Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Fossil Fuel Free
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 04-30-2008, 12:24 AM   #1 (permalink)
Peter
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: GTA
Posts: 30

My Truck - '96 Dodge RAM 3500 Laramie
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I took the plunge! My Saturn conversion

So I bought a 1996 Saturn SL1, 4 door to convert to electric. I have been taking pictures and will post some. I don't want to "reinvent the wheel", so I am going to try and copy what other people have done that works well. That's one reason I chose a Saturn, as it has been done before.

I will try to post what I learn, to make it easier for anyone who does a Saturn in the future.

One good thing about a 1996 is that the speedometer runs off the transmission, so it will be easy to make the speedometer work. No computer to worry about.

Today I started by draining the gas tank. There is a fitting in the filler tube that goes to the tank so you can't put a hose down it to syphon out the gas. I messed around under the back of the car where I managed to remove the filler tube from the gas tank. I could then stick my syphon hose right in the tank an get the gas out.

Then I figured out the easy way to get the gas out. Under the drivers side are two rubber fuel lines, one big one small. The small one is the return to the tank. All I did was put a pan under the lines and cut the return line then start the car. The last remaining fuel poured out and the engine died.

Then I drained the motor oil.

Then I removed the AC compressor. It was not working, and there was no freon in it. Actually, one of the hoses was completely disconnected when I got the car. I won't be reusing the AC.

Thats about all I got done today.

The plan is to get one of the 72 volt Curtis controllers that are on Ebay. Motor and batteries are still to be determined.

Thanks

Peter

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 04-30-2008, 12:33 AM   #2 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: TR NJ
Posts: 19
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
best of luck with your conversion
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2008, 12:46 AM   #3 (permalink)
EV test pilot
 
bennelson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Oconomowoc, WI, USA
Posts: 4,435

Electric Cycle - '81 Kawasaki KZ440
90 day: 334.6 mpg (US)

S10 - '95 Chevy S10
90 day: 30.48 mpg (US)

Electro-Metro - '96 Ben Nelson's "Electro-Metro"
90 day: 129.81 mpg (US)

The Wife's Car - Plug-in Prius - '04 Toyota Prius
90 day: 78.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 17
Thanked 663 Times in 388 Posts
Whoo Hooo! Another conversion!

I always thought Saturns would make great conversions.

Keep us posted.
(said the guy who hasn't done any work on his electric car conversion in two weeks.)

In case you wanted to see the wrong way to drain a gas tank:
__________________


300mpg.org Learn how to BUILD YOUR OWN ELECTRIC CAR CHEAP
My YouTube Videos
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2008, 01:04 AM   #4 (permalink)
Future EV Owner
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Sussex Wisconsin
Posts: 674

Wannabe - '05 Honda Civic LX
90 day: 40.53 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
__________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2008, 01:32 AM   #5 (permalink)
Red
Master EcoModder
 
Red's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 713
Thanks: 1
Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts
Sweetness, good luck with the conversion
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2008, 08:28 AM   #6 (permalink)
Peter
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: GTA
Posts: 30

My Truck - '96 Dodge RAM 3500 Laramie
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanks for the encouragement.

That Saturn looked great in the video. I only need about 30 miles range so I plan on using much less batteries. I was hoping to still have useable trunk space on mine. I may go with 12 batteris x 6v, four in the front and eight in the back? Still TBD (To be determined)

I was hoping to not have to do suspention improvements.

Thanks

Peter
  Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2008, 01:35 PM   #7 (permalink)
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: southern cali
Posts: 159

DMC - '99 Honda Civic DX
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
loved the video...
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2008, 09:58 AM   #8 (permalink)
Peter
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: GTA
Posts: 30

My Truck - '96 Dodge RAM 3500 Laramie
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
So carrying on with the conversion.

I am going to try and strip as much as I can from the engine block. I want to make it as light and as small as possible to make removal as easy as possible. There are many aluminum parts as well and I figure I can get more from metal recycler if it is separated.

I drained the coolant, removed the rad and rad fan. I removed the exhuast manifold. I am starting to take the head off. I took the valve cover and vavles off. I almost got the head off, just a few more bolts.

After some consideration. I have decieded to remove the engine and transaxle in one piece. I posed this question on EVDL, and it was suggested to do it this way. I originally thought I would remove only the motor and leave the transaxle in, just so I would have less work to do. The reasoning is you can bolt the electric motor to the transaxle on the work bench and test it first. It will also be easier to do it on a bench. Now my problem is I have to clean off my tiny workbench.

On another note, my wife, who agrees with the idea of having an electric car, has already yelled out the front door "GET AWAY FROM THAT STUPID CAR" It's going to be a long, hard conversion!


Any advice is appreciated

Thanks

Peter
Thanks
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2008, 07:45 PM   #9 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Lancaster, Pa
Posts: 27

Little crown - '03 Toyota Corolla CE w/ S body kit
90 day: 40.75 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
well i was at a place last night where a guy had converted a SL1. He had all the batteries in the trunk (12 of them) and did not do any suspension improvements (and it looked it) the motor was on out of a 48v forklift (he estimated 16 hp) and was directly connected to the tranny so he had no clutch, the controller was also from the forklift. He had a range of about 30 miles and a top speed of 65 i think. He drove it for about a month then the controller gave him problems and he hasnt fixed it yet, He was thinking about replacing it with an alltrax controller but i dont think that is big enough is it? He said he would sell it to me but i already have a car so the price would need to be right. BTW the conversion did not look to hard but then again i was not the one doing the conversion.
__________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2008, 08:33 PM   #10 (permalink)
Future EV Owner
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Sussex Wisconsin
Posts: 674

Wannabe - '05 Honda Civic LX
90 day: 40.53 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Heynow999 View Post
On another note, my wife, who agrees with the idea of having an electric car, has already yelled out the front door "GET AWAY FROM THAT STUPID CAR" It's going to be a long, hard conversion!
Yeah, my wife is such a sweetheart, except for my obsession with energy saving things. It's only after I've made changes and she can see the benefits that she likes them. It's good that your wife wants the conversion.

I have no advice for you, but I will watch your progress with envy, and hopefully learn enough to do it myself.

__________________
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread




Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Electric Motorcycle conversion bennelson Fossil Fuel Free 315 01-27-2018 04:51 PM
Electric car conversion: Project ForkenSwift MetroMPG Fossil Fuel Free 1041 07-28-2014 10:19 AM
1992 Mitsubishi Mirage Electric Conversion Shifty Fossil Fuel Free 25 08-15-2009 05:02 PM
Help! SVO/WVO Diesel Conversion? thebrad Fossil Fuel Free 20 10-27-2008 01:47 PM
Video: Porsche 914 home conversion (show & test drive) MetroMPG Fossil Fuel Free 13 01-23-2008 01:29 AM



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com