Props to anyone who wants to keep a classic going regardless of drivetrain; these could just as easily be scrapped and crushed, people forget that. The only ones getting butthurt are those who are envious you even have one.
Nice work dude! Also really digging all the big Lebowski references. Also thanks for the tip on that controller. I have a 1991 Ford e-150 Econoline that one day I'm hoping will be feasible to convert EV. Would be pretty cool if you could somehow incorporate two drive units with CVS to 2 live wheels. Not sure if you happen to know off hand if it's possible to do two leaf drive units in parallel?
Hey thanks so much for the super thanks! First one I've ever received. As for two drive units, I'm sure that it is possible, as anything is possible with enough effort, but is it feasible? I'm sure it can be done with all aftermarket EV parts and with a lot of money, but for me I'm trying to use salvaged OEM parts to save a lot of money, and that would make it much more difficult. But still possible. Contact Isak at Resolve-EV if you'd like to go that route. Ask this question on the r/EVconversion subreddit, the diyelectriccar.com forum, or a comparable Facebook group.
I used to have a 1962 Mercury Comet... (convertible, 4 on the floor) My first car. Please don't have any doubts about converting to electric. It's the right thing to do. Love the work you're doing.
It would be so cool to have a fun old car that is so easy to run and lack any sort of maintenance. I love classic cars and still drive an electric car as does my wife. People think that it is strange that I can love an old hot rod and also love my daily electric car.
Im only a few minutes into the video, but if youre going to miss the manual aspect, I know there are adaptor plates for the leaf motor to attach to a normal transmission so you could totally just run a t5 manual that would fit the car very well.
Last I read transportation only accounts for a small chunk of greenhouse gas compared to manufacturing. Either way, I've driven EVs for 6 years and I love this project. I just think there is something to be said about massive corporations doing the vast majority of the damage making people like us think it's on our shoulders to reverse climate change. Anyway, love the channel! Keep the content coming!
I agree that too much of the blame is put on the shoulders of the individual. However, all these corporations that pollute can't exist without customers. We are usually the customer in most cases. Xina makes a lot of pollution, yet we are all guilty of buying Xinese goods. Is it really fair for me to blame Walmart for pollution when I shop there exclusively?
@@iiisaac1312 I mean, where else are you supposed to shop though? Part of the problem is darn near everyone's polluting. The businesses are blaming us for our tiny amount of pollution, while their answer is for us to buy new products from them to reduce OUR emissions, but which produce just as many emissions during the manufacturing process as always! And their processes pollute because they make more profit that way. This is part of why my philosophy around classic cars is that they are greener by default simply by virtue of being old and still used instead of thrown away and replaced. A massive chunk of a vehicle's lifetime emissions come from its manufacturing process, and this is true of both ICEs and EVs, so naturally the older a vehicle gets, the greener it gets. If the average lifespan of a new car is 15-20 years (and getting shorter), every additional 15-20 years you care for it after that is an automotive lifetime without the initial emissions dump, which is a huge difference. I don't feel particularly guilty about my 50+ year-old V8 land yacht or my 30+ year-old roadster, as they've both lasted multiple average vehicle lifespans by now and as long as I take care of them they'll keep working indefinitely. You don't have to drive a Tesla or Prius to save the planet, pulling a neat old ride out of the scrapyard and giving it new life works just as well, or just buy something old that still works and keep maintaining it and refurbishing it as necessary so it lasts. What I like about this project is that it is taking scrap and giving it new life - specifically, the Nissan Leaf. Wrecked car, cheap drivetrain in good condition with plenty of life left in it, swapped into a more interesting old car with an engine most people are not interested in which would likely have been replaced with a V8 anyway. Now, a V8 would probably be more fun, but it wouldn't be as efficient or low-maintenance as an electric drivetrain, which makes this an interesting restomod. Basically, a charmingly fun grocery getter you can tool around town in without spending a lot of money on fuel or maintenance, which prevents the necessity of buying another new car to do the same thing. Sometimes the answer really is as simple as reduce, reuse, recycle, with the emphasis on reduce and reuse.
