Ben Nelson's Electro-Metro Build thread

[bennelson]

Dude! Tim, We gotta build a "long-ranger" to get you to and from work EVery day!

I think you need more range than I have,

Although perhaps a vehicle just for running errands in to town and back might be nice for you too! (Electro-Paseo!!!!)

[bennelson]

Here's another video about the car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alNMCjPTwNE

[Tango Charlie]

STOP IT!
You're not allowed to have that much fun.

Ha Ha- great videos. Keep 'em coming.

[kimer6]

Hey, what's the deal on the black screen youtube video??? I want to see the Forken but it seems like anywhere I look on this forum all of the video postings no longer work after a day.

[MetroMPG]

Kim: I think it might be something on your end. They're working OK for me.

Try clicking the video player (anywhere except the controls or the center of the box where the big "play" button should be). That should open it up at the YouTube site. Maybe that'll work for you.

[bennelson]

I have decided that rigging the vacuum pump for the power brake system to the brake pedal switch isn't the best thing.

It works fine in regular light traffic, but if I am stuck at a light, or worse yet, on the yielding side of a busy intersection, I am stopped for too long with the pump running.

I imagine the pump pulls even more amps when it gets up to where it really can't pump anymore, which is right around 20.

I hadn't had any luck finding a good, cheap vacuum switch anywhere. Yesterday, I got to see a nice (high-budget) S10 conversion. His has a fancy 12V vacuum pump with a switch built right on it.

I took a digital still photo of the markings on that vac switch. I was able to find that particular switch through an on-line retailer. I just placed an order for it. $22!

I have not been too fond of paying for new anything on this car, but this should make the brake system really slick, and be good for a long time.

I also managed to stumble across a price for just the battery charger on that S10 - it costs MORE than my entire Geo Metro conversion!

[kimer6]

OK Ben, how about a vacuum flask or receiver? Something with a capacity of a gallon or so with a wrecking yard check valve between the vacuum pump and the storage tank will help in stop and go traffic. It might run the vacuum pump longer for a while but you will have brakes even with everything shut off. The vacuum cutoff switch is a MUST.

I was thinking about getting a Ford electric vacuum pump as used to run the dashboard vacuum controls and let it pump its merry (cheap and low amp) heart out until 22 inches vacuum is reached in the storage tank. I am eyeballing an old twin tank air compressor for a tank. John Wayne ran on one lung. So can my compressor.

Like you, I scrounge for inexpensive parts. My Metro convertible was $100 with bashed in front end. That's why there is so much red metal on a white frame. Keep up the good work!

[bennelson]

I already have the vacuum flask, and it's installed.



The vac pump sucks the air out of this white aluminum bottle, and that sucks on the power brake booster.

I have a vac gauge on the dashboard to show how much vacuum I have. The bottle holds enough vacuum for about 10 pumps of the brake pedal.

The problem is that, right now, the vac pump keeps running, needed or not, as long as my foot is on the brake. That works great for quick stops, and start and stop driving, but bad at long lights, when the pump just keeps running and running.

Once I get this new vac switch in, the power brake system will pump up automatically and run only as needed!

[Johnny Mullet]

The Ben Nelson Electro-Metro is being showcased on GeoMetroForum.com

Thanks Ben!

[bennelson]

Thanks for the writeup, Johhny.

The more people we can get information out to, the better!

-Ben