Could a group of scientists repair a truck to run on steam?












2














It is currently the year 2059. 97 years ago, the Cuban Missile Crisis went hot, and nuclear war between the USA and USSR became a sudden reality. The people alive now are 3rd and 4th generation wastelanders, most of whom have never seen any vehicle move, aside from horse pulled carts.



In New Mexico, there are a group of paramilitary known as “The Snipers”. They task themselves with protecting the people they can in wasteland, using old world tech and some weapons they manufactured themselves. But, they also have a more ‘scholarly’ branch that tasks themselves with revamping and reusing old war technology that they can use for their cause.



Two scouts recently found an old world truck, submerged in some ancient mudslide, so intact the skeleton of the driver is still grasping the wheel. They told HQ about it, and they’ve sent their top men to try and get it moving again. They don’t have access to petroleum products, but they think they may be able to make it run on steam power.



My question is, could a modern day (or 1960s) truck be re-engineered to run on steam power?










share|improve this question
























  • When you say re-engineer, do you mean take a truck that currently has a diesel engine and turn that into a truck that operates on a steam engine? They would basically have to replace the entire engine. There have been trucks that have been designed to run on steam from the get go though, like the NAMI-012.
    – Pasqueflower
    4 hours ago












  • @Pasqueflower: Yes, but they’ve found another (not as intact) truck of a similar model that they can use to get oaets
    – Robert Paul
    4 hours ago












  • If the truck has a petrol (gasoline) engine, they may fit it with a wood gas generator, which can be used as fuel in petrol engines. A steam engine has nothing in common with a petrol or diesel engine; nothing fits, not the cylinders, not the pistons, not the transmission.
    – AlexP
    1 hour ago












  • Probably easier to use biodiesel or ethanol.
    – GrandmasterB
    46 mins ago










  • @GrandmasterB: Biodiesel is for hippies
    – Robert Paul
    10 mins ago
















2














It is currently the year 2059. 97 years ago, the Cuban Missile Crisis went hot, and nuclear war between the USA and USSR became a sudden reality. The people alive now are 3rd and 4th generation wastelanders, most of whom have never seen any vehicle move, aside from horse pulled carts.



In New Mexico, there are a group of paramilitary known as “The Snipers”. They task themselves with protecting the people they can in wasteland, using old world tech and some weapons they manufactured themselves. But, they also have a more ‘scholarly’ branch that tasks themselves with revamping and reusing old war technology that they can use for their cause.



Two scouts recently found an old world truck, submerged in some ancient mudslide, so intact the skeleton of the driver is still grasping the wheel. They told HQ about it, and they’ve sent their top men to try and get it moving again. They don’t have access to petroleum products, but they think they may be able to make it run on steam power.



My question is, could a modern day (or 1960s) truck be re-engineered to run on steam power?










share|improve this question
























  • When you say re-engineer, do you mean take a truck that currently has a diesel engine and turn that into a truck that operates on a steam engine? They would basically have to replace the entire engine. There have been trucks that have been designed to run on steam from the get go though, like the NAMI-012.
    – Pasqueflower
    4 hours ago












  • @Pasqueflower: Yes, but they’ve found another (not as intact) truck of a similar model that they can use to get oaets
    – Robert Paul
    4 hours ago












  • If the truck has a petrol (gasoline) engine, they may fit it with a wood gas generator, which can be used as fuel in petrol engines. A steam engine has nothing in common with a petrol or diesel engine; nothing fits, not the cylinders, not the pistons, not the transmission.
    – AlexP
    1 hour ago












  • Probably easier to use biodiesel or ethanol.
    – GrandmasterB
    46 mins ago










  • @GrandmasterB: Biodiesel is for hippies
    – Robert Paul
    10 mins ago














2












2








2







It is currently the year 2059. 97 years ago, the Cuban Missile Crisis went hot, and nuclear war between the USA and USSR became a sudden reality. The people alive now are 3rd and 4th generation wastelanders, most of whom have never seen any vehicle move, aside from horse pulled carts.



In New Mexico, there are a group of paramilitary known as “The Snipers”. They task themselves with protecting the people they can in wasteland, using old world tech and some weapons they manufactured themselves. But, they also have a more ‘scholarly’ branch that tasks themselves with revamping and reusing old war technology that they can use for their cause.



Two scouts recently found an old world truck, submerged in some ancient mudslide, so intact the skeleton of the driver is still grasping the wheel. They told HQ about it, and they’ve sent their top men to try and get it moving again. They don’t have access to petroleum products, but they think they may be able to make it run on steam power.



