Paul & Sabrina's Cheap EV Conversion

[MPaulHolmes]

I've got good news, and bad news. The good news is it's really nice and pretty out this morning. The bad news is, I got the German translated in the car that says how much it weighs. The 760 kg figure that I thought was the car's weight, translates to "In The Back: 760 kg"

Whatever that means. Evidently, it's closer to 2000 pounds. That's messed up, yo. Everyone on the EVDL thought it was a really stupid idea to use a 300amp controller on such a heavy car. So, I'm trying to upgrade it right now (ebay) to a 400amp controller. Maybe that will make acceleration semi-tolerable? I can just pretend that one of Reverend Moon's love childs (doesn't he wh0re around a lot??? Isn't he a son of wh0redom trapped in a celestial body. Is he made of cheese??? The tide of history is turning because of him, because he controls the tides, because he's the moon) is in the car hiding somewhere. (cult motif, giving Oprah a break)

Excellent news: The drum brake is the perfect diameter as well as the PERFECT length (height of cylinder) to be used as a spacer next time!!! That would save me about $50 if I could get a cheap drum brake and just weld that nuzhay on there (nugget in french). Well, next time, if the stupid spacers don't work very well. My welding is getting better. Not good by any means. I would fail a high school welding class, but it's getting better!!!

Also, the back wheels spin beautifully and smoothly, so no new bearings needed! ALSO, transmission sounds like it has been possessed by a ninja after changing transmission fluid. (it's super quiet, and it tried to assassinate me, and it wears a black outfit, which is to say, it is very very dirty, and does funny hand symbols that have ancient significance and knows how to use chinese stars, those weird round things that spin on the sides of it)

[dremd]

Does you controller allow for higher voltage?

If I were you and I had a transaxle whose fluid was that bad; I'd go ahead and re-change the fluid once you put a few thousand miles on it.

[MPaulHolmes]

Definitely! Maybe even after a couple hundred, since my piece of crap is only going to go like 5 miles an hour I bet. This controller is rated at 300 amps for 2 minutes I believe. I missed out on the 400 amp controller at the last second. OOOHHH that makes me mad. Hmm... Good question about the higher voltage. I believe the cutoff is 60v, but since I'm using 12v batteries, 5 in series when fully charged will put me over the limit. OOOHHH that just makes me so mad!

[MPaulHolmes]

I stopped by an auto store, and they said they get deep cycle batteries that are still good sometimes, especially this time of year, from rich boaters that just want new ones, and they said just to stop in every few days, and I can have them for free if I want. So, the total price for the conversion is...

$693!

haha!

But weight (oprah), there's more...

I need to get a couple cheapo brake parts since they were crap on my crappo mobile, so it might break $700. oh well...

[dremd]

Just a note of caution:

VW brakes are NOT self adjusting. if you have a shade tree mechanic helping make sure they know that.

Also if your brakes drag be sure to check the brake hoses, they tend to act as check valves and keep the brakes applied just a little for an hour or so.

Oh and be careful removing the brake bleeders they tend to snap on old VW's for no apparent reason.

Figure it this way, MOST people spend $700 at midas having their brakes replaced, you have an entire car for that price.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

This controller is rated at 300 amps for 2 minutes I believe. I missed out on the 400 amp controller at the last second. OOOHHH that makes me mad.

Yeah! I hate it when that happens!

EDIT: PS - good news on the potential free batteries.

[dremd]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Yeah! I hate it when that happens!

Auctionsniper.com <- For use only by ecomodders LOL

[MPaulHolmes]

So far the rear brake job is going really smoothly. The bleeder bolts came off, but were they stuck on, or what!? I understood everything the book talked about. Those brakes are a very simple system. I think I'll get new pads and new cylinders. That should be good. Everything else looks fine. It was fun bleeding the brakes. It was like a squirt gun.

Adjusting the brakes is explained in great detail in my awesome book. I can make these brakes work really well again. I never knew that some mechanics stuff isn't that bad, especially on an older car.

[dremd]

You should really buy/ borrow this book. Not so much for the mechanical advise, but because it fits you so well.

Amazon.com: How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive 19 Ed: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot: John Muir, Tosh Gregg, Peter Aschwanden: Books

PLEASE don't take that as an insult. It is truly one of my favorite books. And the basis for my mechanical knowledge.

EDIT: you can actually read it online if you click on the cover, maybe there is a time limit or something . . .

[MPaulHolmes]

I have the VW idiot book! That's amazing! I love it. It is so clear. You can tell that the writer has done everything that he describes. It's covered in brake fluid now, but that just gives it character.