I finally have a line on a motor - the last major piece of the puzzle. I have been searching forklift companies for a while now, but the answer I usually get is that they don't keep motors because they are sent back to the manufacturers as cores. One local company had a bunch of motors but they were either much too big or much too small.
The motor in question is a Prestolite MVX-4003. I am told that it is the same motor that Jet Electrica used in the early 80's in Ford Escort conversions. 18 HP continuous and about 100 lbs. 7-1/2" diameter and quite long. It should do just fine! I think I will buy it tomorrow.
It's being sold by a company somewhere on the east coast. Here is the picture I have:
