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Thread Topic: Electric 2002?

Date: 7-12-08 11:20
From: TobyB in Seattle

Subject: Electric 2002?

Well, I jumped into the deep end today-
I've been cleaning up the '72 mildewmobile over the last few weeks,
but I finally cut the trunk up to install the transaxle. No turning back now!
I didn't think to bring the camera today, so I'll pic it tomorrow.
Basically, the current plan is a VW Fox transaxle where the diff sat,
9" GE motor in the back seat,
9 2GC batteries in front, 11 in back. And a few minor details yet to be resolved...
Entertainingly, getting batteries in the front is the real challenge.
Losing the rear seat to the motor means that the trunk can take a ton
(yes, literally) of lead.
The Rabbit transmission doesn't work. The wheel wells get in the way.
I was really sad about that, as it's a really light, elegant piece.

Random solutions to various problems:
Toyota MR2 cable shifter...
VW A1 passenger side halfshafts spliced onto BMW shafts...
Big brakes, but that's a known quantity...
Stock car springs in back, coilovers in front. Rates TBD,
but +#800 in back, +#400 in front. 50-50 weight distribution?
I wonder how long the rear bearings will last?

Why? I want another toy. And I want to stop buying gas.
I don't expect to save money, I'd just rather give it to PSE than
Exxon right now.

More later.
t
_________________
I have a car disease. There is no cure.
I'm not even managing the symptoms very well...

Date: 7-12-08 11:32 From: roundieryan Subject: Re: Electric 2002?
This sounds like an awesome project! My uncle is pretty far into converting his e46 330 to electric. You can check out his website if you want, it's www.evdrive.com. I can't wait to see how it turns out. _________________ 72 agave 02 78 Honda Twinstar 185

Date: 7-13-08 07:07
From: TobyB in Seattle

Subject: Re: Electric 2002?

It's at the 'oh, shit, I hope I know what I'm doing' phase-

but much to my surprise, I removed a few parts that I KNOW are
structural, and everything has remained dimensionally stable.
These cars are remarkably strong for being as light as they are.

The hole for the transaxle will be bridged to add strength back-
I think, now that it's roughly aligned, that I'll actually add a boxed member
over the top of the trans. The subframe is going to need an adaptor
to connect to the motor/ trans joint,
and then the nose of the motor will get a crossmember to support it-
and terminate the tunnel structurally.

It'll probably sit for a few weeks now, as I have to go back to work...

t
_________________
I have a car disease. There is no cure.
I'm not even managing the symptoms very well...

this is wrong.jpg

Description:

visually, it just hurts. I'm thinking that it gets a boxed tube over the TOP of the transaxle, to keep ground clearance up. And I can add a mount back there, too.

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246.28 KB

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hello trans bellhousing.jpg

Description:

The motor will go forward to the edge of the back seat support, and something structural (square tube) will connect the motor, floor, and tunnel end.

Filesize:

152.88 KB

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trans in trunk.jpg

Description:

Fits pretty well.
Custom halfshafts are gonna be required, though.

Filesize:

205.82 KB

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motor and trans.jpg

Description:

VW Fox transaxle,
GE 5T motor out of an old Jet Mazda pickup conversion.
Adaptor plate forthcoming.
Custom flywheel giving me a headache.

Filesize:

207.33 KB

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16 Time(s)

Date: 7-22-08 11:55 From: Arshloch in Vancouver, BC Subject: Re: Electric 2002?
hardcore. Could not expect anything less from you _________________ 68' 2002 DD

Date: 7-31-08 06:18 From: OldSkool in US Subject: Re: Electric 2002?
Did you ever get that set of Grp2 flares that you were talking about? _________________ -Old Skool-

Date: 7-31-08 08:17 From: alp in Vancouver Subject: Re: Electric 2002?
check out roundieryan's uncles build. I have been following it for a while since he did an EV motorcycle. Very high end swap.

Date: 8-4-08 10:35
From: TobyB in Seattle

Subject: Re: Electric 2002?

Of course, now that I'm cut up and committed, I think I found an easier
way using the 2002 diff and halfshafts. Isn't that always the way it works?
I'm pretty sure I'm sticking with the Fox transaxle for this one, but the
next (haa haa) would be easier. There's room in places I didn't expect,
but then there are things in the way that I missed...

(as to flares, email me at racery att comcast dott net)

Lead- acid batteries, sadly, are all I can afford. Chevron owns the NiMh patents
and will not license large- format cells- and everything else is fantastically
expensive. It's kind of depressing, as I started looking at this 15 years ago,
and everyone thought new batteries would be available by about 2000.
I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I DO smell a big, stinky oily rat here.

More later.
t
_________________
I have a car disease. There is no cure.
I'm not even managing the symptoms very well...

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