My question is, could a modern day (or 1960s) truck be re-engineered to run on steam power?










share|improve this question















It is currently the year 2059. 97 years ago, the Cuban Missile Crisis went hot, and nuclear war between the USA and USSR became a sudden reality. The people alive now are 3rd and 4th generation wastelanders, most of whom have never seen any vehicle move, aside from horse pulled carts.



In New Mexico, there are a group of paramilitary known as “The Snipers”. They task themselves with protecting the people they can in wasteland, using old world tech and some weapons they manufactured themselves. But, they also have a more ‘scholarly’ branch that tasks themselves with revamping and reusing old war technology that they can use for their cause.



Two scouts recently found an old world truck, submerged in some ancient mudslide, so intact the skeleton of the driver is still grasping the wheel. They told HQ about it, and they’ve sent their top men to try and get it moving again. They don’t have access to petroleum products, but they think they may be able to make it run on steam power.



My question is, could a modern day (or 1960s) truck be re-engineered to run on steam power?







post-apocalypse vehicles






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 33 mins ago









L.Dutch

76.6k25182374




76.6k25182374










asked 4 hours ago









Robert Paul

2,22761843




2,22761843












  • When you say re-engineer, do you mean take a truck that currently has a diesel engine and turn that into a truck that operates on a steam engine? They would basically have to replace the entire engine. There have been trucks that have been designed to run on steam from the get go though, like the NAMI-012.
    – Pasqueflower
    4 hours ago












  • @Pasqueflower: Yes, but they’ve found another (not as intact) truck of a similar model that they can use to get oaets
    – Robert Paul
    4 hours ago












  • If the truck has a petrol (gasoline) engine, they may fit it with a wood gas generator, which can be used as fuel in petrol engines. A steam engine has nothing in common with a petrol or diesel engine; nothing fits, not the cylinders, not the pistons, not the transmission.
    – AlexP
    1 hour ago












  • Probably easier to use biodiesel or ethanol.
    – GrandmasterB
    46 mins ago










  • @GrandmasterB: Biodiesel is for hippies
    – Robert Paul
    10 mins ago


















  • When you say re-engineer, do you mean take a truck that currently has a diesel engine and turn that into a truck that operates on a steam engine? They would basically have to replace the entire engine. There have been trucks that have been designed to run on steam from the get go though, like the NAMI-012.
    – Pasqueflower
    4 hours ago












  • @Pasqueflower: Yes, but they’ve found another (not as intact) truck of a similar model that they can use to get oaets
    – Robert Paul
    4 hours ago












  • If the truck has a petrol (gasoline) engine, they may fit it with a wood gas generator, which can be used as fuel in petrol engines. A steam engine has nothing in common with a petrol or diesel engine; nothing fits, not the cylinders, not the pistons, not the transmission.
    – AlexP
    1 hour ago












  • Probably easier to use biodiesel or ethanol.
    – GrandmasterB
    46 mins ago










  • @GrandmasterB: Biodiesel is for hippies
    – Robert Paul
    10 mins ago
















When you say re-engineer, do you mean take a truck that currently has a diesel engine and turn that into a truck that operates on a steam engine? They would basically have to replace the entire engine. There have been trucks that have been designed to run on steam from the get go though, like the NAMI-012.
– Pasqueflower
4 hours ago






When you say re-engineer, do you mean take a truck that currently has a diesel engine and turn that into a truck that operates on a steam engine? They would basically have to replace the entire engine. There have been trucks that have been designed to run on steam from the get go though, like the NAMI-012.
– Pasqueflower
4 hours ago














@Pasqueflower: Yes, but they’ve found another (not as intact) truck of a similar model that they can use to get oaets
– Robert Paul
4 hours ago






@Pasqueflower: Yes, but they’ve found another (not as intact) truck of a similar model that they can use to get oaets
– Robert Paul
4 hours ago














If the truck has a petrol (gasoline) engine, they may fit it with a wood gas generator, which can be used as fuel in petrol engines. A steam engine has nothing in common with a petrol or diesel engine; nothing fits, not the cylinders, not the pistons, not the transmission.
– AlexP
1 hour ago






If the truck has a petrol (gasoline) engine, they may fit it with a wood gas generator, which can be used as fuel in petrol engines. A steam engine has nothing in common with a petrol or diesel engine; nothing fits, not the cylinders, not the pistons, not the transmission.
– AlexP
1 hour ago














Probably easier to use biodiesel or ethanol.
– GrandmasterB
46 mins ago




Probably easier to use biodiesel or ethanol.
– GrandmasterB
46 mins ago












@GrandmasterB: Biodiesel is for hippies
– Robert Paul
10 mins ago




@GrandmasterB: Biodiesel is for hippies
– Robert Paul
10 mins ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















2














Short answer: no.



