The ECTO-1X....

[crusader_x]

The ECTO-1X began as a concept over a year ago when I first began noticing the Chevy HHR out on the roads. My intention up to that point was to develop a PT Cruiser into an Ectomobile, however the HHR quickly changed my mind. I’ve spent many months since then planning the construciton of the roof rack, the application of decals, the type of lightbar to buy, etc. Several people had a hand in its construction and I would like to thank them:

Patrick Creel & Ken Plant & Dawn Rawley (Tampa Bay Ghostbusters)

David Anderson

Randy Cooper

Robert Ryder

Tyler Plant

Jennifer & Casey & Javon at Fedex Office

The car is a 2008 Chevy HHR in Summit White. The roof rack is made out of PVC with a plywood base. Each piece of equipment on the top is secured seperately so that I can remove them independent from each other for repairs / modification / replacement. The different components consist of:

PC case

Stereo

VCR

Scanner

Fax / Copier

Toilet paper dispenser

Hand sanitation dispenser

The “sniffer” / “binocs” and the radome and its stand are created from PVC. The directional antenna is created from CPVC for the arrow and a clear serving bowl cut in half and bolted to a base of lexan.

The sniffer pivots at both the base and the neck. The directional antenna also pivots freely. The knobs on the side of the PC case turn as well. And the storage tube on the passenger side actually opens from either end so you can, well, store stuff. The entire rack is held on with a ratcheting luggage strap that passes through two steel eyelets on the sides, under the plywood base, and through the passenger doors. The lightbar consists of amber LEDs that plug into the cigarette lighter, have 30 different flash patterns, and mounts to the roof with 4 magnets.

Now some pictures…

Different day, different Florida sunset…

At the 2009 Light The Night walk…

This is only the beginning. Some future additions I am planning or currently working on:

White tank mounted to back of rack

Additional hosing to rack components

Black access ladder on passenger side

Red triangle going down the sides to the tail lights (either painted on or vinyl)

New “no ghost” logos from vector graphics

DOT reflective tape

Replace directional antenna with a better one

8.5 foot whip antenna

I will continue to update the thread as I update the car. Questions / suggestions / comments are welcome!

[Gravedigger138]

That looks awesome

[GhostbustersNJ]

Very nice, although I reccomend not to use DOT reflective tape.

Anytime someone tries to take a picture of the car at night with a flash, the resulting photo will have a bright piece of tape, and dark everything else.

Made that mistake on the Ecto-4 roof rack. The DOT rated stuff is not easy to peel off.

[Boomerjinks]

This

@crusader_x

is absolutely beautiful. Way to go on making found items do exactly what you want them to do!

[BigJon]

I like how you just strapped it down to the roof through the back doors. Just wish my van had a door on the other side…sigh.

[EctoTrk]

Beautiful Man!!! Freak’n awesome!!! Is the ecto-x gonna be with the truck for guavaween?

[crusader_x]

@EctoTrk

Beautiful Man!!! Freak’n awesome!!! Is the ecto-x gonna be with the truck for guavaween?

You know it!

[birminghamwildcat]

god i really miss tampa…

[ShadesMcPherson]

When I saw the title of this thread, I expected to see the nightsquad ecto lol

I had the same idea once before, but yours came out awesomely! Great job!

[crusader_x]

Thank you guys for all the feedback, it’s very appreciated.

I’ve changed the car a bit so here are some new photos and a list of the updates:

• Changed caution striping on doors

• Added amber reflectors to front bumper

• Added red reflectors to rear bumper

• Added cosmetic plating to front of VCR on roof rack

• Added white tank with red/white caution tape to rear of roof rack

• Replaced roof rack’s plywood base with a plastic base

[EctoTrk]

Can not wait to roll up to the chevy dealership with our cars! Looking sharp sir.

[ale8oneboy]

Crusader_x, thanks again for letting me do a piece about your special Ectomobile!

http://onscreencars.com/fan-created-rides/fan-created-rides-ecto-1x-2008-chevrolet-hhr/

[crusader_x]

I’m honored to be the first subject in your series of articles on “fan created rides” over at http://www.onscreencars.com

Keep up the good work!

[EurekaLandau]

Wow looks good!! did you consider going with a 48 inch stobe bar before putting on the led one?

[Boomerjinks]

@EurekaLandau

48 inch stobe bar

lawl

[crusader_x]

@EurekaLandau

Wow looks good!! did you consider going with a 48 inch stobe bar before putting on the led one?

Yes I did but I measured the roof, and while the exact width escapes me, it is well short of 48 inches. So I opted for a mid-sized light bar in the 3 foot range and went with one that uses LEDs as they are more energy efficient, programmable with several different flash patterns, and give the car a more modern look. I believe a Ghostbuster group in Utah (The Salt Lake GBs?) have an Ecto HHR that uses a full sized 48 inch light bar on the top, and while I mean no disrespect at all, I don’t think it looks very good as it hangs off the sides slightly. The only real downside to this is that the lightbar I purchased off of Ebay seems to have a slight malfunction where some of the LED modules do not light up during certain flash patterns so I can see I will need to take it apart and check the connections and possibly do some soldering.

[GhostbustersNJ]

@crusader_x

seems to have a slight malfunction where some of the LED modules do not light up during certain flash patterns so I can see I will need to take it apart and check the connections and possibly do some soldering.

These might be secondary mode flash patterns. Most police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks have a park kill, which turns off some warning lights once the vehicle is parked. Spastic fast flashes with lots of light are good for clearing traffic, but a slow and deliberate pattern is best for being seen while parked at night without blinding passing traffic.

[crusader_x]

@GhostbustersNJ

@crusader_x

seems to have a slight malfunction where some of the LED modules do not light up during certain flash patterns so I can see I will need to take it apart and check the connections and possibly do some soldering.

These might be secondary mode flash patterns. Most police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks have a park kill, which turns off some warning lights once the vehicle is parked. Spastic fast flashes with lots of light are good for clearing traffic, but a slow and deliberate pattern is best for being seen while parked at night without blinding passing traffic.

I know what you’re trying to say but rest assured, there are lights modules that are broken or have a bad connection. While letting a pattern run, one and only one module will be out… sometimes when I hit the top of the lightbar it will light up and then go out after a bit. And this was a module that used to light up fine when I first got the lightbar. I guess this is the penalty for trying to cut down on cost and not get the highest grade models available…

[GhostbustersNJ]

Aye, ebay lightbars are usually china made. A bit of saudering and maybe a touch of weatherproofing extra and you should be all set.

Realistically though, the pro grade stuff is overkill at time, I’m asked ever so often to turn mine off at events because it’s “too bright”.

I must say, the bar fits the car rather nicely.

[S-Mart_Ash]

hey boss did you see the video that my team made about our ecto? we put a nod in it of you guys with a pic of your car