05.23.11
Posted in Aquisition, Assembly, Body and Fender at 11:48 pm by Administrator
Last week at the EAA meeting we had a suprise visitor… By that I mean he wasn’t there for the meeting, he was there to go to a different place in the same strip mall area. Apparently he saw my car in front of our meeting place (Lamp Post Pizza, West Main St, Turlock CA Third Thursday of each month) and ask me if it was electric. Then he said “I’ve got one”, I asked “Where?” to which he replied “In the parking lot. Want to see it?” So we walked out to the parking lot and he showed me a Honda Civic which had been converted and to which he converted the conversion to LiFePo4 batteries. It was beautiful! I asked what the difference in performance is and he said “Hop in, I will show you…” and he did. The first thing I noticed was the noise the tires made as we went from Zero to screeeeech. then I saw that the battery voltage was barely sagging. It turns out that he is heavily invested in the electric car industry and was happy to have bumped into us. We have something to offer each other mutually.
The next thing which happened this week is the universe provided the passenger side window I have been wishing for. Actually it was provided by Larry and his wife Jeanie who came out to CA for Larry to do an install for his computer business and he brought me the window for which I traded him an extra windshield I had. What these pictures depict are the present luan which is the passenger side window fog simulator of an excuse for a window. The other pics show the new window uninstalled and the drivers side window which is original. All in all it was a very productive week.
Did I mention Dave and I retrieved my cars from Stockton? I now have Three of the four 914’s I bought sitting in my driveway? But that is a title page story…
www.electricar.us
Permalink
04.09.11
Posted in Accessories, Aquisition, Assembly, Low Voltage System, Wipers at 1:59 pm by Administrator
I found the proper windshield wiper arms for the Bradley. They were on a 1980 VW Rabbit in a wrecking yard. The cost…10.00 for the pair. Since VW doesn’t make these anymore I felt I got a bargain. Then it was off to the auto parts store for a pair of new blades I assembled everything installed them on the car and tested them… they worked! Then I tested to see if they would park… they do but, the opposite way I want them too. So instead of parking in the down position they park in the up position. I tried moving the arms so that they are in the parked position on the opposite side but the offset of the position of the wiper assembly is such that the arms do not fit properly in that direction. Therefore instead of having one speed windshield wipers that park, I have wired them to be two speeds and I have to park them myself by turning them off at the right moment. The switch is another story. They are no longer manufactured. I have one original Hazard switch and a full set of Bradley switches in a Bradley Body which was meticulously assembled, given to me and that I am keeping for a spare body unless I get a great offer. I have a blue illuminated switch which may work.
I have also discovered where I left my long lost camera. It is in a glove box in a pickup truck which belongs to my friend Jeff. Unfortunately Jeff just moved to San Diego. So I wont get my camera until the 18th when Jeff comes back up to the Central Valley. In the meantime there is still plenty to be done on EV1E.
Permalink
01.31.10
Posted in Assembly, Body and Fender, Design at 11:39 am by Administrator
Hi All! I felt the need to give an update on the slow progress of EV1E. This month we started to prep her for paint and lo, the water came pouring down for quite a few days here in the valley. So while I was waiting I ordered a fiberglass piece which I have cut and am mounting in the back of EV1E to change the tail lights to round LEDs. The results will be stunning. I also did a warranty exchange on my ammeter gauge. The exchange went without flaw. Now that the weather is improving I will be finishing up EV1E cosmetically. I will also seal her for running all seasons
Permalink
12.06.09
Posted in Assembly, Lights at 9:19 pm by Administrator
-
-
EV1E in her Stall
-
-
Bus Tail Lights
Last time I made an entry I had driven to Atwater and back. My friend Dave followed me back home and made one comment. He said “you know when you use your directional light and push on the break pedal at the same time, both of your tail lights flash on and off.”
Enter the Signal Stat 900. Dave suggested I get a signal stat 900 as all of the functions for the lights takes place within the switch. This industrial strength signal switch has been used on 18 wheelers since 1947 and has been tried and true. I found one on Ebay for 19.95 (about 30.00 with shipping, and I’ve got to tell you, this is one of the best investments I have made. Worth its weight in gold. This switch and my friend Dave, saved me countless hours of frustration so now I have Headlights, Tail Lights, Parking Lights, Directional lights, and Hazard lights.
Permalink
08.30.09
Posted in Assembly, Body and Fender, Design at 8:58 pm by Administrator
Just wanted to let my loyal readers know where we are with Evie, as well as where we are going and what needs to be done to get there. As you are all aware I have had some difficulties with the top and doors. I am happy to report that those challenges are being resolved and everything seems to be lining up properly. The door seals and rear hatch seal are only temporary to assure that there is a good fit before painting. After the car is painted I will re-install them with silicon. To that end; Once I am completely satisfied with the fit of the top and doors I will fill in the gap where the top meets the body and glass it in. My plan is to roll up some 9″ wide, resin soaked, strips of glass into cigar shaped pieces and fill in the gap. I have been advised that this would add strength and substance to the top. I will then sand smooth and glass over the bead and feather it at the body and on the sides of the top. The hope is to get the body and top to look like one piece. I will then start on the cosmetic stuff to make it look pretty while at the same time prepping her for paint.
