The entry video is on its way, and the Wrecking Crew web site is up and running. Ever thought about putting a car on a BBQ rotisserie and taking it for a spin? We did this to my 66 Mustang by making a machine called an Automotive Rotisserie. We filmed its construction for the video, and I have the video on line for all to see. Here is our website. Check it out!!!

http://www.nettexas.com/wreckingcrew/

John Team Captain "The Wrecking Crew"

-- John Conley (Jconley@austin.rr.com), February 09, 2001

Answers

Rockin'!!! I hope you guys get selected; you definitely deserve to be. Incidentally, nice production values on the video, too. It even had the obligatory welding shot with sparks flying.

My only quibble would be with the comment "It is geared toward the 6-14 age group." While that may be true, it definitely has an adult following too. And apparently TLC knows it, since one of the times they run it is late at night, complete with ads for "The Art of Seduction" videos!

-- Eric (earsjohnson@usa.net), February 09, 2001.

"The Art of Seduction" commercials are regional ads run by your cable company, not TLC. For instance, they air completely different commercials on TCI Cablevision -- usually ads for fundamentalist christian music CDs 'songs of worship'.

Wonder what makes them think that the Junkyard Wars demographic are interested in that crap? Maybe they're trying to convert all us evil scientifically minded heathens.

(To reply in email replace blort dot invalid with anime dot net)

-- Dan Hollis (goemon@blort.invalid), February 09, 2001.

I'm anxiously awaiting my "The Art of Seducing Fundamentalist Christians" video!

-- Eric (earsjohnson@usa.net), February 09, 2001.

I have to admit the video is great. Now not to put anyone down... But... My nieghbour has one of those car stands that he bought from an auto supply depot up here in canada for $2500.00 candaian (that's $3.00 american)2 years ago. Now it's a good idea and made for a great video, but low marks for originality.... The lone wolf..

-- Wontolla (wontolla@execulink.com), February 10, 2001.

Hmmm. Is some of the video cut out of the web version? It doesn't have anything describing who the team is. Other wise, a very interesting machine. The video doesn't help me at all understand what the people where doing or how it was made - not quite the 7 yr old level aimed for I think (cos that's my level). I also think it could have been about half the size without missing anything. Um, nice sparks but who was welding what to what and why?

-- Uncle Orange (orange_nz@hotmail.com), February 10, 2001.

I have seen a number of those car spinners and one thing that has always been common no matter who built them, they always attach to suspension mounting points. attaching to the ends is not a good idea, if it hangs too long, especially on it's side it will tweak the chassis, and nothing will line up. Those that I have seen look like forklifts, arms that go to spring mounts.

JustJay

-- JustJay-Captain-Three Rusty Juveniles (justjay@neo.rr.com), February 10, 2001.

It looks like the car is pretty stripped. With no engine, and missing a large part of the suspension and body parts, I expect it isn't heavy enough to actually deform the frame from those supports. On the other hand, I'd suspect that it is a good idea to set it back down if it isn't going to be worked on for a while.

-- Michael (Canadian P. Eng. (michael@mks-tech.com), February 11, 2001.

You would be surprised at how little it takes to tweak a chassis these days. There are automobiles made that without the glass in place the roof will buckle if lifted from the ends. I've spent the last couple of years in an auto wrecking yard and it is almost unbelievable how weak frameless cars are, they have to have all the attaching parts to maintain any integrity.

JustJay

-- JustJay-Captain-Three Rusty Juveniles (justjay@neo.rr.com), February 11, 2001.

As far as the car deforming, this wont be a problem since you can pick up the front end with one hand. It is very light. A friend of mine made one for his 1970 convertable mustang, and it has been mounted to the thing for 3 years with no problem so far. The rotisserie weighs about as much, if not more than the car. I had to mount the car in this fashion since the mounting points that I could use in the rear frame are going to be cut out and replaced. The only part of the rear end that was not going to be replaced were the bumper mounts. The front fork that bolts the rotisserie to the front frame is actually longer and stronger than the commercial ones that I have seen. Most attach to the front bumper arm bolts, and stop there. I went back about 2 feet longer down the frame and ran a bolt through the frame where the steering pump mounts. This is not only stronger, but I had to do this since the side frame rails are not welded at the bottom yet. ( I need the car upside down to do this correctly :) I also plan on attaching the front suspension to the car while the car is mounted to the rotisserie.

Thanks for the great responce! This is the first video that I have made, and I only had 25 minutes of tape to select from. I did not include the introduction part of the tape on the web at the request of the other team members. Sonny, Kristin and I made the tape, and finished the Rotisserie in about 5 hours. I was more interested in getting the rotisserie completed and getting a tape for the show than I was in making a picture perfect production quality video. The part I am welding at the end is a center support that ties in the front legs of both stands. This allows the car to be rolled around the garage if needed. If I had more time, I would have done things a little different, but then again, wouldnt we all.

-- John Conley (Jconley@austin.rr.com), February 11, 2001.

I've seen your, now here's your chance to see mine. http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/broadcastjunkies

Like the Toy. Lyn and I will have to build one. Lyn will most likely find a way to make ours get the car and level it automaticly, but that's why you gotta love him!!!

-- Joey Falgout (Broadcast Junkies) (joeyinalexandria@hotmail.com), February 16, 2001.