The problem is that steam engines are bulky and heavy. They need to carry around a lot of water in addition to fuel, their fuel isn't very energy-dense compared to hydrocarbons, and they don't use it very efficiently. A steam-powered automobile would be sluggish, have a minuscule range, and not be able to carry very much weight. Not to mention you'd have to totally replace the engine and all of its related systems - it'd be not much better than starting from scratch.



You'd be better off keeping the combustion engine and retooling it to run off of a different fuel source, such as hydrogen, ethanol, methanol, propane, or natural gas (methane). All of them provide less energy density than gasoline, and hence less range, but you may find them easier to come by in the post-apocalypse. They also have the advantage of operating on the same internal combustion principles as the engine you're starting with, which should simplify the conversion.






share|improve this answer

















  • 1




    Once these post-apocalyptic guys discover the moonshine still in the back of that truck, the story goes downhill in a big way.
    – Willk
    3 hours ago










  • @Willik What kind of self-respecting post-apocalyptic guys don't have their own moonshine still?
    – Cadence
    3 hours ago










  • Actually, steam cars are not terribly sluggish, have good range and are fairly efficient and can carry typical road vehicle weight. Look up the Stanley Steamer, for example. They'd be a great post-pockyclyptic alternative!
    – elemtilas
    2 hours ago



















2














There were some cases when coal-fired trucks were done (albeit in factory conditions) during WW2:



http://www.robertsarmory.com/gas.htm



google for "ZIS-13 gasogenerator" as well






share|improve this answer










New contributor




aleck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.


















  • Gas generators do not generate steam, they generate producer gas or wood gas which is then used as fuel in regular petrol engines (albeit with abysmal efficiency, low power etc., but then it was war time and low power is infinitely better than no power).
    – AlexP
    1 hour ago










  • true, but still a feasible option for OP to consider.
    – aleck
    1 hour ago



















0














So, first thing to get out of the way.



The engine in it's current format will not run. At all.



Every rubber part would have perished, the bores in the engine would have filled with mud and rusted. Every bearing, the timing gears, the lifters, everything would be rooted.



Even if you were to completely dismantle, sodium blast and repair all these components at great expense, you would still be missing the new parts required to make it run. Gaskets/seals, belts, hoses etc would be difficult if not impossible to come by.



If the vehicle had fallen into a tar pit or something, there may be some hope in it not rusting into oblivion. But 90 years under the mud will result in very little salvagable truck.



The main part of your question, however, is whether you can re-engineer a truck to run on steam. The answer is yes, a single-piston steam engine is a fairly simple device that could be constructed out of scavenged materials. Steam powered trucks, cars and tractors have been built around existing platforms over the years and is entirely possible.



See wikipedia for a broad run-down: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_wagon



Also read up about Edward Pritchard, who made a name for himself converting existing vehicles to steam power: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Pritchard_(engineer)



It would be by no means easy to do in a limited resource world, but if someone happened to know how steam engines worked they could certainly build a home-brew steam vehicle.






share|improve this answer





















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    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes








    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    2














    Short answer: no.



    The problem is that steam engines are bulky and heavy. They need to carry around a lot of water in addition to fuel, their fuel isn't very energy-dense compared to hydrocarbons, and they don't use it very efficiently. A steam-powered automobile would be sluggish, have a minuscule range, and not be able to carry very much weight. Not to mention you'd have to totally replace the engine and all of its related systems - it'd be not much better than starting from scratch.



    You'd be better off keeping the combustion engine and retooling it to run off of a different fuel source, such as hydrogen, ethanol, methanol, propane, or natural gas (methane). All of them provide less energy density than gasoline, and hence less range, but you may find them easier to come by in the post-apocalypse. They also have the advantage of operating on the same internal combustion principles as the engine you're starting with, which should simplify the conversion.






    share|improve this answer

















    • 1




      Once these post-apocalyptic guys discover the moonshine still in the back of that truck, the story goes downhill in a big way.
      – Willk
      3 hours ago










    • @Willik What kind of self-respecting post-apocalyptic guys don't have their own moonshine still?
      – Cadence
      3 hours ago










    • Actually, steam cars are not terribly sluggish, have good range and are fairly efficient and can carry typical road vehicle weight. Look up the Stanley Steamer, for example. They'd be a great post-pockyclyptic alternative!
      – elemtilas
      2 hours ago
















    2














    Short answer: no.