@@Thinginator I guess the best option would be to create an EV that lasts 60 years and you keep that car for your lifetime. One car for each person which would limit the amount of manufacturing pollution. Now of course this would require a total shift in our culture, beliefs, etc. This would not be a profitable business so it's never going to happen, just a pipe dream.
@@thedude_-__-_7528 Essentially, treat cars like houses. Go back to the days of coachbuilt bespoke vehicles, where you're paying for something that will last a lifetime and is built exactly the way you want it according to your tastes and practical needs. At this point, automotive technology has basically peaked in terms of practicality and refinement, so if we stop caring about nonsensical tech gimmicks we CAN treat cars like houses - investments in mobility that can be passed down through generations. The downside is that housing mortgages need to become affordable for the average person before people can realistically take out a second mortgage on a bespoke car they want to drive for the rest of their life and potentially pass down to their kids. In general, I think the world would be better off owning fewer but nicer things - valuing craftsmanship over quantity. It's not about how much you own, but the story behind what you own, who built it and the choices you made in commissioning it, how it was made to your specifications so you'll be happy with it for decades to come. It does indeed require a shift in our collective values to realize this future, but the sooner we do the happier we'll be.
The way I look at it, it's your car you can do whatever you want to but if you have doubts just don't change anything that you can't change back. I drive 40 year old Mazda trucks and I've been considering changing one of them to electric as well. One way or the other good luck with it.
i do not disagree However in my project I want to keep the gas engine but add Electric Hub wheel motors to the non Driven wheels. So my classis becomes a Hybrid. Using Gas on the highway with some EV Boost, then Pure EV in the city to reduce emissions to Zero in Populated areas. And recharge either with the Gas engine in the highway or plug in when parked. I like the idea of having Both one backs up the other. Of course using the Leaf system saves you a lot of custom design work. Good on you buddy, make it happen for the Good Earth, D
You have convinced me to convert my 1960 Plymouth Suburban wagon to EV drivetrain. Mine has no drivetrain with a good-ish body with solid floors and frame. I love the Dion axle idea!
People actually said you were ruining it by converting it? That car(?) - a Comet Station Wagon?! I mean,, it's hardly an E-Type or a 72 Scout, is it? So long as you maintain or restore the shell, I don't see what the beef is. But, I guess no matter which old car you could have chosen for an electric conversion, you'd have been goring someone's sacred cow. Well, other peoples' opinions are fine. But it's yours that counts in the end. And afterall, you're keeping it from dissolving down into an iron oxide stain on the ground or going to the crusher. I think you're owed major points for that. Cheers!
Love the job. Love the sentiments. Love the motivations. Keep it up, and ignore the madness, the fever will pass. I have similar views I think. And while I can’t change the world, I do think I can be one more straw on the camel’s back to ditch the fossil fuels by driving an electrified old classic around town. From another Resolve EV / Leaf project person (vw T2)
I like the idea of a De Dion tube and an axle-mounted motor. I converted my 1974 F-100 to electric, but used the original drivetrain with a 2012 Nissan Leaf motor. Is the Tesla gearbox a single-speed? If multiple speeds, how does it switch gears? Thanks for your great videos.
I have a 1966 F-100 and I briefly thought about converting that vehicle instead of the Mercury. But the wheels on the truck are much larger (29"?) than the Leaf's (25") so I don't think I would have wanted to use the Leaf's gearbox in that configuration. And would instead need to connect it to the Muncie transmission and drive around in etierh 2nd or 3rd gear. So, no de-dion axle.