There is still a slight rubbing noise when turning the car sharply. I will fix this problem by shaving off a little more of the wheel well I built up when installing the headlight housing. The hood latch still needs to be worked out and the wire harness still has be completed.
The interior is going to be done by Eddie and his crew down at Sew Creative in Turlock CA. I have decided to paint the car white with a blue GT stripe which ill be the same color as the carpet. The seats as well as the ceiling and door post will be white. The door paneling and dash board will be burled wood simular to the Jaguar… Ah but I am getting way ahead of myself. I have a lot yet to do but I feel I have less in front of me then I have behind me. Which reminds me, I have to check CA law requirements for registering a kit car. See you next time and thank you for your readership. “Keep On Pluggin”
Permalink
08.29.09
Posted in AC 24, Assembly, Batteries, Body and Fender, Design, Low Voltage System, Relay Board at 12:20 pm by Administrator
I have been asked to include some close ups of the modifications I am making. One of my alert readers noticed that I have eight or more pictures of Evie from the outside. She, the alert reader advised me , people want to know what makes Evie Tick. So Belia… This is what makes Evie tick. Pictures 1-3 show the Fuse block and and console with the instrument panel. Note in the second picture, The rear hatch cover is now hinged and fits properly. That is rubber around the inside edge of all the doors. Pic 4-6 are various stages of opening the Instrument Cluster. I did this beacuse i realized the if I didn’t I would have to crawl under the Dash to see what wire goes where. It will now be very easy to replace light bulbs. The hinge is an old T-Bird glove box hinge I had and modified for my purposes. Of course evrything will be cleaned up and trimmed upon completion. Picture 7 shows the placement of the charger. 8 and 9 show the motor, 1/3 of the batteries, and the relay panel which will be enclosed upon completion. Lastly we have the gas cap. Yup, that is a household 110 outlet. I hope this satisfies and refreshes. See you next time. Enjoy and “Keep on Pluggin”
Permalink
08.19.09
Posted in AC 24, Assembly, Batteries, Body and Fender, DMOC, Design, Drive Train, High Voltage System, Low Voltage System, Relay Board, Restore, Road Test, Sub Frame at 5:56 pm by Administrator
Here are more pictures of Evie. These were taken on the 17th after I readjusted the top and doors. The doors fit much better now. What you can’t see from the pictures, I had to shave off just a sliver of the inside fender well to allow better clearance for the wheels and tires. I have decided to mount the 12 Volt fuse block/wire harness on the center tunnel behind the emergency brake. This will give me easy access. This car has a center console and all I will have to do to check or change a fuse is lift the door on the console. The console also has channels built into it which I can run my harnesses through.
The push is to get her street legal so that I can start driving her to work. Some of the members of Team Evie are coming this weekend to help. There are many rivers to cross before we get there.
Permalink
08.11.09
Posted in AC 24, Aquisition, Assembly, Batteries, Body and Fender, DMOC, Design, Drive Train, High Voltage System, Low Voltage System, Road Test at 5:30 pm by Administrator
On Aug 9th 2009 (yours truly’s birthday) I had a few friends over for a bar-b-que. Each one got to ride in Evie down the block and back again, for a total of 6 trips. The batteries are still ready for another run. I sent my battery charger to Sacramento for re-calibration. It was set up for 18 8V batteries, and I am using 12 12V batteries. When I get it back I will fully charge the batteries and see what this baby will do. I am wearing a large smile these days just knowing I am so close to seeing a dream become a reality. In case you are wondering what ever became of the two Bradley’s I was using for parts, here is the answer. I gave the rust bucket gray beast to Greg at Bugformance of Stockton as a core for the brand new transmission Evie is sporting now. I asked him at the time if he would let me have parts as needed and he could keep the rest. Well the darn thing sat in his yard for about 1 year I had taken the top and one of the doors off of it and then he finally he sold it or gave it away to a guy named Jon Connolly. He also told Jon about me and that I might have some “spare parts” for a Bradley. I had a whole car (remember the white one I bought for parts?) so I gave him the other Bradley… Actually that is not quite right, we bartered. He is going to paint my car. He has won awards for his paint jobs. I have decided to paint her Wimbledon White with a Blue GT 40 racing stripe. The pictures below were taken on the day I put Evie’s windshield in.
Permalink
08.04.09
Posted in AC 24, Aquisition, Assembly, Batteries, Body and Fender, DMOC, Design, Drive Train, High Voltage System, Low Voltage System, Relay Board, Restore, Road Test, Sub Frame at 6:43 pm by Administrator
Today August 4th 2009 at 1435 PDT Evie moved on her own power. I threw a seat in her (didn’t even bolt it in and a steering wheel on her (again, no bolt) and started her up and drove her down the driveway and down the street and back. Then I backed her up the driveway and into her stall. I did this a total of two times. It has been a long road to get to this point but we are here. Here are some photos of Evie on her Maiden Voyage Day.
Permalink
07.25.09
Posted in AC 24, Assembly, Batteries, DMOC, Design, High Voltage System, Low Voltage System, Relay Board at 10:14 am by Administrator
The motor runs and it sounds like a fu#kin jet engine! Awsome
Permalink
« Previous entries Next Page » Next Page »
