Emergency Backup Water Supply System

Another Hooray!

My emergency backup water system is now complete. If we ever have a long term water outage due to toxin release, drought, or civil/nuclear war, I’ll be ready to go.

I started with a 275 Gallon IBC water tote that I picked up for $150. I got it cleaned out and covered the exterior with leftover roofing metal in order to keep the sun out to avoid the growth of algae. It kind of looks like a doghouse. I’ll paint a black opening on one side and people will never know it’s a water tank. LOL. As pictured above, a removable panel had been slid out for water level viewing.

In order to provide pressurized water to the house, I bought a 75 PSI 5.5 Gallon per minute RV water pump for $61.00 as well as the needed hoses and adapters to get everything connected. To go from the pump to the garden faucet, I used a leftover washing machine hose, which has female garden hose connectors on each end.

The last step is to go to the water meter at the street and turn off the supply valve, which essentially disconnects the house from the water supply. Just plug the pump in and I’m done.

I chose to use a 110V pump because I have an extensive backup solar power system that will run off-grid if the power goes out at the same time. You could opt for a 12v pump, a deep cycle battery, and a solar panel to charge it.

Not shown is an inline filter that I didn’t use for this test, since the water in the tank is fresh and came from the hose. If I was to be using rainwater or water from the river, I would install the filter, which includes carbon filtration as well as physical filtration. I also have a reverse osmosis system under the sink to make sure the water I drink is especially clean, no matter the source. I plan to buy a water bladder and a 12v pump for the truck in case I have to obtain water from the river.

For the first test, I turn on the faucet in the kitchen and bam. Water as normal. The pressure is slightly less, but it’s hardly noticeable.

I started with a 24-hour test where I marked the water level in the tank and then used the water normally for a day. I found that the water level went down 2.5 inches over that period. The tank measures 39 inches tall when filled to the max, so 39 divided by 2.5 = 15.6 days.

That will provide approximately 2 weeks of water. Even more with additional conservation measures. I’m pretty happy with that. (Consider that it takes two weeks after a nuclear blast for the fallout radiation to subside to acceptable levels. Just sayin’.)

It feels good to be properly prepared for unusual circumstances. I’m totally off grid capable with my electricity and good for two weeks with water. I could also include water from my hot tub if it ever came to that.

Are you prepared? No? Well, what are you waiting for?

Emergency Drinking Water

I’ve been wanting to get one of these for many years and though the price has gone up, I decided now was the time to get one before it is too late.

The world has never been closer to nuclear war than it is now. Even the Cuban Missile Crisis was not as serious. Nobody seems to care, of course. They just go on with their monotonous lives, not doing anything at all to be prepared just in case. I find that it’s worth every penny you spend to have some peace of mind.

A place in town had a stack of food-grade 275 gallon IBC totes for sale at $150 each, so I went to check them out. They were used for carrying avocado oil, so I’m not worried about any dangerous contaminants. It still had about an inch of oil at the bottom which smelled a little rancid but not too bad, so I took that to mean that these are pretty fresh units. I paid the $150 in cash and backed my truck up and slid one off the top right into the bed and drove home.

I cleaned it out well using soap and a pressure washer and popped it into place around the back of my house near my AC and outdoor shower. It was a perfect fit.

My next step will be to use some of my leftover metal roofing material to build a shell around it to keep the sun off in order to avoid algae growth as well as deflect the radioactive particles.

I’m going to order an RV water pump, so I’ll be able to supply pressurized water to the house in the event of unpleasantness. I’m not sure if I should get a 120v or a 12v pump. I have an extensive backup solar power system that will provide endless 120v power, but if something happens to that, I would be better to have a 12v pump that can run off a car battery and a solar panel. I could still run the 12v pump off of 120v using a power converter that I have, but it would be a little inconvenient to set up. Hard choice. I’m going to have to think about that a bit, but not too long because we may need it soon.