@@ThisOldJalopy I saw your F-100 restoration video and really liked the brown paint for the bed. I plan on doing the same to mine after coating with POR-15. Thank you for the idea. As for the transmission, mine doesn't have a Muncie, so I'm not sure what the limitations may be on yours, but I can tell you for mine, which is a Ford 3.03 toploader 3-speed column shifter. I recently rebuilt the transmission. I have regenerative idle (regeneration upon throttle release, not brake application), so I would only be able to shift gears if the motor were not regenerating (when the motor is regenerating, the motor grabs on to the input shaft, preventing gear shift). I can temporarily switch the motor to "Neutral" (motor neutral, not transmission's mechanical neutral) via my Forward-Neutral-Reverse (FNR) switch. But instead I connected a normally-closed (NC) foot pedal right between the "Forward" position in the FNR switch. I placed the foot pedal by where the original clutch pedal is (the original clutch pedal is no longer used, since I do not have a clutch but rather a direct coupling between the motor shaft and the transmission's input shaft, so I recessed the clutch pedal against the firewall) and can now switch gears. It is a clutchless shift, but only takes about a second for the synchronizers in the transmission to synchronize with the next gear, and then the shifting is easy. If your transmission has helical gears, it should be smooth as well, in case you'd like to keep the original transmission. Notwithstanding, I like your idea of the de-dion axle - so cool, and I think you will get much better torque delivery and a smoother driving experience. I love the drive on my truck, too, as it feels like the original drive. Thanks again for your great videos.
I couldn't give a shit about the drivetrain if it means the classics are still on the road. Keeling them on the road is top priority, keeping them sounding nice comes second Edit: id be very interested in tips and tricks to doing a conversion like this, might do it on my ford escort
Way better than buying new EV, which at last count release about 4 years of ICE motoring CO2 in their manufacture? This is way less and looks marvelous. Good on ya.
I recently saw an electrified Corvair. It was amazing they kept the old drive train but it drove better because there was better weight distribution , plus it had a heavier curb weight. Cheers!
I dont have a problem with EVs, but how are my classics the problem when all these rich guys are flying rockets and the Chinese tankers are putting out more emissions in a day then my entire lineage has?
omg. took way too long to bust the vacuum out..... especially without a proper set of anti-tetanus gloves from mom. great work! looking forward to the next one :D
It may be further off in the future than I would like, but I cannot wait for the day when I get to square up with some Boomer in his muscle car and just before the light turns green you can hear my launch capacitors wine louder than his 454. That look on his face when my “toy” can make your hair stand up is going to be priceless. When we start sticking our heatsinks out the top of the hood like a blower is when the real fun will start.
Ha ha yes 😂 . I have been running EV's in the UK since 2020 and was wondering the other day, that in a few years will all the people with the ridiculous pop and bang r'tard maps be paying for extra loud regen whine ?
You’d have to really hate EV’s to be against this project. I’d hope most people would reserve their criticism for cars that are rare or have great engines. Anyway this seems like a very fun project and I think the final product will be cool.
I think converting classic cars to EVs is generally a good idea- but the costs at the moment.. I own a VW bus from 1988. The engine is nothing special, it doesn't really add to the experience and the car could need another gear for highways. So a good starting point for an EV conversion, but it is just way way too expensive. And since we have very strict laws in my country- the DIY version is basically not possible. Btw you can have Volkswagen convert you classic bus/van- it will only cost you 70k€.. and half the car will be full with batteries..
