I've reached a weird point in my conversion. I'm actually feeling pretty good about the adapter plate: like if a REAL motor were there, this thing might actually WORK! And also, there really IS room for batteries even WITHOUT using the trunk and backseat: I just discovered it while looking at where I would put the chargers. So I'm even MORE anxious to explode that tiny Baldor so I can shoehorn in a monster motor. Seeing this video didn't help:
That car is cruising along at 80. I don't think I could do that with the ICE in it.....