All I have to do is run a hose from the pump to the faucet nearby, shut off the main valve at the meter and the house will be fully self-contained. The pump comes on automatically only when a faucet is opened.

For extra protection, I’ll get an inline RV water filter that will just attach between the pump and the faucet. This will filter out additional contaminants as well as remove some of the chlorine that will be used to treat the water for long-term storage.

Supposedly it will be safe for storage for 3–5 years. I’ll plan on refreshing it every year anyway.

The total cost should be less than $200. Not a bad price for 275 gallons of peaceful mind. What are you waiting for? Tick-tock-boom!

Replacing a dying cell in my 2008 Prius battery

My wonderful old 2008 Toyota Prius recently passed the 200,000-mile mark. I bought it back in 2009 when it was one year old. Never buy a new car, because you are just wasting so much money. The original hybrid battery was still functioning perfectly, and I regularly get 54 miles per gallon. I’ve saved enough money on gas over all those years to retire early again.

I plan on doing some traveling this spring and summer, and I was starting to get concerned that the battery may be nearing its useful life, so I bought an app called Dr Prius. Using an OBDII dongle, it reads the status of the battery. As shown above, the battery is definitely starting to get short and cell #11 is obviously extra low. I think it still has, maybe, a year left in it as it is, but I decided to do some prophylactic maintenance and see if I could replace the lowest cell pack.

I watched a number of YouTube videos on how to remove the battery and how to replace a cell. It looked fairly simple, so I went ahead and ordered two cells on eBay for $33 each. They were used but are supposedly thoroughly tested, and I figured if they passed the tests then they should for sure be better than the ones that are going bad. In a few days, the cells arrived. I tested them with my multimeter and, although it is only a basic test, they looked good.

The first step was to get the battery out. This means pretty much removing all the interior panels in the rear of the car and unbolting the back seats. Having watched a very good instructional video, it all came out pretty easily. I then disconnected and unbolted the hybrid battery and slid it out of the car and onto a work table. I was going to take it inside and work there, but it is heavy, and I didn’t want to risk damaging it or my back. I think they say it is 80 pounds. Overall, it was an easy operation.

Next, you take the top off and remove all the battery bus bars. Also, rather simple.

There is a temperature sensor on top and a rubber hose that connects to each cell. Both are easily removed. Then you flip it over, unbolt all the cells from the bottom, remove the three temperature sensors underneath and then remove the cell package from the chassis.

That wasn’t too bad. It kind of reminded me of the Erector Set I played with as a kid.

There were so many little nuts to remove. I saved them in a magnetic holder so they wouldn’t get lost.

I’m so glad Toyota designed this battery so that it can be repaired. This is the way everything should be done, so there is less waste.

Dr Prius indicated that pack #11 was the lowest. Just to verify, I used my multimeter to measure each cell and when I got to pack 11 which is made up of two cells, they both tested obviously lower than the others. You can see the little black dots I put on them for identification.

I removed the compression bolts on the right side of the battery and was able to slide out the two bad cells and slide in the two new ones. That was too easy.

All that was left to do was reverse the procedure and put it all back together again. I figured I would do it today, so there would be less chance of forgetting stuff. I had a whole week blocked out on my calendar, figuring this would be a long and major project, but it turned out to only take a few hours.

I got the battery reassembled, slid back into the car, bolted in and reconnected.

With fingers crossed, I turned on the ignition and was pleasantly surprised when the car turned on normally. I opened up Dr Prius to look at the battery status and was again pleasantly surprised when all the cells showed as being functional. I guess I did it well enough.

Hooray! Cell 11 now shows up as the best one in the battery. Most satisfying. I was tired, and my back was hurting, so I decided to stop there and take it on a test drive tomorrow. Furthermore, I am confident that it will read satisfactorily and will have added some time to my car’s life. I’ll put the interior panels in after the test drive.

