Quote:
Originally Posted by unkated
The easiest way would be to pull the engine and replace it with a more modern truck engine of comparable power.
Now, note that I said "easiest", not that it would be easy. It would take a well-equipped garage and a knowledgeable team to do so. But it would probably be easier than to locate working antique replacement parts, or get the specs to some mechanical artist with a well-equipped machine shop to make them from scratch.
Uncle Ted
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This is where I have major problems with the cannon (and changed my game's history accordingly). If Russia wanted to prevent the US from supplying/directing the war in Europe; They would have detonated several large nukes at altitude over the US and let the EMP destroy the computer modules present in almost all the machines (including engines) from the early 90's on (and we would have retaliated accordingly). You would need one of these newer engines (built to take the higher operating temperatures of ethanol) in order to build a motor that lasts. The EMP effect would have rendered most "soft-skinned" military vehicles "dead" as well. These vehicles were too numerous for even the US Army to "harden" the chips in their engine control module. There would be as many soft skinned vehicles left (not many) as armored vehicles (those vehicles being "hardened"). On the upside, there would be plenty of non-computerized parts for the remaining vehicles. This also speaks to the use of older vehicles (which were not computerized) by everyone. These older vehicles would still see limited use because they suffer damage from the use of ethanol (shortening their lifespan very quickly). Also, contrary to the cannon, gas powered vehicles cannot use methanol; There's not enough energy in methanol for effective combustion to occur. Methanol can be used in the manufacture of biodiesel (replacing the pint of ethanol per gallon of oil needed to enhance combustion) but it reduces the effectiveness of the fuel (biodiesel made with ethanol has the same economy as regular diesel). Diesel engines would be the true "workhorse" in Twilight because any fuel the engine can atomize, it can burn (including kerosene, methanol/ethanol & vegetable oil, fuel oil, old motor oil cut with dry gas, and even Propane or natural gas). The problem would be that newer 90's diesel engines were computerized (and are now not operational). This approach makes a vehicle a rare and valuable resource to be treasured.
If you would like more information on fuel and alternative fuels for military operations; Get a copy (you can download them) of the Petroleum Specialist's Handbook (MOS 77Fox) from the Army. The American Petroleum Institute also has information on fuels and their uses.