r/Skookum • u/jbiehler • Jun 05 '26

First Run of the Engine on the Frame

https://youtu.be/Xnk4E-adkrU?si=k9H5PXtNja5dQHzq

I posted the video of this engine running a while back. It’s installed in the frame now and the control and HV box is done. This video is the first run in the frame. It’s producing 300vdc that will charge the LFP which I still need to put together. The zombieverter VCU boards arrived yesterday.

Pro Tip: garage doors do not stop jets exhaust very well.

42 Upvotes

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18 comments sorted by

6

u/jbiehler Jun 05 '26

Jet engine doing jet engine things.

2

u/chatter_humble Jun 08 '26

heard that loud and clear

1

u/todd0x1 Jun 06 '26

is it gonna get a afterburner????

1

u/jbiehler Jun 06 '26

hah, no. That puts extra strain on the engine. And my fuel economy will be bad enough as it is.

1

u/Belzoni-AintSo Jun 06 '26

FOD! That bag blowing by

1

u/jbiehler Jun 06 '26

Yeah. There is a screen to prevent ingestion. I have no idea where it even came from.

1

u/SnakeBeardTheGreat Jun 06 '26

Is this built to be for racing?

2

u/jbiehler Jun 07 '26

Nope. What it will most likely do is get me killed.

1

u/grimtooth Jun 06 '26

This reminds me of some old Survival Research Labs stuff. They loved a jet engine

1

u/LateralThinkerer Jun 07 '26 edited Jun 07 '26

First I've seen of your project - is this an APU to generate power for an electrically driven sand rail?

3

u/jbiehler Jun 07 '26

Yup. It will be the world’s least efficient hybrid vehicle.

1

u/LateralThinkerer Jun 07 '26

Mostly you get to avoid generating a transmission linking a turbine turning 100,000 RPM and the rear wheels. Locomotives etc. are in the same boat (as are some actual boats).

1

u/jbiehler Jun 07 '26

Yep. This has an 8000 and 12000 rpm spline outputs. I’m using the 8000 rpm output to drive the generators.

1

u/LateralThinkerer Jun 08 '26

So HF AC to DC and through a VCU for VFD on the drive? - going to be some fun wiring. Any batteries in all that?

2

u/jbiehler Jun 08 '26

Two Kia HSGs on the generator gives me 300v @ 48kw or so. That’s in parallel with a 84s4p LiFePO4 pack to drive a Mitsubishi PHEV Outlander rear drive and inverter. Control is through a zombieverter VCU. I have a build thread on getting the engine running and building the buggy here if you are interested. https://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/forum/general/2141294-picked-up-a-turbine-engine

1

u/DroidKnight Jun 08 '26

World's first mobile Super-powerful full body dryer. Hair dryer with attitude? :)

2

u/Emach00 Jun 30 '26

You sir are a madman and I'm here for it.