Overall, it was a good experience. Each part of the project was rather easy, and I got the chance, for the first time, to see the battery itself. It has always been some kind of magic before. Now I feel that it’s nothing to worry about and if I have to buy a cell or two and install them each year, I’m good with that. I’ll probably buy a couple more cells and keep them on hand. I’ll take them and my tools with me on my journeys in the unlikely event that I have to do an emergency swap. It’s so easy.

After 16 years, I really should probably be buying a new car, but I’m just not ready yet. I have the money and need to spend some money, but the time hasn’t come. My trusty old Prius still makes me happy, and now we’re closer friends than ever.

The barn is ALMOST done.

Well, it’s a shed, I guess, but it’s built like a Pole Barn where you start with wall poles sunk into the ground and then build the rest.

I started it last spring, but the weather got WAY too hot to be outside, so It sat for months with only the roof and two walls done. I finally managed to go get more of the metal I needed to get working again. I’m lucky that my uncle, who lives only 4 miles away from me, is a roofer and has, literally, tons of metal lying around that I can use for free. 

Today I put up the back wall and the two pieces in the front. All that is left is the doors and the triangular portion above the doors. A winter blast is coming for the next few days, so this project is going back on hold. I should have it completed in a few weeks.

I’ll use it mainly for overflow storage from my workshop and to keep my Karmann Ghia in and out of the weather. The car fits nicely as I measured it before I started the barn. Right now, I keep the front end of the truck in it. It sticks out about 4 feet. LOL. The car is under the carport and has a cover on it.

It always feels good to get something major accomplished. I don’t mind it taking a long time.  I prefer to work on large projects by doing a little at a time. Keeps up the suspense and gives me something fun to do.

It’s Alive!!! Alive!!!!

I’ve always wanted to say that.

Today I went out to see if I could wake up my sleeping 1982 Holiday Rambler Motor Home. It sat, baking, under the broiling Texas sun throughout the hottest summer ever on record. I used to go out and start it up every month to keep the juices flowing, but I thought it might be best to not tempt fate for a while. So I let it sit. I apologized to it every time I passed by for not using it or paying more attention, but the summer was brutal and being outside for any extended period was contraindicated.

I think the last time I started it up was in early spring before the heat hit. That was around 10 months ago. In the meantime, I borrowed the newish battery to use in my Karmann Ghia project. It was a perfect fit and that also kept the battery in good condition during the long wait.

I was in fear of finding out that it wouldn’t start, and I had to take the carburetor apart AGAIN and clean it. That also kept me from trying until now. Today was the day, so I borrowed the battery from the Ghia and put it back in the engine bay of the Motorhome. I knew the fuel tank was empty because it had run dry the last time I ran it, so I dumped in five gallons of fuel, to which I had added some Sta-bil and Marvel Mystery oil to help keep the carburetor needle valve lubricated. It had stuck before, making me have to take the carb apart to free it. After checking the fluid levels, I got in and turned the key. Amazingly, it started!! What a relief. Of course, it ran rough for a while, but eventually smoothed out.

I rocked it back and forth to get it to climb out of the sinkholes the tires had made over the months. It drove backwards about 30 feet and forward again. The transmission was still good. I let it idle for a good while to heat the engine up and make sure all the juices are flowing properly. Somewhat relieved, I shut it down.

It’s going to need a little TLC to get it back in usable condition. The carb still has something not quite right, it idles too fast, and I have to blip the throttle to get it to calm down. Probably an easy adjustment. I’ll dive into it tomorrow and see what I can do.

It has been many years since I’ve actually gone RVing. I had used it a few times a year before I retired, then lived in it for a few months while I was building my retirement house.  Now that I live in the country, I’m pretty much “out of the city” all the time, so I don’t really have anywhere I want to go. The parks are all booked up in the summer and besides, it’s too hot to be doing that. I used to go places during nice weeks in the winter. I might do that again. Better hurry, though. It’s mid-December now, and Summer will be here in three months. I’ll probably take it to spend a few days at a few of the local Nudist resorts. That’s always fun. 

