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Vehicle to Withstand Electromagnetic Pulse

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ReadyontheRight

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So... a nuclear exchange hits us. People will survive the blasts and need mobility.

The electromagnetic pulse has taken out anything with a computer chip.

Which vehicles will still run? How far back do we have to go to get a car that will still work after an EMP?

Are there any modern vehicles or measures a person can take that can prevent a disbling electromagnetic pulse?
 
Its my understanding that cars began having computer control units sometimes in the early 80s, good rule of thumb is that if its fuel injected or has somekind of electronic spark control youre probibly buggered.
 
The only "sure bet" would be a car with no computer whatsoever, i.e. points and condenser and a carb. Failing that, I'd guess the early computer-based fuel injection systems would be more tolerant than the newer equipment, but I'm no expert.
 
I'm O.K.

This is yet another reason for me to keep my 1972 Chevy Blazer. The other reason is that it is the most reliable vehicle we own. Whenever the other vehicles go down, we just go out and drive the blazer until the "nicer" vehicles get fixed.
 
Yes! Amazingly enough, it even pre-dates the automobile. It is called a bicycle! :p

Kidding aside, we have made a habit of keeping two bikes maintained around the house, even if we don't ride them that much. I also keep a two passenger jogging stroller around (small kids), and a wagon. A few blocks from us is a grocery store with plenty of shopping carts. It is a far less than ideal solution, but if push comes to shove (heh-heh) we have the means of lashing together a few ways of trasnporting ourselves in the event of a disaster or emergency.

I played around lashing the bikes together one time with pvc pipes, duct tape and hose clamps. The idea was born from remembering how much cargo the Viet Cong transported by pushing bicycles oalong the Ho Chi Minh Trail. While cumbersome, it sure as heck beats trying to drag stuff along in backpacks. Using mountain bikes and one of those pickup truck cargo nets with the pvc, you can haul an astonishing amount of stuff.
 
One problem. Unless you have a large stockpile of gasoline don't count on any gas pumps remaining in operation. All computer controled.

I'm not convinced that even a vehicle with points in the distributor would still work. There are still some solid state electronics (capicators and voltage regulators) that could get fried.
 
Yes! Amazingly enough,it pre-dates the automobile. It is called a bicycle!
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As much as I like bicycles (check out the new Surly "Big Dummy"!!! Awesome!), as far as survival tactics go...the guy with the car or truck is going to have more capacity to move stuff around, protect himself from harm and get away when needed than the guy with the bicycle. He can also easily carry a bicycle for use when needed.

One problem. Unless you have a large stockpile of gasoline don't count on any gas pumps remaining in operation. All computer controled.
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Or you could use a hand pump and tubes at any gas station with gas in the underground tank.
 
I think anything with a breaker point ignition would probably be safe and depending on conditions at the time possibly some of the early CDI stuff. how close to the EMP burst you are would make a difference as well.
 
If there's an EMP, shoot your car with the biggest gun you have. There, now it's at least remotely related to the subject of this forum.
 
I'd just hitch my truck up to some mules, put it in neutral and I'd be GTG
 
My hunting truck would still run, old 1986 F250 diesel, and it can haul alot more firearms than I own. :)
The only electronics it has and the CB and the stereo.
 
If there's an EMP, shoot your car with the biggest gun you have. There, now it's at least remotely related to the subject of this forum.
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One of my strategies for survival is the ability to be independently mobile. Just because refugees on foot are typical of war zones doesn't mean I ever have to be one of them.

An EMP or maybe even a much simpler method to disable a computer-dependent system is certainly not outside of the realm of possibility.

I am interested in discussion about what kind of vehicles are simple enough to survive absence of computer support or what ever an EMP knocks out. How far back we have to go and if there's are protection methods. Specific vehicle examples would be great.

Is this not for us citizens to worry our little heads about? I'm guessing it's also a strategy/tactic of every single military force on the planet.
 
ReadyontheRight said:
One of my strategies for survival is the ability to be independently mobile. Just because refugees on foot are typical of war zones doesn't mean I ever have to be one of them.

An EMP or maybe even a much simpler method to disable a computer-dependent system is certainly not outside of the realm of possibility.

I am interested in discussion about what kind of vehicles are simple enough to survive absence of computer support or what ever an EMP knocks out. How far back we have to go and if there's are protection methods. Specific vehicle examples would be great.

