Loooong overdue, but very short, update
I apologize for those who've found this blog and are wondering why it stopped. Before I started my conversion I came across several very complete and informative websites, and several that got started, but left you hanging not knowing if the car got finished or abandoned.
It runs! I've driven the car for about 1100 miles so far over the past several months. There is still work to be done, it's hard to stop driving and call it a project again! My more urgent to-do list:
Install charger - it's sitting on the garage floor right now
Install heater - this is a biggie. I need to tear open the dash and make sure I trust the safety systems I'll have in. It's not Wisconsin cold here in central Texas, but driving a car with no heat when it's freezing isn't a lot of fun. Besides, since it's a convertible and the top inevitably leaks, I need the heater to defog the windowshield.
Install better battery gauges - Right now I only have an ammeter working, which is marginal as long as I don't press the range. In the short term I'm going to install a digital LED panel meter and get the SOC gauge working. Long term I'd like to have something look at each battery, be it active and switching a DMM between batteries, or passive like the red/green LED moniters that can be built for 50 bucks.
But all in all the car is great, I love giving people rides and getting weird looks in parking lots while people try and figure out why my engine is so quiet.
posted by Peanut Butter @ 10:13 AM
7 Comments:
Thanks for the update, I was starting to wonder what happened to you. I'm glad to hear you completed it.
For a battery monitor, someone posted a good design on the EVDL list today. The plans can be found at http://home.earthlink.net/~evtkw/
It's designed for 6V batteries but can easily be adapted to 12V.
-Peter
www.electric-lemon.com
Do you have the energy to help another Austinite build an EV? I have the donor and the desire but could use some guidance.
hey, in your revamp of the cabriolet did u ever have to work with the trunk lock mechanism? i'm troubleshooting my 92.
Hi Bill,
Have you checked out Austinev.org? There's a mailing list and a whole group of people in Austin who work to get EVs on the road. Short answer is yes, I'd be up for helping out and there are others as well.
Head to http://www.austinev.org/evinfo/local/mailinglist.html to sign up!
Hi Erik -
I have a 1989 VW Cabriolet I am currently converting, and was wondering if you mind me asking you questions from time to time, since it looks like you've done many of the activities I am currently involved in. My car is currently in the EV album.
If you don't mind, first question is, when you converted to manual steering, did you need to replace the U-joint as well? There isn't a lot of info (either in the manuals or on the internet) about going back to a manual rack.
My other questions are around dropping the rear axle to get the fuel tank out, but I can save those questions for later.
Thanks in advance!
Rob in Edmonds, WA
Hi Eric! Great article and kudos to you. Your story and picture (along with a link to this blog) has been featured in an article at Newsvine (online branch of MSNBC).
You can check the article here if you wish:
http://adventurebooks.newsvine.com/_news/2008/10/27/2042951-just-saying-no-to-unnecessary-driving-saving-america-billions-and-causing-opec-to-sweat
Hint - You're the guy with the big grin who doesn't have to shell out to big oil anymore...
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