The hardest part of the project was Getting Started. Now it is in progress.

Finished upholstery and carpet

I’ve been slowly working on reviving my 1966 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. My recent projects, other than getting the engine running beautifully, were to work on the tired interior.

I ordered a seat upholstery set and got them installed. It looks as good as new. This was the first time I’ve ever done upholstery, and it was actually pretty easy.

The car was also missing the carpet on the driver’s side, so I found a bit of carpet from Home Depot that matched the original carpeting pretty well and cut it to fit. It looks pretty damn good.

All that’s left to do is replace the door panels and install a carpet headliner. The interior will be essentially done. In fact, the car will be essentially done. There’s not much else that needs work. It’s ready to go.

Noice!!!

Got my Karmann Ghia Inspected Today

The weather was good today, so I made the decision to go get my 1966 Karmann Ghia inspected. It started up and ran smoothly. I drove a mile down to the end of my road and back and all was good, so I struck out for the 10-mile drive to town.

All seemed fine until I got about half way there and the engine cut out. I coasted into a good spot by the side of the road. It turned out one of the wires to the ignition system fell off of the coil. After getting that reconnected, it started up and I continued my trip.

I made it to the inspection shop. All the young kids working there had never seen a car like this before. They were amazed. Luckily, one of the guys knew how to drive standard and was able to do his thing. The engine had a little trouble starting but worked. After the inspection, I again had a hard time starting it. When I got back to the same halfway point, it cut out again.

This time it wasn’t the ignition wire. The engine was very hot. The test for overheating on a VW engine is to hold the oil dipstick. If it burns your hand, then it is overheating. Hmmmmm. It wouldn’t start, and I didn’t have any tools with me, so there wasn’t much I could do. I made a few calls looking for a trailer to pick me up. Eventually, when it cooled down, it started!! I immediately made off for home.

About a mile from my house, it cut out again, and I coasted to the side of the road. I was close enough to walk home and get my tractor to tow it, but I would have to find someone to sit in the driver seat and mind the brake. I waited it out, hoping it would start again after cooling a little. Fortunately, it did, and I babied it the rest of the way home.

It looks like the carburetor air leak is back. The grease I put in the accelerator shaft must have melted away. It wasn’t a permanent fix. It probably needs a new carburetor. Also, it is definitely overheating, which could be caused by a number of things. I think it’s time for a professional to look at it. I called a VW shop not too far away and will be getting it towed in for professional help in a few weeks. I’m a pretty good amateur mechanic, but sometimes, you need someone who knows for sure. I hate giving money to people, but I think it will be worth it. In the meantime, I will work on the new upholstery and interior stuff.

It was an interesting ordeal, but at least the inspection is done, and I can continue with the registration process.

The most interesting thing of the day was the fact that NOBODY stopped to see if I needed any help. All the cars just zoomed by. You would think that out in the country, there would be no shortage of people stopping to help you. Especially if you have an interesting car. I guess things have changed. You can’t always rely on the kindness of country folk. Not anymore. It’s a whole new world.

1966 VW Karmann Ghia Test Drive

Hooray!!! I finally worked up the courage to take my restoration project out for its first real test drive. I purchased this 1966 Karmann Ghia, this spring, from an old acquaintance who inherited it from his father. It was in very rough shape, and he is no mechanic by any means. I got it for a steal at $1500. Over the last few months, I’ve spent a lot of time and approximately $2000 in parts to get it properly revived.

I am planning on registering it and getting it inspected this week, and needed to take it on a lengthy test drive to make sure it was roadworthy. I first drove a mile down to the end of my street and back. After getting back to my gate, I let it idle for a little and the engine kept going strongly. I think I’ve got the stopping problem fixed. It was an air leak in the carburetor.

Since it was happy, I continued on and went on a five-mile trip through the country roads and back to my house. It felt pretty damn good, and the engine performed flawlessly and reliably. The brakes were firm, and the clutch worked smoothly.