I mean climate change is real but it's inevitable, natural History guy. But great build, definitely a more powerful reliable conversion than maintaining the inline 6
I'm not going to tell you why I think global warming is a myth. I'm EV converting my 2000 Ford Ranger for reasons that don't make people think that I'm gullible. I have tons of solar and tons of batteries. Why not carry some batteries and a hybrid inverter along with a few solar panels on my truck when I'm away from home? Seems like a pretty practical solution to my over-building my energy independence. The truck will be solid as soon as I replace all of the suspension, the minor steering components, and front brakes. I should expect a few hundred thousand miles out of it if I live long enough since it'll be my daily driver and since I typically drive about 35 miles per week. The cool thing will be pulling a trailer to a construction site and powering a Hercules compound miter saw and an air compressor for a weekend before driving home to charge up and prepare for the next weekend. While at home, my 144-volt system will be separated by removing Anderson connectors and each 48 volts of cells will be connected to its BMS and charged/discharged with my home's solar power system. Sorry for being a tech junky. I couldn't help myself. At least I won't be letting some insensitive set of computers and servos do my driving for me. Driving is one of my pleasures as long as the roads are otherwise empty. I look forward to seeing your old rust bucket squeaking down the street in a future video.
This is such an awesome project! Another aspect of a swap like this is parts availability. Especially on something that is far less common and popular than a mustang or other “catalogue car”, keeping these old cars running right at factory spec is becoming far more difficult. I have a very similar car, a 62 Buick special wagon, and while it remains in factory condition finding quality replacement parts or often ANY parts at all is becoming more and more of a battle every day
Here’s something that might make you feel better during difficult times of this project. In England you are not allowed to put any new holes or change the car’s structure, so they have to use whatever the car comes with and add brackets where necessary to adapt the car’s original mounting holes. I get this from watching the Electric Classic Car RUclips videos. They do a lot of conversions of classic sports cars so they do have to deal with some hate. But all of their cars can be converted back. Anyway, I think Americans have an advantage over the Brits because of this, but they do amazing work at Electric Classic Cars.
Don't forget in your weight calculations you left out the exhaust and fuel tank weight. You should factor in the weight of a full tank of fuel as well since the battery pack is permanently 'full'.
You're right I did, as well as the driveshaft, but all those don't really add up to weigh much I don't think. And I just picked up all the steel to build the new rear axle (de dion tube) and it weights a tune because 1/4" wall thickness was the only thing available.
I agree with you about the climate crisis. However people seems to think that stopping burning fossil fuels will lower the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere finally lowering the temperature again. That is not the case. All CO2 that is added to the atmosphere stays. Which means the concentration will increase until the last drop is burned and that could take hundreds of years. The sea absorbs some of the CO2 but it cant continue to absorb as today. Also another source to absorb CO2, the forests areas are decreasing. To that formally locked in CO2 in the permafrost areas has started to release CO2. The rate of releasing grows with the rising of temperature. People are not willing to change in the speed needed. It is these people that vote for our politicians not voting for the politicians we need. Wast investments are tied up i the fossil fuel dependent industry. Also pension funds are the same and the system still absorbs huge amounts of peoples investments in fossil fuel dependent economy. This means unfortunately that I think it is too late. However. I want to be able to lie on my deathbed saying I did what was possible. Eating vegan food and many more adjustments.
Interesting project, I hope to do the same on a Reliant Kitten Estate someday, a miniature version of your Comet so to speak. I am curious about the De Dion rear axle concept, I know the principle. Greetings from the Netherlands.
Interesting to see how differently cars age in different climate. In Germany you quiet often have a car that looks very good from the outside, but the underside is completely rusted away. You never see that outside rust on the panels, because it will take just a few more months until it is completel gone.
Now that I know we're on the same page politically and scientifically, I'm subscribing. I've removed more than a few automotive channels from my feed when I see things like Don't Tread On Me flags or Tr*mp signs in the background of garages. I'm not giving those people the benefit of any views.
I haven’t seen the Trumpy indicators on the videos I’ve watched but there have been a couple where I’ve been deleted for saying anything in regard to Trump or Musk. The worst was one where the producer would argue with anything critical of Musk or Tesla and then delete you if you proved him wrong. For example I pointed out that some people were turning away from Tesla because of Musk’s open support of Trump. Anyway, I’ve become a bit more selective too. The Musk sycophants can get kind of weird.
haha only thing disappointed by is its not Tesla ..I need more knowledge on how to figure out a Tesla mods.. I want to first convert my Moms 87' Suburban .. once I get that figured out and done, the second will be a full restore on Grandpas 67' El Camino with a EVrestomod also making it right hand drive w/suicide doors so I can drive it again.. park them both under a solar carport :) sounds like a nice dream to me
Farming (tractors not cow farts) and US military assets are what produce the overwhelming majority of carbon emissions. But recycling a used electric motor and batteries is 100% a good thing.
