Project Extended Pop-Top Aerodynamic Camper Shell ('99 Tacoma)

[NachtRitter]

A few pics I took... enjoyed the plug for ecomodder...









A very nice fit; looking forward to seeing it finished too!

Also saw Jack McCornack with his 100mpg MAX there, as described in this thread: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ject-9852.html, but I won't clutter this thread with those pics.

[MetroMPG]

The cap looks great! Congrats on a successful exhibition.

[a8ksh4]

Thanks for the photos, Nacht!

I got to talk to Jack a bunch while I was there and got some good advice on the reverse trikes. He and his buddy had booths opposite of me. Those lotus clones are rad! They got tons of attention at the show.

My MPG average for the trip back, holding 65mph most of wherever traffic or speed limit weren't slower, was 32.3 mpg. Very nice! I can't wait to do the slow drive next weekend and see what it does.

I'm moving into an apartment starting next friday, so probably won't have time to get the next bout of work done until a couple weeks from now.

[slowmover]

Great to see, excellent numbers, and glad you showed it off to others. A high mpg work vehicle is a fine accomplishment (ongoing)!

[freebeard]

I'm moving into an apartment starting next friday

What happens to that shop we've been seeing the inside of. I ask because there is an 18 mile commute to mine & it sucks.

[a8ksh4]

I'll be compressing into a largish 1-car garage in the same complex as my new apt... I'll loose some working space, but should be able to get the project through to completion.

After I get the shell done, I have to decide where to prioritize... If I go ahead with wheel well covers and other stuff, then I'll keep the garage for a while... otherwise, I might try and pack everything up tight and get rid of the expense for a while. I need to get up to speed for some programming projects and this might be good motivation to just buy a house around here somewhere. :/


I did some brainstorming with friends this weekend, thinking about how to do a sort of hybrid conversion. My tuck was a 2wd W59 transmission, but there's also a 4WD version of the same trans that I might be able to swap in. I could attach a ~30HP motor to the transfer case output for the front axle and use it for regen, electric assist, and electric-only when the trans is in neutral.

I need to figure out how the gear ratios will work, though, and if it's possible to do direct drive behind the trans. Also, is there much parasitic drag having the motor always connected to the drive-line and whether or not I need to attach it to a clutch.

[freebeard]

I'll be compressing into a largish 1-car garage in the same complex as my new apt

That could work.

I believe there are electric motors that in-line behind or replacing the trans tail-cone, so it sounds possible. The motor would lie on a line that runs forward next to the engine block?

[bschloop]

Most 4wd trucks use a transfer case bolted to the rear of the stock transmission. you should be able to get just a transfer case. an advantage to this is that many transfer cases are chain driven on the inside, so you could play with ratios much easier. you would need to get a shorter driveshaft, but they should be easily available.
If the 4wd is a shift on the fly type like most modern ones, you could use the transfer case selector to engage/disengage your electric drive. some transfer cases even have 2 speeds, a super low gear for pulling, and a 1-1 gear for regular driving.

[a8ksh4]

A bit of new progress tonight - Laid the 2nd layer of glass over half of the outside. Doing it on the diagonal for added strength.


Also did the back of the side panel door.


So, it turns out that the transmission in my truck, the W59, has a 4x4 version - same trans w/ a different transfer case and some extra shifter parts, I gather. I'm sort of keeping an eye out for one to either pick up cheap or just to measure the offset of the FWD output from the side of the trans so I can figure out how large of a motor I can put directly alongside the trans.

I need to read up more about the w59... I'm not sure if it has an electronic or manually shifted transfer case or if it's high/low or just high.


Anyhow, next step w/ the shell is to finish up a bit more fiberglass and then work on the lift. I don't want to do any finish work (paint) on the shell until I'm done banging it around in the garage for a while.

[aktacoma]

i also have the w59 but mine is a 4x4 and it is manual shift as well as it has 2H 4H and 4L so if i was going to do something with an electric motor where would i put the motor? on the front side of the t-case going to the front axle or? and if so would i still be able to use my four wheel drive with just my gas engine? im confused as to how you are thinking of pulling this off would it look like this? would the x be the electric motor if the capital I's are driveshafts the E is the engine and tcase is your transfer case?

......................0--------0
.........................I.....E
.........................x....T
.........................tcase
...............................I
...............................I
...............................I
.......................0--------0