Hmm, rebuilding an engine - I’ll show hub what your wrote and see if he groks it, I don’t for sure. All our vans (three) are old Astro vans, he’s had many of them and likes them. I’m not so fond of them but since I rarely go out I don’t really mind. He’s done head gaskets and things, re-building an engine sounds much harder than that. I would assume that machining stuff would be necessary.
Hub collected over the last year or so about maybe 50 bikes - put ads in the local paper and craigslist - most for free, some for cheap. He grew up in Eastern Europe and worked in his father’s and grandfather’s shops fixing and doing and making, so he can pretty much do anything with some tools. He has plans for three wheeler bikes, since they can be driven safely even by the elderly or not so fit, for driving on errands, shopping, etc.
Even around here - very rural - people are starting to ride bikes to town for errands; guys on non-fancy bikes and wearing non-bike clothes, and coming home with grocery bags over the handlebars. Bike trailers are easy to make.
He also has ideas for clothes squeezers - washing clothes by hand is something I have more experience with than many people and the worst part is wringing them out. Pedal power washing machines are something he’s interested in too. Oh, and he’s collected maybe 8 sewing machines - they can be picked up for very little at auctions, garage sales, etc and parts to make pedal machines out of them.
Maybe people might think I’m an extremist, but off grid living is something I’d rather be prepared for and not have it happen, then have it happen without being prepared for it.
I have tons of recipes for all kinds of things if you or anyone is interested. I have a blog I keep meaning to update and add stuff, maybe when it’s better I’ll post a link on one of these threads.
Another aspect is first aid or some kind of home medical care. I save all old clean rags and use for home made bandaids. A strip of adhesive tape or even masking tape, and a square of folded clean tee shirt works very well, in fact much better than costly bandaids. We use powdered turmeric on cuts and wounds or infections, is anti-bacterial and heals cuts fast. Clay is also good for many wounds and excellent for burns, along with lavender oil.
As you see, I could go on and on... I make my own hand sanitizer and cleaner, healing skin tonic, etc. Oh - and wart remover.
Rebuilding an engine doesn’t cost much at all. But yes, sometimes, a little machining is necessary (e.g., overbore, if shoulders in cylinders are too deep).
Lengthening the stroke in an engine is more expensive and only for those who need more horsepower at certain RPMs in six cylinders, for example. Please ignore the stupid joke picture at the top of the page (awful bikini picture w/ surgical disfigurement or image manipulation), and scroll down for engine parts details, process and other links.
http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/Stroker/Stroker.htm