Paul's how NOT to convert a Metro

[vpoppv]

%$#@%$#%$@#%, I broke down and bought ANOTHER thing for this accursed conversion: 1/4" steel plate. It's pretty at least. I want to put up a picture of it because it's so pretty; I'm thinking most people would think "why is this bozo putting up a pic of a hunk of steel?" Anyway, that's yet $19 I won't see again. I'm over $100 now, and haven't sold any of the ICE parts. This conversion might end up costing me more than Forkenswift....
On the plus side: 1/4" is heftier than I thought. I tried to pick it up at the welder supply store and the big burly welder dude said "It's a two hander...." and, indeed I needed both hands to carry it. So then I went to the temporary template I made that I thought was 1/8" steel. It turned out to be 1/16". I guess it's a good thing I didn't use it as a permanent adapter plate. I don't think the grade 8 bolts have a chance at intimidating that 1/4" steel plate....

[Christ]

Originally Posted by vpoppv

%$#@%$#%$@#%, I broke down and bought ANOTHER thing for this accursed conversion: 1/4" steel plate. It's pretty at least. I want to put up a picture of it because it's so pretty; I'm thinking most people would think "why is this bozo putting up a pic of a hunk of steel?" Anyway, that's yet $19 I won't see again. I'm over $100 now, and haven't sold any of the ICE parts. This conversion might end up costing me more than Forkenswift....
On the plus side: 1/4" is heftier than I thought. I tried to pick it up at the welder supply store and the big burly welder dude said "It's a two hander...." and, indeed I needed both hands to carry it. So then I went to the temporary template I made that I thought was 1/8" steel. It turned out to be 1/16". I guess it's a good thing I didn't use it as a permanent adapter plate. I don't think the grade 8 bolts have a chance at intimidating that 1/4" steel plate....

That's some funny ish right there...

[MPaulHolmes]

I recommend going to your local High School metal shop. They sold me a 14"x15"x1/4" steel plate for $10. hehe.

[vpoppv]

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

I recommend going to your local High School metal shop. They sold me a 14"x15"x1/4" steel plate for $10. hehe.

NOW you tell me!!
Anyway, I need batteries and angle iron next. I begged all the Oklahoma battery distributors for some old batteries they had lying around and even offered them some cores. No dice. Seems they're all in business to SELL batteries and not give them away- go figure. I would think 65lbs of leaded fury Trojan T-105 cores would be a battery recycler's dream. Guess they're 65 lb doorstops.....

[swede]

Those T105 batts are gonna cost you a pretty penny but trust me they are WELL worth it. The pack I have in the electricfly is 6 brand new T105s that i paid 144CAD$ each for. That's before I found out that my brother in law's work would sell me them for just over 100$. GRRRRRRR. But anyway, all Im saying is that you can't cheap out on the batts or you be very early dissapointed in the conversion. Ive been pleasantly surprised so far with my 36VDC performance and I attribute at least 90% of that to my pack. Trust me, beg borrow or steal a good battery pack and you will be happily impressed with your conversion.

[vpoppv]

Originally Posted by swede

Those T105 batts are gonna cost you a pretty penny but trust me they are WELL worth it. The pack I have in the electricfly is 6 brand new T105s that i paid 144CAD$ each for. That's before I found out that my brother in law's work would sell me them for just over 100$. GRRRRRRR. But anyway, all Im saying is that you can't cheap out on the batts or you be very early dissapointed in the conversion. Ive been pleasantly surprised so far with my 36VDC performance and I attribute at least 90% of that to my pack. Trust me, beg borrow or steal a good battery pack and you will be happily impressed with your conversion.

I think I might have found some batteries! I DO realize batteries are crucial, unfortunately my budget allowance for them (0US$) makes my choices limited....

[vpoppv]

Things are moving along aggravatingly and frustratingly slowly. 1/4" steel plate and 1/2" aluminum is SO much harder to work with than 1/16" steel.....

[Christ]

Originally Posted by vpoppv

Things are moving along aggravatingly and frustratingly slowly. 1/4" steel plate and 1/2" aluminum is SO much harder to work with than 1/16" steel.....

Welcome to your rate of acceleration in this car! :P

Kidding, you can actually get decent numbers from a car that generates peak torque before you press the pedal...

[vpoppv]

Originally Posted by Christ

Welcome to your rate of acceleration in this car! :P

You know, I was thinking I could install bicycle pedals in it to help with acceleration, sort of a human-electric hybrid like some of those scooters. If I ever decide it's too tiring to run the car, I can switch the pedals to generate power to recharge the batteries.

[vpoppv]

Ok, so today was a very maddening day. I went to Church. That made my EV time more limited. Then, for my daily trip to the farm supply store, they were OUT OF FREE POPCORN!!!! What do they think, that I go there to buy stuff??? Anyway, I have discovered the physics of plate thickness: apparently, 1/4" steel and 1/2" aluminum can both absorb sound and vibration! Well, at least more so than 1/16" steel. It's amazing the things this conversion is teaching me! Still have a ziptie for a motor mount: I decided that's the proper way for my inferior setup to work; it adds both a visual lack of appeal and poor functionality (hard to beat that). And lastly, this conversion has once again made me money! I finally got around to emptying the supposedly empty fuel tank (it read zero anyway). I put it in my 90 white Geo. So now, it has close to a half a tank! That should last me about 3 to 4 weeks....

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