    The problem is that steam engines are bulky and heavy. They need to carry around a lot of water in addition to fuel, their fuel isn't very energy-dense compared to hydrocarbons, and they don't use it very efficiently. A steam-powered automobile would be sluggish, have a minuscule range, and not be able to carry very much weight. Not to mention you'd have to totally replace the engine and all of its related systems - it'd be not much better than starting from scratch.



    You'd be better off keeping the combustion engine and retooling it to run off of a different fuel source, such as hydrogen, ethanol, methanol, propane, or natural gas (methane). All of them provide less energy density than gasoline, and hence less range, but you may find them easier to come by in the post-apocalypse. They also have the advantage of operating on the same internal combustion principles as the engine you're starting with, which should simplify the conversion.






    share|improve this answer

















    • 1




      Once these post-apocalyptic guys discover the moonshine still in the back of that truck, the story goes downhill in a big way.
      – Willk
      3 hours ago










    • @Willik What kind of self-respecting post-apocalyptic guys don't have their own moonshine still?
      – Cadence
      3 hours ago










    • Actually, steam cars are not terribly sluggish, have good range and are fairly efficient and can carry typical road vehicle weight. Look up the Stanley Steamer, for example. They'd be a great post-pockyclyptic alternative!
      – elemtilas
      2 hours ago














    2












    2








    2






    Short answer: no.



    The problem is that steam engines are bulky and heavy. They need to carry around a lot of water in addition to fuel, their fuel isn't very energy-dense compared to hydrocarbons, and they don't use it very efficiently. A steam-powered automobile would be sluggish, have a minuscule range, and not be able to carry very much weight. Not to mention you'd have to totally replace the engine and all of its related systems - it'd be not much better than starting from scratch.



    You'd be better off keeping the combustion engine and retooling it to run off of a different fuel source, such as hydrogen, ethanol, methanol, propane, or natural gas (methane). All of them provide less energy density than gasoline, and hence less range, but you may find them easier to come by in the post-apocalypse. They also have the advantage of operating on the same internal combustion principles as the engine you're starting with, which should simplify the conversion.






    share|improve this answer












    Short answer: no.



    The problem is that steam engines are bulky and heavy. They need to carry around a lot of water in addition to fuel, their fuel isn't very energy-dense compared to hydrocarbons, and they don't use it very efficiently. A steam-powered automobile would be sluggish, have a minuscule range, and not be able to carry very much weight. Not to mention you'd have to totally replace the engine and all of its related systems - it'd be not much better than starting from scratch.



    You'd be better off keeping the combustion engine and retooling it to run off of a different fuel source, such as hydrogen, ethanol, methanol, propane, or natural gas (methane). All of them provide less energy density than gasoline, and hence less range, but you may find them easier to come by in the post-apocalypse. They also have the advantage of operating on the same internal combustion principles as the engine you're starting with, which should simplify the conversion.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered 3 hours ago









    Cadence

    13.6k52747




    13.6k52747








    • 1




      Once these post-apocalyptic guys discover the moonshine still in the back of that truck, the story goes downhill in a big way.
      – Willk
      3 hours ago










    • @Willik What kind of self-respecting post-apocalyptic guys don't have their own moonshine still?
      – Cadence
      3 hours ago










    • Actually, steam cars are not terribly sluggish, have good range and are fairly efficient and can carry typical road vehicle weight. Look up the Stanley Steamer, for example. They'd be a great post-pockyclyptic alternative!
      – elemtilas
      2 hours ago














    • 1




      Once these post-apocalyptic guys discover the moonshine still in the back of that truck, the story goes downhill in a big way.
      – Willk
      3 hours ago










    • @Willik What kind of self-respecting post-apocalyptic guys don't have their own moonshine still?
      – Cadence
      3 hours ago










    • Actually, steam cars are not terribly sluggish, have good range and are fairly efficient and can carry typical road vehicle weight. Look up the Stanley Steamer, for example. They'd be a great post-pockyclyptic alternative!
      – elemtilas
      2 hours ago








