Vehicle modifications

Guide created using an unknown version of Cataclysm DDA.
The information present here might not apply to the current version of CDDA.

Vehicles
Driving
Repairs
Installing and removing parts
Construction
Parts and components

Characters will refuse to modify a vehicle if their morale is lower than -50.

Removing parts

Successfully removing a part grants 30 skill points to the mechanics skill.

Tools

Tools needed (in your inventory or nearby):

• wrench or integrated toolset or equivalent tool with 1 level in bolt turning and fine bolt turning quality
• hacksaw or integrated toolset or equivalent tool

Actions

1. examine the vehicle
2. Use the arrow keys or numeric pad to navigate to the vehicle part you want to modify
3. Press o (for removing)
4. Use the arrow keys or numeric pad to navigate to the component you want to remove and press RETURN

The removed components will be dropped on the ground, under the player. If a trunk with items inside is removed, the items will also be placed under the player. Removing a destroyed part will only create scrap.

Limitations

Removing a frame is not possible if another part is attached to it or if removing it would leave any part disconnected from the rest.

Installing parts

A successful installation grants [part difficulty] * 5 + 20 practice points to the mechanics skill.

Tools

Tools needed (in your inventory or nearby):

• welder or integrated toolset and welding goggles, or duct tape
• wrench or integrated toolset or equivalent tool with 1 level in bolt turning and fine bolt turning quality

You will also need the required components and mechanics skill.

Actions

1. examine the vehicle
2. Use the arrow keys or numeric pad to navigate to the vehicle part you want to modify
3. Press i (for install)
4. Use the arrow keys or numeric pad to navigate through the available component installations (at the bottom right) and press RETURN

The greyed out entries are possible installations where you lack the required components.

Limitations

New parts can be added only to passable non-diagonal adjacent squares.

You can't use filled metal tank to install a part, even if it is filled with relevant liquid (ie. you can't reinstall a gas tank you just removed without draining it first).

You can use damaged components, but the resulting part will also be damaged. Components reinforced by tools will become non-reinforced parts, you need to reinforce components with specific recipes to get reinforced parts (such as reinforced solar panel).

Multiple engines

You can install more than one engine, but this gives diminishing returns, as the total power is multiplied by: (4 / nr_of_engines + 3). With two engines they each give 80% power, three = 66.6% power etc. As a result, adding a weak engine can decrease the total power (while still increasing consumption). Engines that are turned off or lack fuel aren't included in calculations.

Installing more than one non-muscle engine has an additional requirement of mechanics skill. Second engine requires level 12, each next one (requirement of last)/2 + 12. That is, third 18, fourth 21, fifth 22, sixth and all after that 23. Muscle engines don't increase this requirement, but still count as engines when determining total power (if turned on).

Alternators

Alternators have to be mounted on a gas, diesel or muscle engine. They put a light load on the engine and in exchange produce energy when said engine is running. A truck alternator is comparable in energy output to 20 solar panels in bright sun, car to 13 and motorcycle to 7. More than one alternator type can be installed on an engine, but their efficiency is determined by their size, so installing smaller alternators will reduce the fuel efficiency.

Alternators only work when the engine they are attached to is active and fueled. When more than one engine is running, alternators are effectively shared between them.

Attaching anything but a truck alternator to a dedicated generator is certainly a waste. Really big engines (>10 liters) are naturally wasteful due to 1% lower cap on engine load. A 14-liter engine will not lose any fuel efficiency if it has both a truck alternator and motorbike alternator, but will produce some extra power.

Hunger/thirst/fatigue increased caused by muscle engines increase linearly with load, but this time you can't just leave the generator running and have to sit there and pedal while either doing nothing or crafting, so you may want to install all 3 alternators on your foot crank. In 0.D (Danny), foot crank power was dramatically reduced, so you may not be able to turn the foot cranks with a car alternator installed, much less all 3 alternators. Consider using a bicycle or motorbike alternator instead.