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opened slightly, and when over the hill, « it had to be closed back to ‘normal’. A pain in the neck, but worth it when it improved mileage 27%. The device routed fuel from the fuel pump through a 1/4 inch diameter copper tube that was coiled a dozen loops inside a 2 inch copper pipe (with end closures soldered etc.). The header lines were cut and tapped to run hot water through the larger pipe which acted as a heat- exchanger to the coiled 1/4 line inside it. One of the tricks of assembly was to use 1 1/2 to 2 warn coils in the 1/4 lines as it entered and exited the heat exchanger, to take up vibration. I first tried plastic connectors with clamps, but it is vulnerable to vibration and leaks. A ‘hard plumbed’ system with ferruled connectors solved the leaks. The needle valve is the more difficult piece to find. Some kind of mechanical linkage is needed from the valve so the driver can adjust the valve. A solid rod worked better than a flexible choke rod. When I was out of work, that vehicle and its gas extender went ‘by-by'. For about 9 months I've been collecting parts and pieces for a device I saw on who was interested. But he was highly sceptical of the principle. He informed me that Cunningham (the great racer) stated flatly that once a flame front was developed in the engine cylinder, it couldn't be re-ignited. I had the device rigged so that I could flip a switch and change from normal ignition to experi- mental. My friend and I took a ride in the vehicle. At about 40 mph, I flipped on the experimental ignition. "Varoom!" An increase in G-forces was Clearly felt, without my changing the pressure on the accelerator pedal. His remarks: L,"Scratch Cunningham." If one is electronically and slightly mechanically inclined, my description is enough to create the device. It is the type of thing that needs no drawings or circuit diagrams. It is merely the mar- rying of a few devices, and installing it on the vehicle. The "Open Letter To All Working On Alternate Energy" fascinated me. I can relate to much of what Paul Brown wrote. There are many devices which could be classified as ‘alternative ener- gy’ which are nothing more than clever improvements on inefficient everyday machines. I've been fascinated since high-school days with fuel efficiency; probably from the well-advertised "Mobile Economy Run’ - a competition open to anyone using standard automo- biles, driving from Los Angeles to New York. The best Miles Per Gallon was the winner. When I bought my first (used) car, I installed a vapour gas extender. It was nothing more than a line attached to the bottom of the carburettor that sucked air through a water-filled bottle which created water vapour as the incoming air bubbled up through the water. Many a moon later, after Uncle Sam's Navy had trained me in electronics (and atomic reactors), I adapted an oscillator circuit to a standard capacitor discharge ignition improver. The principle was to make the spark-plug fire many times during the normal single firing time. I had to use a ‘high wind’ coil (in place of the standard coil) to get enough spark because of the increased pulsing - therefore shorter spark duration. My first vehicle was an International deliv- ery van that used the Austin of England 4 cylinder slow RPM engine, which had those long threaded spark plugs. Because of the slow RPM, and ideal maximum number of pulses gave a doubling in gas mileage! Many a year later, I installed the same device on a used police cruiser that used a 440 cu.in. 4-barrel carburet- tor. I had a rather humorous and enlightening experience with it. In try- ing to market it, I brought it to a friend Z pICce Uv LING, SUMIC KIN UL TNO I sold the vehicle and forgot to Jinkage is needed from the valve so the remove the device. I sent away for griver can adjust the valve. A solid rod plans for a 'Hot Water’ fuel extender. \orced better than a flexible choke rod. From my description, a shade-tree P mechanic should be able to design and _ When I was out of work, that vehicle and its gas extender went ‘by-by'. For ingle ste principle wan SS warn about 9 months I've been collecting fuel to almost the poi ‘ é 2 iad < ee peer parts and pieces for a device I saw on called ‘vapour lock’. This was fed to the reg- ular fuel inlet to the car- burettor through a nee- dle valve, It took me a month of driving before stumbling onto the the principles of how it worked. The needle valve was throttled down to the point that it just about fed or kept up with the engine's demands. Actually, the carburettor's bowl was empty and the warmed fuel partially vapourised. As one approached a hill, the needle valve had to be Searle NEXUS¢47 Open Letter to Nexus Magazine FEBRUARY-MARCH '93