02-20-2015, 12:26 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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EcoModding Apprentice
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 202
Thanks: 3
Thanked 225 Times in 91 Posts
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First Conversion
I am pretty new here, but have been lurking for awhile. I have several EV conversions, and if you are into EVs or Metros, you may have seen some of my builds on the Geo Metro Forum or the DIY Electric Car Forum. Anyway, I thought I might share The first of my conversions here...
This is a 1998 Metro that I got for cheap and restored as I converted it. I installed a 21Kwh GBS gen3 pack, Curtis 1238-7601 controller, and AC74 motor, Orion BMS, Manzanita PFC 40 Liquid cooled charger, and lots of other goodies on.
Since I did not need any air coming in through a radiator, I built a custom fiberglass front bumper that blocks air from coming in through the traditional openings, and I raised the center of it up to fill the air opening between the hood and bumper. The factory bumper leaves a big air opening there. I also extended the bumper a few inches lower to block some of the air from going under the car.
I also made the bottom of the bumper a little wider so that the lower tips would match the tires.
I added a bottom shield that attaches to my custom front bumper, and it is about 3 inches lower than the factory floor. When there is weight on wheels, the control arms tuck in above the custom shield.
Here is an under hood shot:
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The Following 18 Users Say Thank You to EVmetro For This Useful Post:
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aerohead (04-16-2015), California98Civic (02-20-2015), Cd (02-20-2015), Daox (02-20-2015), darcane (02-20-2015), elhigh (04-29-2016), fusion210 (02-21-2015), Gasoline Fumes (02-20-2015), Insight for life (02-20-2015), MetroMPG (02-20-2015), mikeyjd (03-01-2015), MobilOne (05-06-2015), nemo (02-20-2015), niky (02-22-2015), oldtamiyaphile (03-01-2015), redpoint5 (02-20-2015), Thalass (03-11-2016), vskid3 (02-23-2015) |
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02-20-2015, 12:40 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: US
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Chief - '06 Pontiac Grand Prix 90 day: 26.7 mpg (US) SF1 - '12 Ford Fiesta S 90 day: 30.95 mpg (US)
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Looks like some nice work.  |
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02-20-2015, 12:52 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
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Very nice. It looks like you did not only a great clean job with the conversion, but also a very nice job with the restoration too.
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02-20-2015, 01:37 PM
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#4 (permalink)
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EcoModding Apprentice
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 202
Thanks: 3
Thanked 225 Times in 91 Posts
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Since I did not need the original gas gauge or temp gauge, I threw out the original instrument cluster and built my own, using a tablet instead.
I retained the original odometer, just transferred it over.
Here it is without the tablet in it. The LEDs are for my blinker, brake, high beams, and head light on idiot lights
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02-20-2015, 01:54 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
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Sexy Metro! (I don't say that often.)
What tires did you go with?
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02-20-2015, 02:16 PM
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#6 (permalink)
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EcoModding Apprentice
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 202
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG
Sexy Metro! (I don't say that often.)
What tires did you go with?
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I did not choose anything special for lower resistance tires. I went to Americas Tires and picked up a set of 14" "MB Seven X" wheels, and picked up some mid priced tires, size 14 x 185 x 65.
I have come to like those wheels, so I have the same set on the sister car.
You can see the sister car in the background with her matching wheels...
More on this conversion coming soon...
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02-20-2015, 02:24 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
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Those wheels definitely look nice. I'm a little surprised you didn't go for a good LRR tire though, given the amount of effort in the project!
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02-20-2015, 02:26 PM
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#8 (permalink)
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EcoModding Apprentice
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Sacramento
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Thanked 225 Times in 91 Posts
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I will do a thread on this one too. It is almost ready to go, and will be my most fuel efficient build.
HPEVS AC35, 36 200 AH batteries
More on this one later... |
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02-20-2015, 03:20 PM
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#9 (permalink)
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Cyborg ECU
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Coastal Southern California
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Wow! Really professional work, both on the body and the drive train. Yeow.
__________________
See my car's mod & maintenance thread and my electric bicycle's thread for ongoing projects. I will rebuild Black and Green over decades as parts die, until it becomes a different car of roughly the same shape and color. My minimum fuel economy goal is 55 mpg while averaging posted speed limits. I generally top 60 mpg. See also my Honda manual transmission specs thread.
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02-20-2015, 04:50 PM
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#10 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Atlanta area
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Absolutely beautiful!!!!!
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