Biodiesel Beats Lamborghini
Recently, I told you about an upcoming episode of MTV’s “Pimp My Ride” where a 1965 Chevy Impala is souped up with a biodiesel engine and blows away a Lamborghini in the quarter mile.
Now, I’ve had a chance to talk to the man behind that Impala, Johnathan Goodwin, co-partner of SAE Energy… a company that specializes in converting gas-guzzlers into lean, green, fuel-efficient biodiesel burners.
When Goodwin met with the producers of Pimp My Ride, they didn’t think the conversion could be done. “I ensured them that I didn’t have any problems whatsoever, and they were kind of taken aback.”
More of a shock would come when Goodwin’s converted 850 horsepower hot rod would face off with a Lamborghini in a quarter-mile race. “Actually, we had to kind of let off the throttle half track, and wait for (the Lamborghini) to catch up so it wouldn’t look bad for TV,” says Goodwin.
And the surprises would continue with how clean the Impala ran. Goodwin says, “at this kind of horsepower level, you’d expect a lot of black smoke out of a diesel engine, but it was very clean. The only black smoke was from the tires.”
Goodwin builds more than just classic muscle cars. He’s also converted a Hummer (pictured above) to run on biodiesel, ethanol, propane, or hydrogen. He’s even working on converting a Jeep for The Terminator himself, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The MTV Pimp My Ride special featuring the biodiesel Impala-Lamborghini will air on Earth Day, April 22nd.
Listen to the entire Johnathan Goodwin interview here: 
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
20 Comments »
Red Nederland !? » Pimp my ride greenish
[...] SAE Energy van Jonathan Goodwin maakt racemonsters die rijden op biobrandstoffen. Een 1965 Chevy Impala en een hummer. [...]
antione
how much is this bio engine cost and can I put it in 1981 Monte Carlo, I’d like to know is it easy to install and what’s the gas mileage for such a enigne. Will I have about the same horsepower as the one chevy on MTV pimp my ride, you can email me @ parkere_85@yahoo.com I’d really like to know where I can get this type of engine I’d greatly appricated.
D Vierstra
Can any recent models be converted? Let’s say possibly a 2006 3.9 V6 Impala?
In California, gas is the most expensive (Other than Hawaii). Pretty soon we’ll all be riding bicycles because of gas possibly reaching $4.00 a gallon by summer!!
Rusty
i work for johnathan goodwin and these conversions are costly but it can be done in pretty much any vehicle some would be harder to convert than others we also have a system that involves a duel fuel system with hydrogen and it would boost your fuel economy
Auto Blog Green : Biodiesel turbine, super capacitor, series hybrid... HUMMER! (60 MPG and 0-60 in 5 seconds)
[...] of yet, this honor has gone unrecognized by the Vatican). Last April, John was the guy behind the Chevy Impala conversion that smoked a Lamborghini in a quarter mile on the Earth Day special of MTV’s Pimp My Ride. Arnold [...]
Auto News: Car Reviews, Car News, Car Shows » Blog Archive » Biodiesel turbine, super capacitor, series hybrid… HUMMER! (60 MPG and 0-60 in 5 seconds)
[...] of yet, this honor has gone unrecognized by the Vatican). Last April, John was the guy behind the Chevy Impala conversion that smoked a Lamborghini in a quarter mile on the Earth Day special of MTV’s Pimp My Ride. [...]
James
I just recently got ahold of a 1978 Chevy Camero as a project car, and my boss at work directed me to these articles. Is there any way to get ahold of John Goodwin to find out more about these conversions and work necessary to complete them?
jtmcduffie@gmail.com
John Boom
It does have a high cost, but if the car compaines ever get their heads out of their arses and mass produce john’s techniques, they will be no more than an average car with double the mileage and horsepower.
When you compares costs, think of this. Buying a big Ford or Chevy pickup with 12-15mpg for $30+, you will pay more in the long run in gas money in 5 years than buying one of johns conversions
Tom Hastrow
So fast food restaurants are good for something after all: they produce biofuel.
If Goodwin had a Ph.D., he’d be in line for a Nobel Prize. Sort of reminds me of the inventor of amorphous conductors. No high school degree either. When asked how he had conceived amorphous conductors, he said “Molecules, they talk to me.”
I wonder if anything will come of this. Not only does it threaten Big Oil, but the egos of a lot of little people with big college degrees.
JW Dal
Take a look at the hydraulic hybrids.
The overall design is interesting and then to find that they are on the road today in Peterbilt Trucks.
jwd
Veronica
while not interested in a ‘hot rod’ like you guys, I scour every line of the new fuel technology research efforts, it is all very exciting and we - the public - are waiting desperately for help - we WILL buy the cars if they are available - PLEASE GM and BIG OIL dont kill these wonderful ideas - let them flourish and HELP them to grow - can we all get this done please - lets get the middle east where it hurts - that’s the answer !!!
Roy Brooks
Thank God there’s someone working on our “foreign oil” problem. Thanks Jonathen, all us drivers are waiting for you patiently. R
Pop + Politics : Blog Archive : Green and mean
[...] Impala left the Lambo in the dust, “the only smoke it was seeing was from the tires,” he said. Now Goodwin has a host of celebrity clients, including Arnold the Governorator and Neil Young. [...]
Will this replace gasoline? - Pontiac GTO Forum
[...] this replace gasoline? Domestic Fuel Archives Biodiesel Beats Lamborghini This is good [...]
JDLong
Rusty,
How can I schedule to have my late model diesel scheduled for a makeover?
Thanks,
JD
DJ Carter
lol, he uses GM Durastar engines. With all OEM GM parts. In another interview he said 95% of the stuff he does is using the stock parts, and the last 5% is reworking it a little bit. You could use this engine in anycar in which the car came with a V8. The durastar engine is huge.
DJ Carter
SAEenergy.com
Solutions to our energy and pollution crisis. » Detroit said it couldn’t be done, Goodwin says otherwise.
[...] are halved. His technique can obviously be applied with mass production, but I wonder why the domestics are dragging their [...]
colby
i wondering if u can convert any engine. im 16 and my hobby is cars and i was just wondering if u can do that
Jovani
i bought a 1978 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
with the factory 350ci v8 5.7 Liter engine and the original 3.73 gears
in its day it came with A/C but during the years it came to a halt
Now i want to take out the smog pump, the smog lines, the Cats and A/C
and install aftermarket Headers,Camshaft,intake manifold,timing chain, and a performance MSD ignition.
I heard of hydrogen being injected to ur engine,thus giving u better gas mileage, horse power and a cleaner engine.
I ask around but the majority give me the deer in the headlight stare…
if its not too much to ask
COULD U PLEASE HELP ME ? !!!!
What is HYDROGEN INJECTION?
would it work on my ENGINE?
What do i need to MAKE one?
Is there anything SPECIFIC i shud LOOK OUT FOR ???
How would i go on in INSTALLING IT ?
Is it SAFE ???
any one out there ….with sum answers
my email is musclecarjoves@yahoo.com
your help would be much apreciated
THANK YOU !!!! =)
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