Sunday, March 14, 2010

Weekly update: getting things together...






Since removing the ICE engine, we have managed to remove the transmission and flywheel from the engine. We also managed to place the engine onto the engine stand. We have a couple of pictures of the empty engine bay and Marcus basically in the engine bay helping to put the hood back on. Once we had the engine on the stand, I had some of the crew remove the valve cover. There is Shannon learning to use a ratchet and going to see the cam and timing chain! The students were very interested to see the inside of an internal combustion engine. Just seeing the cam and timing chain and a brief explanation of how it works (valves) amazed them to how complicated it looked and how well they kept on running. There are hundreds of moving parts inside an engine, lots of places for friction and wasted energy! They agreed...

I ordered the adapter plate after measuring the "magic number" (measurement of rearmost of engine to the flywheel clutch surface), which is 1 5/16 inches, I had a chance to go to the "Kick Gas Club" garage and get some help from the master EV converter Abran Quevedo (Mr. Q or just Q). His brother is a retired machinist so he will be making the adapter plate. Q gave myself and Dan (another EV enthusiast who I took the conversion class with) a drive in his "Little Red" VW Rabbit convertible. He sure is tough on his car! Accelerates and moves just like a normal car, but with MUCH less noise. Sitting at a stop sign is absolutely quiet...

Next steps is to start measuring out the battery space, taking a look at the suspension and other things for wear. I will most likely do very little other than support the suspension and then restore brakes, etc as they are needed (as suggested by my brother-in-law, Robert, the master mechanic). I do see his wisdom, I could go and start replacing things that MAY need replacing, but don't fix what is not broken!

Hopefully we get to order the motor soon and get the adapter plate and transmission all matched up and put together. Making the motor support is another issue, but it looks like I have flexibility as to where it will connect. Lots to do! Until later...

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