    1




    1




    Once these post-apocalyptic guys discover the moonshine still in the back of that truck, the story goes downhill in a big way.
    – Willk
    3 hours ago




    Once these post-apocalyptic guys discover the moonshine still in the back of that truck, the story goes downhill in a big way.
    – Willk
    3 hours ago












    @Willik What kind of self-respecting post-apocalyptic guys don't have their own moonshine still?
    – Cadence
    3 hours ago




    @Willik What kind of self-respecting post-apocalyptic guys don't have their own moonshine still?
    – Cadence
    3 hours ago












    Actually, steam cars are not terribly sluggish, have good range and are fairly efficient and can carry typical road vehicle weight. Look up the Stanley Steamer, for example. They'd be a great post-pockyclyptic alternative!
    – elemtilas
    2 hours ago




    Actually, steam cars are not terribly sluggish, have good range and are fairly efficient and can carry typical road vehicle weight. Look up the Stanley Steamer, for example. They'd be a great post-pockyclyptic alternative!
    – elemtilas
    2 hours ago











    2














    There were some cases when coal-fired trucks were done (albeit in factory conditions) during WW2:



    http://www.robertsarmory.com/gas.htm



    google for "ZIS-13 gasogenerator" as well






    share|improve this answer










    New contributor




    aleck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.


















    • Gas generators do not generate steam, they generate producer gas or wood gas which is then used as fuel in regular petrol engines (albeit with abysmal efficiency, low power etc., but then it was war time and low power is infinitely better than no power).
      – AlexP
      1 hour ago










    • true, but still a feasible option for OP to consider.
      – aleck
      1 hour ago
















    2














    There were some cases when coal-fired trucks were done (albeit in factory conditions) during WW2:



    http://www.robertsarmory.com/gas.htm



    google for "ZIS-13 gasogenerator" as well






    share|improve this answer










    New contributor




    aleck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.


















    • Gas generators do not generate steam, they generate producer gas or wood gas which is then used as fuel in regular petrol engines (albeit with abysmal efficiency, low power etc., but then it was war time and low power is infinitely better than no power).
      – AlexP
      1 hour ago










    • true, but still a feasible option for OP to consider.
      – aleck
      1 hour ago














    2












    2








    2






    There were some cases when coal-fired trucks were done (albeit in factory conditions) during WW2:



    http://www.robertsarmory.com/gas.htm



    google for "ZIS-13 gasogenerator" as well






    share|improve this answer










    New contributor




    aleck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.









    There were some cases when coal-fired trucks were done (albeit in factory conditions) during WW2:



    http://www.robertsarmory.com/gas.htm



    google for "ZIS-13 gasogenerator" as well







    share|improve this answer










    New contributor




    aleck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.









    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited 3 hours ago





















    New contributor




    aleck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.









    answered 3 hours ago









    aleck

    1814




    1814




    New contributor




    aleck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.





    New contributor





    aleck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.






    aleck is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.












    • Gas generators do not generate steam, they generate producer gas or wood gas which is then used as fuel in regular petrol engines (albeit with abysmal efficiency, low power etc., but then it was war time and low power is infinitely better than no power).
      – AlexP
      1 hour ago










    • true, but still a feasible option for OP to consider.
      – aleck
      1 hour ago


















    • Gas generators do not generate steam, they generate producer gas or wood gas which is then used as fuel in regular petrol engines (albeit with abysmal efficiency, low power etc., but then it was war time and low power is infinitely better than no power).
      – AlexP
      1 hour ago










    • true, but still a feasible option for OP to consider.
      – aleck
      1 hour ago
















    Gas generators do not generate steam, they generate producer gas or wood gas which is then used as fuel in regular petrol engines (albeit with abysmal efficiency, low power etc., but then it was war time and low power is infinitely better than no power).
    – AlexP
    1 hour ago




    Gas generators do not generate steam, they generate producer gas or wood gas which is then used as fuel in regular petrol engines (albeit with abysmal efficiency, low power etc., but then it was war time and low power is infinitely better than no power).
    – AlexP
    1 hour ago












    true, but still a feasible option for OP to consider.
    – aleck
    1 hour ago




    true, but still a feasible option for OP to consider.
    – aleck
    1 hour ago











    0














    So, first thing to get out of the way.



    The engine in it's current format will not run. At all.



    Every rubber part would have perished, the bores in the engine would have filled with mud and rusted. Every bearing, the timing gears, the lifters, everything would be rooted.