Is this not for us citizens to worry our little heads about? I'm guessing it's also a strategy/tactic of every single military force on the planet.
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I never said you shouldn’t worry about it. I don’t think the topic is firearms related. The topic would be more at home, and you’d get better answers to your questions, if it were posted on a survivalist forum.
Welcome to The High Road, an online discussion board dedicated to the discussion and advancement of responsible firearms ownership. It is the declared mission of this board to achieve and provide the highest quality of firearms discussion on the Internet, a standard set by the discussion board The Firing Line from 1998-2002.
There are only a few house rules:
1.) All topics and posts must be related to firearms or civil liberties issues.
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My hunting truck would still run, old 1986 F250 diesel, and it can haul alot more firearms than I own.
The only electronics it has and the CB and the stereo.
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Really? Friend of mine has a 1986 Bronco with the 5.0 V8, and it's definitely computer controlled. Perhaps the diesels were different...
 
At last a plausible hypothetical situation instead of something utterly silly.

Okay, so there's a nuclear attack that's going to generate sufficient electromagnetism to wipe out the computer chips on cars but the people will survive the blast and the radiation. Their problem then is either to find a car without computer chips or find a way to prevent damage to their own car's computer chips.

This is easy. As the nuclear bombs fall, everyone looks up to see the direction from which each one is coming. That direction established, everyone turns his car to face the oncoming bomb, thus orienting the magnetic poles of the car exactly the same as the oncoming bomb. The bomb will repel the car, forcing it out of harm's way, allowing the chips to survive and the owner to drive to the local package goods store to get sufficient beer to go with the chips.

Speaking of the future, I predict that a moderator will close this thread as inappropriate for The High Road.
 
Speaking of the future, I predict that a moderator will close this thread as inappropriate for The High Road.
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You, sir, are a prophet.

Just to add a little science, wouldn't a car with enough sheet steel in the body function at least partly as a Faraday cage? After all, it's isolated from ground and they do say that the safest place in a lightning storm if you're caught out in one is inside your vehicle.
 
Interesting. Is a diesel inherently less dependent on electronics, or was that just a good vehicle for this situation?

Also -- I didn't know diesel vehicles can run on a variety of fuels. What other fuels?
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The older ones are purely mechanical in function, unless you have features like cruise control. Most everything is controlled mechanically or by vacuum. That aside, I drove one of those vehicles for 8 years, and it would be great for this.

Diesels can run on diesel (duh), kerosene, and plant oils. Typically the older and simpler, the easier it is for this kind of stuff - I can't attest to the flexibility of the fancy new rail-injected stuff.


Just to add a little science, wouldn't a car with enough sheet steel in the body function at least partly as a Faraday cage? After all, it's isolated from ground and they do say that the safest place in a lightning storm if you're caught out in one is inside your vehicle.
Click to expand...
Interesting thought.
 
"As much as I like bicycles (check out the new Surly "Big Dummy"!!! Awesome!), as far as survival tactics go...the guy with the car or truck is going to have more capacity to move stuff around, protect himself from harm and get away when needed than the guy with the bicycle. He can also easily carry a bicycle for use when needed."

I totally agree, a truck is a much better way to go, but if the truck doesn't work........? We have a Chevy Silverado 4 door, it IS our primary means of travel, and God forbid, escape.

By the way, the Surly "Big Dummy" is awesome. I just happen to have a Free Radical system on my Trek MTB! Heh-heh, great minds and all that!
 
a couple notes. a circuit has to be on for the EMP to fry it. if you know its coming, and you will, we have radios tv's etc, just don't turn on your car, or turn it off and go turn off all the breakers in your house. when the EMP has passed, everything will still work. (provided the power grid still works)

for those that think their non-computer controlled cars are safe, thing again. your alternator will be fried, so will will your capacitors in your points ignition systems, as well as the coil and spark plug wires. nor to mention the fuse panel that sends power to all of the above mentioned doo-dads. if its got electricity flowing through it during and EMP, its toast.

Bobby
 
a circuit has to be on for the EMP to fry it.
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Incorrect. You need a better source for your information.

Diesels are king when it comes to all out toughness and reliablity. (unless it's a GM 350 converted diesel)
 
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