Originally Posted by jpnovak

Also, I got a battery powered heated vest for Christmas from my wife. Runs 7-8 hours and works well. way cheaper than new headers.

Can also get a motorcycle heated vest that plugs into the cigarette lighter.

[Larmo63]

Move to SoCal?

[chrisbalich]

Originally Posted by Jonny H

It is a big challenge. 600W is not enough - about the same heat output as 12 tea candles burning. For a little context, a petrol heater is 2000W and a classic mini heater is 2500W.

We designed the electric heating system for the Singer DLS, which led to the development of the high output alternator for the 911 and 964 engines (see our website). The DLS has 1600W of heat which is marginal for ‘real world’ use. It is deemed enough for a supercar that will live a cherished life. 1600W is 125A continuous which has the effect of pulling the battery voltage down. This results in the current going up so you end up in a voltage / current death spiral unless the load is managed.

The solution involves smart / adaptive software control of the heating power based on demand and alternator output. We have a similar control strategy in our electric AC so we are working to adapting this to the heat solution.

Mr H, thank you for the insight. I reckon what you suggest is both far too sophisticated and too expensive for my build.
The relative heat outputs are very useful.
Thank you for the detailed response.

Originally Posted by Focker

Can also get a motorcycle heated vest that plugs into the cigarette lighter.

Won't clear the window or take the chill out of my fingers. My barrel stays plenty warm thanks to a layer of insulation and just generally not getting too cold.

Originally Posted by Larmo63

Move to SoCal?

No thank you.
If I can convince my wife to move, we're heading to NEPA where I have a tremendous job opportunity or to western NC where the mountains and roads are beautiful.
**I do recognize that neither of those places will resolve my cold weather dilemma.

[jeff951nj]

I know the job opportunity in NEPA and really hope you can make it happen. You would be a great addition to the team!

[chrisbalich]

Originally Posted by jeff951nj

I know the job opportunity in NEPA and really hope you can make it happen. You would be a great addition to the team!

Thanks, Jeff. I'm trying like hell to make it happen.
COVID may be the thing that makes it happen.
If Kelly's company goes permanent WFH, she's already requested to work from PA. If both of those things come to fruition, I'm headed your way.
She's WFH til June 2021 at a minimum. Her company has yet to make a permanent ruling. She's at 10 months of WFH. You'd think the company would be tired of paying for a whole bunch of buildings they aren't using. (4 locations across the country, all with multiple buildings, all WFH since mid-March 2020)

If they don't, I still have a plan...

[jpnovak]

New year. New start. New job.

Go For It!

[chrisbalich]

Originally Posted by jpnovak

New year. New start. New job.

Go For It!

I've been working on Kelly to make this move for about 3 years.
She's not fully vested in her (sizable) retirement until Feb 2022. Plus she's got a few projects at the house that are torn apart. (coincidence? I think not.)

Playing the long game.

[bigo5552000]

Firstly, I just want to say I love this thread and it definitely has influenced the resurrection of my car!

I do have a thought on this heating situation as I have been pondering it for my car as well.

I am considering ditching the AC, which I believe you have as well. Could one use the mounting location for the AC to mount a high output alternator? I am thinking something like is used for high end car audio or off-road applications. You could drive it just like you would a stock AC. Then run a dedicated circuit just for the heater.


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[kach22i]

The FAQ's at DC Thermal is quite interesting.

10 FAQ's
https://dcthermal.com/faq-page/

Q:What size of heater do I need?

This is a multi-part question: First you will need to determine the nominal voltage of your vehicle, the capacity of your alternator, and you will need to estimate how much you are trying to change the ambient air temperature in your vehicle. The second part will determine the size of the heater, the first part will determine the voltage needed and maximum amperage. All of these factors combined will help in determining the proper size of heater for your particular application.

I trickle charge my small Odyssey, might as well trickle charge a second Odyssey not hooked up to anything else for short term defrosting.

Might prove to be the cheapest most cost effective option in the long term because of eliminating risk of alternator and or starter diode damage.

If I recall correctly I got this idea from an aircraft post, one with a generator in lieu of alternator. They just used a battery for short flights. Maybe it was a sailplane, I don't remember. Somehow the 8 hour life figure stuck in my head, but that could be for a large heavy battery, not sure.

[JCstomper]

Move to PA. We rock and our gun laws kick ass currently... we do for the moment have a communist governor though

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[chrisbalich]

I'm bored at work so this will be unequal parts update and blog post.