    Even if you were to completely dismantle, sodium blast and repair all these components at great expense, you would still be missing the new parts required to make it run. Gaskets/seals, belts, hoses etc would be difficult if not impossible to come by.



    If the vehicle had fallen into a tar pit or something, there may be some hope in it not rusting into oblivion. But 90 years under the mud will result in very little salvagable truck.



    The main part of your question, however, is whether you can re-engineer a truck to run on steam. The answer is yes, a single-piston steam engine is a fairly simple device that could be constructed out of scavenged materials. Steam powered trucks, cars and tractors have been built around existing platforms over the years and is entirely possible.



    See wikipedia for a broad run-down: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_wagon



    Also read up about Edward Pritchard, who made a name for himself converting existing vehicles to steam power: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Pritchard_(engineer)



    It would be by no means easy to do in a limited resource world, but if someone happened to know how steam engines worked they could certainly build a home-brew steam vehicle.






    share|improve this answer


























      0














      So, first thing to get out of the way.



      The engine in it's current format will not run. At all.



      Every rubber part would have perished, the bores in the engine would have filled with mud and rusted. Every bearing, the timing gears, the lifters, everything would be rooted.



      Even if you were to completely dismantle, sodium blast and repair all these components at great expense, you would still be missing the new parts required to make it run. Gaskets/seals, belts, hoses etc would be difficult if not impossible to come by.



      If the vehicle had fallen into a tar pit or something, there may be some hope in it not rusting into oblivion. But 90 years under the mud will result in very little salvagable truck.



      The main part of your question, however, is whether you can re-engineer a truck to run on steam. The answer is yes, a single-piston steam engine is a fairly simple device that could be constructed out of scavenged materials. Steam powered trucks, cars and tractors have been built around existing platforms over the years and is entirely possible.



      See wikipedia for a broad run-down: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_wagon



      Also read up about Edward Pritchard, who made a name for himself converting existing vehicles to steam power: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Pritchard_(engineer)



      It would be by no means easy to do in a limited resource world, but if someone happened to know how steam engines worked they could certainly build a home-brew steam vehicle.






      share|improve this answer
























        0












        0








        0






        So, first thing to get out of the way.



        The engine in it's current format will not run. At all.



        Every rubber part would have perished, the bores in the engine would have filled with mud and rusted. Every bearing, the timing gears, the lifters, everything would be rooted.



        Even if you were to completely dismantle, sodium blast and repair all these components at great expense, you would still be missing the new parts required to make it run. Gaskets/seals, belts, hoses etc would be difficult if not impossible to come by.



        If the vehicle had fallen into a tar pit or something, there may be some hope in it not rusting into oblivion. But 90 years under the mud will result in very little salvagable truck.



        The main part of your question, however, is whether you can re-engineer a truck to run on steam. The answer is yes, a single-piston steam engine is a fairly simple device that could be constructed out of scavenged materials. Steam powered trucks, cars and tractors have been built around existing platforms over the years and is entirely possible.



        See wikipedia for a broad run-down: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_wagon



        Also read up about Edward Pritchard, who made a name for himself converting existing vehicles to steam power: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Pritchard_(engineer)



        It would be by no means easy to do in a limited resource world, but if someone happened to know how steam engines worked they could certainly build a home-brew steam vehicle.






        share|improve this answer












        So, first thing to get out of the way.



        The engine in it's current format will not run. At all.



        Every rubber part would have perished, the bores in the engine would have filled with mud and rusted. Every bearing, the timing gears, the lifters, everything would be rooted.



        Even if you were to completely dismantle, sodium blast and repair all these components at great expense, you would still be missing the new parts required to make it run. Gaskets/seals, belts, hoses etc would be difficult if not impossible to come by.



        If the vehicle had fallen into a tar pit or something, there may be some hope in it not rusting into oblivion. But 90 years under the mud will result in very little salvagable truck.



        The main part of your question, however, is whether you can re-engineer a truck to run on steam. The answer is yes, a single-piston steam engine is a fairly simple device that could be constructed out of scavenged materials. Steam powered trucks, cars and tractors have been built around existing platforms over the years and is entirely possible.



        See wikipedia for a broad run-down: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_wagon



        Also read up about Edward Pritchard, who made a name for himself converting existing vehicles to steam power: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Pritchard_(engineer)



        It would be by no means easy to do in a limited resource world, but if someone happened to know how steam engines worked they could certainly build a home-brew steam vehicle.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 24 mins ago









        Aaron Lavers

        29115




        29115






























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