I wound up ordering another "better" BMS, after looking up the specs for the one I had. While it is supposed to be for LiFePO4 cells and all, I did not like the voltage cutoff being 0.1v (per cell) higher than the better one.
So, seeing as it has the LEDs indicators on it, I feel more confident in placing the cells in place of the gas tank, and have ordered more/longer leads to allow the BMS to reside in the spare tire well, where I will probably also mount at least one of the chargers.
I was sold on the idea, until I looked at my photos of where I was planning on placing them under the hood. I'm on the fence again.
If I put them in place of the gas tank, I can't visually check the cells. This concerns me.
If I put them right up front, they're going to get smoked if I have even a small fender-bender. This concerns me. Probably more.
There's minimal difference to how the cells get laid out, so I can still continue with the wiring, even if I haven't completely made up my mind.
Progress? What's that?
I put the first pack back in and re-connected the wiring, so she works again:
I have plenty of little(reasonable, individually) tasks to do, besides the big task regarding the other battery pack. Vacuum pump and reservoir to go in. Rear wheel bearing to replace (since I "borrowed" the good hub/drum to get my other firefly back on the road). Chargers to go in, eventually. Synchromesh for the transmission. Not a lot, really.
I'll start plugging away on these.
To help motivate me, I got a good deal on Monday. I had offered the guy 1/3rd less(my normal money-saving tactic) than his asking price a month back, and left it at that. Assumed that was the end of it when I didn't hear back from him for a while. Got an email Sunday night, and I just happened to be traveling up-island Monday, so I picked them up on the way:
They're 14's, vs the stock steel 13s.
I like 5-spoke "star" wheels. They come across as "sporty" to me. Any more or less...doesn't.
They also happened to come with just the size tires I was hoping for (185/65), with about 50% left to the wear-bars, so I'm not out another couple hundred bucks finding tires and getting them mounted.
155s vs 185s:
Yes, the tread actually is 30mm wider. I expect they'll make the Firefly stick to the road a lot better around the corners.
They're 5lbs heavier each. And like the additional width causing additional rolling resistance, well...I'm willing to put up with the slight range loss for a nice set of wheels that makes the car more appealing to look at and drive.
And bonus! They're dual bolt pattern, 4x114.3 & 4x100, so they'll fit most small cars. And I like small cars, so they can follow me if I get tired of the Firefly. (They'll fit my Miata, and even have the OE sized tires on them)
Hopefully they will succeed in encouraging me to get on with things.