Update
I worked on the car over the weekend and got the control arms painted the rest of the way. (since welding the swaybar loops back on)
I finally got my LBJs from FCP on Saturday, so I slapped those hogs in yesterday. I got them finger tight and then gave them a wee tap with a drift and a hammer. #torkt
I was still waiting on FedEx to grace me with their presence and deliver the locating pin I needed to finish the LBJ install.

During my down time, I finished building a rack to hold my jackstands.
I then finished adding folding legs to my two murphy tables. Much sturdier than the cobbled together crap I had on there before. (thanks, Amazon)

Feeling constructive, I then welded one of the old LBJ nuts(?) to a socket and then set upon it with the grinder.



Then I torkt the LBJs properly to 360lb-ft*.

FedEx still hadn't visited me, so I wandered around my garage and tidied some things and put stuff away and generally just lollygagged until I got mad and went inside. I was cleaned up and on the couch for an hour when FedEx finally showed up.
Rat.
Bastards.

Blog time
1.
I've owned my Tundra for 51 weeks as of yesterday. I bought it expecting to haul and tow and do all sorts of truck things.
Alas, my 911 required only one tow, I towed one car, and I hauled two loads. Both of those hauled loads didn't even leave the road I live on. One load across the cul de sac to my neighbor...the other from my next door neighbor to my house.
I reckon my 300 mile per week commute may be better facilitated by a car shod in some snow tires than my 16mpg truck.
Our unusually mild winter (so far) doesn't help. If I were driving through blizzards every other week, I may feel differently. But I drove my semi-stripped out e36m3 (on blizzaks) through 8" of snow without issue.

TLDR: I'm thinking of selling my truck and buying a car.

2.
If anyone is in the market for a MaxJax mid-rise lift, I have one that I've never used. I'd like $1500 for it as it's been used one time and then never again. Basically new with some dust. I'm after a set of QuickJacks as they're more appropriate for the amount of space I have.


3.
My Snap-On Epiq 68 is overkill for a home garage. If anyone is interested in that, I'll let it go for $6k. It's a $14000 box that is in good shape despite needing a wipe down. (it will also need all my tools removed)










*360lb-ft was evenly divided between the two LBJs.

[ryanjboutin]

Originally Posted by chrisbalich

Then I torkt the LBJs properly to 360lb-ft*.

[chrisbalich]

Originally Posted by ryanjboutin

I lol'd.








Also, I just got off the phone with Chuck Moreland.
Need to talk to the CFO and I reckon I'll be sending him a wedge of that green stuff to finish off my suspension build.

[chrisbalich]

He got me.

Accepting offers on my 'spare' kidney.

[obscene]

Been out of the loop, but stoked on all your progress! Good luck on the PA gig! We'd love to have y'all.

Also, I want the maxjax but don't think I have the concrete for it

[chrisbalich]

After an extended delay, I've put the car on the ground with the newly extended LCAs.
I was worried about how far I could extend the arms, so I erred on the conservative side with 15mm.

I'm not disappointed with my decision, but if I were to do it over, I'd go a little further.
Looks pretty ok.


I haven't messed with the top mounts yet, so this is basically max camber with the stock top mounts and gives you a feeling for just how much further I could push the wheel out without fouling the arch.


And before anyone asks how I can turn this low, I'll just show you.

From the front (on the steering stop)


From behind (on the steering stop)


Plenty of room.

I have yet to get a caster measurement, but the 5mm forward I moved the wheels still clears the arches and isn't noticeable from a distance. When you put a tape or ruler on it, you can see that it's scootched forward a smidge. I don't expect anyone will notice, much less say anything.

Somehow, my car with very limited electrical bits has killed the battery whilst it's been stored these past few weeks. So in addition to collecting a replacement battery, I need to install a master cut-off switch. Both should be very straightforward affairs.

I'm working on Dad's Volvo again this weekend, so I have to keep the 911 roll-able...and my shocks still haven't shipped. So I'm b@lls deep in cleaning and rearranging my garage. I may even take a picture once it's less chaotic.


You know...unless the world ends today...because...reasons...

[Joesmallwood]

I'm not a prepper, but prepping for today wouldn't be the worst advice.

[chrisbalich]

Originally Posted by Joesmallwood

I'm not a prepper, but prepping for today wouldn't be the worst advice.

Stay ready so you don't have to get ready.