I think we’re good and ready to go get legal. The rest of the work left to do on it is primarily cosmetic on the interior. Everything electrical and mechanical are functioning as designed. Yay!

I’m not entirely sure what I’m going to do with it. It’s Texas, so driving without AC is only possible in the winter. It was the same with my 1971 Porsche 911 I had when I was younger. I suppose I’ll keep it for a few years for funsies then consider selling it for some profits. It’s probably worth $7K-9K. Maybe more in a few years. Driving it really brought back memories of my 911.

Damn, I’m good!

I’ve really been busting out the goodness on my 1966 Karmann Ghia project lately. Today I fixed the gauge lights and got the windshield wiper motor going again while cleaning up the wires.

I’ve done a lot of work on it lately, and it really feels good when each little job is completed. I probably should have posted more pictures and stuff as I went along, but I didn’t really think of it since I haven’t really been blogging much lately. I mostly have been going with the flow.

The project hasn’t been taking up a lot of my time over the summer because it was FAR too hot to be outside for more than a little while in the morning. Now that the weather is cooler, I can spend more time on it. Even then, I’m not rushing it. If I do one awesome thing a day, I feel that I am good for the rest of the day.

The biggest hurdle ahead of me is getting the engine running correctly. I ordered some gaskets and seals for the oil cooler and intake manifolds that just arrived today. I’ll plan on putting the engine back together tomorrow. If the gaskets work, I expect it should solve the engine not idling issue. Air is leaking in somewhere, and new gaskets should do the trick. Fingers crossed.

Once that’s done, the rest is mostly cosmetic. When the engine is sorted out, I can get it registered and inspected and go driving. Next I will be putting in a custom headliner, new seat upholstery and door panels, and a fancy new airplay stereo. I’ve just about got everything that functions to be functional. How awesome is that?

There’s a new TV show called “The Irrational” on NBC that is actually pretty decent. The main character drives a sharp looking Karmann Ghia that looks just like mine. At least in the first episode where he crashes it. OUCH!! They say it’s totaled, but I’ll bet he gets it back somehow. In episodes 2 & 3 he is without a vehicle. The way they displayed it in episode one, I’ll bet it returns. I hope it returns. It’s the main reason I watched the show. At least check out Episode One.

An Awesome per Day

I like to try to do at least one awesome thing every day. Perhaps that is a bit of a challenge, but for me, I can pretty much do it if I want to.

Lately I’ve been working on my 1966 Karmann Ghia Revival project. Today, my plan was to remove the intake manifold, which includes a “heat riser” tube system that conducts heat from the exhaust up to the carburetor to keep it from “freezing up”. Interestingly enough, it appears that really is a thing even in warm weather. The evaporation of the fuel in the carb is endothermic and causes the carb to get cold and even sweat on the outside. I noticed that even in Texas in the Summer.

With Classic VW engines, the heat riser tubes eventually clog up with carbon and no longer function. I figure that was going to be an issue on my old Ghia that has likely been abused and then stashed for 20 years. I was right.

In order to get the tubes out, you pretty much have to take off the whole top of the engine, which wasn’t difficult. I got the tubes off and sure enough, they were clogged up solid. There are multiple methods one can use to clean them out, but the easy ones didn’t work, and the dangerous one was out of the question. I ended up having to cut a hole in the pipe at one of the bends in order to get a long drill bit through the middle portion. It was a job, but I got it clean as a whistle and didn’t have to spend $200 on a whole new, aftermarket and not as good, set. I had to, then, cut a patch and weld it in to fill the hole. It took all morning, probably six hours total, to get it done, but I accomplished it well.

As long as the engine was apart, I removed the wasp nests and leaves, then sprayed degreaser on the usually inaccessible bits and power washed it all clean. NOICE!!!! See picture.

I’m tired and sore. That’s enough awesome for one day. I’ll put it back together tomorrow morning before it gets too hot. Now it should run correctly and cool.

I’m so awesome. You should be my friend.