First Conversion

[EVmetro]

This is at a different car show, and people took hundreds of pics of it.

[EVmetro]

I just got ahold of a 3.52 ring and pinion, so I am building a 3.52 transmission for this rig. I really have enjoyed the 3.79 transmission that I have been running in this thing for awhile, but I am looking forward to stretching the torque band out a little more.

Here is a pic with my old ring and pinion removed and my 3.52 set in place

[EVmetro]

Here is my 3.52 build ready to seal up. I was missing a part, so I had to hold off on this for a couple days, but it's all ready now.



This particular transmission that I have built was a happy 4.39 before I tore it down, I just swapped the ring and pinion and installed new bearings, synchros, and seals. This pic shows the different pinion sizes. The 4.39 pinion had only 18 teeth and 79 on the ring gear, but my new pinion has 21 and 74 on the ring.

[EVmetro]

I have been running the 3.52 transmission for a little while now, and would have to say that 3.52 is the correct ratio for a low rpm/high torque rig like this. Going from 3.79 to 3.52 is not really a big change, but it gives me a few more mph within my torque range. I like to run pretty hard in the left lane on the freeway, so every mph counts for my driving style. 100 mph happens around 4000 rpm, which is after my torque starts dropping off, so it is not exactly exciting thrilling as I hit 100 mph, but I rarely drive that fast.

[freebeard]

I think you do nice work.

Do you ever consider aero mods? Like Morelli's fluid tail?

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ail-33283.html

Or the wheelwells?

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by EVmetro

I have been running the 3.52 transmission for a little while now, and would have to say that 3.52 is the correct ratio for a low rpm/high torque rig like this. Going from 3.79 to 3.52 is not really a big change, but it gives me a few more mph within my torque range. I like to run pretty hard in the left lane on the freeway, so every mph counts for my driving style. 100 mph happens around 4000 rpm, which is after my torque starts dropping off, so it is not exactly exciting thrilling as I hit 100 mph, but I rarely drive that fast.

Great stuff. Has your range changed? How much range do you have, anyway?

[EVmetro]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I think you do nice work.

Do you ever consider aero mods? Like Morelli's fluid tail?

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ail-33283.html

Or the wheelwells?

I am fascinated with aero mods, but one of my goals was to have a "normal" looking car for this particular build. I was after something that is not broadcasting to the world that it is electric or is efficient in any way. There was no hiding that it is in fact a Metro, but I wanted to pass for any other car as much as possible while running outrageous fuel efficiency.

I may build an aero mod EV sometime, since I really enjoy that kind of stuff, but I am still deep into an electric Cadillac build right now.

[EVmetro]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

Great stuff. Has your range changed? How much range do you have, anyway?

I have not done any range testing since swapping in the 3.52 transmission, but I suspect it wouldn't really effect the range much. The extra few miles per hour that I gained in my "useful" torque range could probably even decrease the range since it is now easier to go a little faster at speeds that require more energy consumption. Assuming that I maintain 55 mph for a range test, it probably would not make much difference. I have run this Metro out to 100 miles of range for testing purposes, but 90 miles is the realistic range. Since it has been a few years since I built this rig, I would suspect that the 5 year old pack will probably not run those numbers any longer, but I often make a 76 mile commute with it as it is now, with energy to spare.

[freebeard]

Most of the ones that have never seen a Metro that clean won't know what they are looking at and the ones that do would probably appreciate a nice set of bubble skirts.

Any chance the Cadillac is a 1948 Sedanette? Or a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham?

[California98Civic]

That is good range, I think. The Leaf on the market when you built this only claimed maybe 80 miles, no? Yours is doubtlessly lighter... more battery capacity too?