I was thinking the same

Hi Guys,

Well.... the MOT is finally now booked for next Monday at 9am, I decided the car needed some TLC to the non EV conversion side of things before the MOT. So I fitted a few new bits..

Front and rear Shocks

Front springs (lowered), to correct the stance due to the rear sitting lower due to battery pack)

Front Brake discs and pads

Rear Cylinders and shoes

Master Cylinder

Lower control arms

Track rod ends

The shocks were all working fine but had all rusted so severely I was worried about the springs coming through the support cups! It's odd that the car is almost totally free of any trace of rust underneath, yet the shocks were just horrendous, looked like they'd been salvaged from the titanic!

The master cylinder seal was weeping slightly, probably due to sitting unused for a few years. One rear cylinder was also weeping a little and the other had seized up. The front discs were just quite worn, (original from new) rusty & pitted from lack of use. The nearside lower balljoint was worn, the wishbones generally tatty with rust and in any case after 18 years the car will benefit from having all new bushes. The track rod ends had torn boots from removal during the conversion, so needed changing.

Add to that lot a new set of wiper blades and were all good to go for the MOT on Monday, It should sail through hopefully.

I've got some more pics to post soon of the main cabling install and rear battery, I'll add them after the MOT

'till later...

Edited 18 December, 201213 yr by favguy

Thanks for the detailed update, not surprised you have not posted, you have been busy, good luck

An inaugural voyage, and the longest MOT...

I've been grinning like a demented cheshire cat all day today. I'd been scurrying around all weekend finishing off bits and pieces ready for the MOT test today. So at 8:45 this morning I set off to the appointment with some apprehension, being the first time on the road, and the first time the car would be used "properly" with the controller, cabling and management systems installed and beyond the previous 24v "on/off" test I did around the yard after fitting the motor.

So, with some very gentle throttle we set off out of the workshop and down the drive to the public highway, so far so good, no unexpected noises. Once on the road, a bit more throttle and off we went, changed up through 2nd, 3rd, and into 4th as the car got close to 50mph. All nice and smooth, no vibration and just a hint of that fantastic electrical motor whirring noise as the RPM's increased.

The car is currently running 72v of used 110Ah Varta batteries and I really didn't expect it would accelerate very well or maintain much of a speed over 40mph. In the event I think it would have approached 60mph if I'd kept on giving it enough throttle, but I didn't want to push anything on the first trip. Average current to hold about 30mph on the level was around 80A to100A, accelerating was pulling 200A to 300A and I just touched 400A at one point accelerating up a slight incline.

It all seems to be in order and would suggest a pretty low Wh/m figure. I'm really very happy so far bearing in mind it's running on crappy batteries at only 72v. I absolutely can't wait to get it running on 144v of Lifepo4 now...

So, got to the garage and showed it to the MOT tester, who was firstly astounded at the condition of my 18 year old car, then gobsmacked as I showed him the fact it was now electrically powered and instructed him how to power it up for use.

I ended up putting it on the lift for him and doing the brake roller test myself under his instruction, as he was nervous about driving it. He did insist on calling everyone else over to stare in awe at the engine bay and under carriage!! It really was quite surreal.

The fun ended with the garage owner, about six mechanics and a passing customer milling around and under the car, the MOT took 90 minutes in the end, 15 minutes was actually the test. Great fun this EV thing...

Oh, needless to say it passed...

Merry Christmas everyone

Congratulations - and a very well deserved Christmas present

Fantastic news it passed, no doubt in my mind it would.

Might have to attend a meet down south as i'm gagging to see your car up close.

epic

What an amazing project and executed with such precision. I have great respect for people who have their own vision and are to bring it to life. :clap:

Amazing! Early Christmas present for you!

It only updated me of this now, great, I new it would pass but congratulations and happy xmas and new year

Superb. Great result. Well done

Congratulations! Great to see everything come together

great stuff

i'm well familiar with that MOT nerves thing... well done, now i guess you are on the lookout for some batteries then?

This is fantastic news. Great work

Congrats! this is an amazing project!

How is the car going now? What's next to do with it?

Finally it's legal!!

Had a trip to the DVLA at Beverley today, no hassle at all and the car is now registered as an Electric. And the best part is the "NIL" duty rate, so I splashed out and went with 12 months.

I owe you all some more pictures of further progress to date, I'll be back as soon as I get a chance to take some.

Paul

Congratulations

Fantastic news

Excellent

Excellent

I bet you're over the moon after all the long hours/days.....and those "why the fecking hell did I start this bloody thing? " moments!....

Now to start the tweeking..... ......I know that eventually you want to run on way better batteries ........when the funds allow!

Congratulations!!

Have a well deserved beer on me

That is so cool.

Big thumbs up for getting it legal and on the road.