In reply to NOHOME :
That sub frame is fantastic! Gives me lists of unpure thoughts...
In reply to NOHOME :
That sub frame is fantastic! Gives me lists of unpure thoughts...
In reply to NOHOME :
Perfect!
You can go one further and eliminate the subframe. The suspension is a twist beam with really long arms, has only two attaching points to the chassis. Might be doable in the region of where the leaf springs mount. The only things left would be some sort of coilover setup and a place to mount the Watts. And mount the electric motor, too, I guess.
You know, the transmission almost looks like a regular Smart transmission minus some bits. I wonder if the motor can be separated and mounted in the trans tunnel, connected to a driveshaft, so you can keep the Salisbury Axle (in your MGB-GT...) and not do so much metal cutting. Even if the range was cut by 20% from the additional friction of the hypoid gearset, it seems like a fair trade for a neat around town runabout.
I'm not sure that crate is going to work for you. It looks as if they'll sell it to authorized, trained shops. The battery pack is not an easy one to package.
What you need is to wait for the next generation of their stuff. It's more modular than the disassembled Bolt.
If you're looking at that sort of price range, check the EV West SBC replacement that includes a gearbox. Not a cheap date but a very easy install in this sort of application.
In reply to Keith Tanner
Agreed on next generation stuff. But I tend to gather information for a while before I execute a project; in other words, not as reckless as I sometimes make myself out to be!
I am not adverse to paying for stuff if it suits the cause. Inventing everything yourself also comes at a cost.
In my naive brain, there is a belief that an EV will be more reliable than a homebrewed engine swap of any type. I have much learning to do before I can determine if that is factual.
what about the "pancake" EV motors that go between the origial motor and gearbox ?
would that work ?
If we are just trying to cut "carbon footprint" what about propane or natural gas ?
Given that you’re looking for a “golf cart” with short range, that’ll help keep your battery cost and weight down which is a plus. A chassis swap sounds like it will be a ton of work, and maybe kills some of the Abingdon charm of the MG; maybe it’d be cheaper/easier to adapt an AC motor to your existing drivetrain?
Maybe it’s worth looking into seeing if EV West will adapt a kit like this to your MG gearbox?
Volkswagen VW Beetle/Bug EV Conversion - Complete Kit
The price seems reasonable (as EV conversions go) and has everything including the batteries. Pretty sure all you’re need to work out is a flywheel and adapter plate. Hiding the batteries will require some creativity since the GT doesn’t have a boot lid to keep things out of sight.
Can’t wait to see a project thread go up on this, so please please do this! MGBs are sweet cars and would make a great EV!
How fast do you want to go? My old boss cannibalized a golfcart and installed all the relevant parts in a VW Tub Buggy mated to the VW trans. He said it'll do the speed limit in his village(35mph). He can run to the store or the post office happily then come home and plug in the golfcart charger at the end of the day.
In reply to jerrysarcastic (Forum Supporter) :
Don't hold your breath! I tend to gestate projects in my head until the planets somehow line up and the vision becomes clear. This is just the early "What if" stage of the project. And I am still in the development phase with the first chassis swap that I did, so not bored yet.
In reply to NOHOME :
Jupiter and Saturn will be (almost) lined up in less than a month, get busy!
Relevant to your interests
Seems like this drivetrain could be adapted to the MGB, if they don’t eventually offer a kit, which I think I heard them mention in the video
NOHOME said:In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
For the reasons you mention, I flirted with EFI on the Molvo's 302 and it did not end well. Could never get it to work as advertised.
Not really applicable to ALL EFI solutions as Holley hasn't been top notch with some of their products.
Reusing a known OEM solution, like from a donor rig or a well documented and supported EFI product (you can use it with generic parts or easily adapt it to what you have or can get) is a better solution in the long run over many of the drop-in TBI products from Holley and similar.
I came across this CL ad it may create some ideas or be a talking point https://vancouver.craigslist.org/rds/cto/d/delta-electric-car-nissan-micra/7223169191.html
I've been considering this for a long time. In fact, over 10 years ago I plunked down for a big AC electric motor and controller combo. It's still sitting in the trunk of my GT...
I am so conflicted on the whole thing. In the end I'll probably go ICE on the MGB-GT since I want to be able to drive it to events, and don't want to be limited to a 60 mile radius or limited by slow charging times. Both seem to come with home electric conversions unless you want to spend big dollars (or maybe if you can use everything from a production electric vehicle).
That said, the red jag I have would be an excellent candidate for the home brew electric conversion because it's use case is for taking the family to ice cream or dinner, etc. That said that said, the jag currently has a running engine that putters it along perfectly fine. So the conversion doesn't really gain much, other than a way to spend time doing a project.
I'll probably end up selling the AC motor/controller combo at a huge loss, because if I were to do an electric conversion, I would be looking at challenge budget, and I would be looking to take the swap as much as possible from a wrecked production electric car.
A few years ago, there was a motor (not bad slang for engine!) controller and 5spd our ov a S10 “factory” conversion (I assume he meant done when new) on Craigslist for about a year, asking $600. The frame the motor was on had Chevy S10 mounts on the side... bolts right in. I thought that was a fair price, but not what I wanted in my Astro van at the time. Apparently no one around here wanted it either! Now that I have a local job and a commute, it be kinda cool, but I guess he quit putting the ad in.
I assume you have found the RBW MGB's. I think their rear subframe that bolts in place of the leaf sprung solid axle is really clever.
It also seems very similar to the smart subframe pictured earlier
03Panther said:A few years ago, there was a motor (not bad slang for engine!) controller and 5spd our ov a S10 “factory” conversion (I assume he meant done when new) on Craigslist for about a year, asking $600. The frame the motor was on had Chevy S10 mounts on the side... bolts right in. I thought that was a fair price, but not what I wanted in my Astro van at the time. Apparently no one around here wanted it either! Now that I have a local job and a commute, it be kinda cool, but I guess he quit putting the ad in.
I think there were actually some ford rangers and some S10s done in electric drive from the 'factory'. My uncle would really like to find one of the rangers.
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