OMG!!! Even though it is spelled "Solder," the word is pronounced (in the U.S.A.) "Sah-der!" The "L" is silent here in this country!! (I am assuming that you are from the U.S. I know its a little thing, but to make yourself more believable on video word pronunciation is paramount to credibility!! Other than that, I am so into what you are doing with the Leaf and the Comet!! Good work!!!
Give yourself an uppercut son… This lad is doing some amazing work and you’re bitching about the pronunciation of “solder”. Two important things to know here… 1. How do I make that drink? 2. It’s “Solder”… not whatever the fuck you said… and 3. I’m pretty keen to try that drink, what are you mixing up there, young fella?
You we doing great until I realise you are gullible about climate change. Next you will say men can use womens toilets . Just follow the crowd .However you great work.
I could not give a shit less about emissions from my classic vehicles, or any of them for that matter. I think the earth naturally heats up and cools down over the centuries. I also think an emissions-reduction focus needs to include the power grid. Can't have electric stuff without power. Wind and solar are both effective some of the time, but there needs to be a way to store that energy for when there isn't the sun or wind, and there has to be a backup for when they fail and the storage is depleted. Nuclear is the only emissions-clean method to produce the energy needed IMO. HOWEVER. I think the change on this car to electric is cool in its own right, akin to swapping in any other non-native engine into an old car. I like Robot Cantina swapping lawn mower engines into all kinds of vehicles. It's just neat, and I enjoy that. If your motive is saving the planet, I think it's misguided and ultimately ineffective if you aren't producing your own power ala solar panels. But it don't matter, that's not why I'm here. Crimp those wires and lay down some rubber!
Props to anyone who wants to keep a classic going regardless of drivetrain;
these could just as easily be scrapped and crushed, people forget that.
The only ones getting butthurt are those who are envious you even have one.
Or they can have gone all in to right wing identity politics.
With a car that size, and a wagon no less, it's a perfect candidate for electrification. So much battery space. This is a great idea!!!
Right behind you, it's the best of both worlds, character, and cleanliness.
Nice work dude! Also really digging all the big Lebowski references.
Also thanks for the tip on that controller.
I have a 1991 Ford e-150 Econoline that one day I'm hoping will be feasible to convert EV. Would be pretty cool if you could somehow incorporate two drive units with CVS to 2 live wheels.
Not sure if you happen to know off hand if it's possible to do two leaf drive units in parallel?
Hey thanks so much for the super thanks! First one I've ever received. As for two drive units, I'm sure that it is possible, as anything is possible with enough effort, but is it feasible? I'm sure it can be done with all aftermarket EV parts and with a lot of money, but for me I'm trying to use salvaged OEM parts to save a lot of money, and that would make it much more difficult. But still possible. Contact Isak at Resolve-EV if you'd like to go that route. Ask this question on the r/EVconversion subreddit, the diyelectriccar.com forum, or a comparable Facebook group.
I used to have a 1962 Mercury Comet... (convertible, 4 on the floor)
My first car.
Please don't have any doubts about converting to electric. It's the right thing to do.
Love the work you're doing.
I dont really care about emissions, it's just a cool project. DO IT
Why would you not care about emissions though
@@charlessale409 Because of egomania, perhaps a limited spiritual horizon, and a flawed value system. That’s why
It would be so cool to have a fun old car that is so easy to run and lack any sort of maintenance. I love classic cars and still drive an electric car as does my wife. People think that it is strange that I can love an old hot rod and also love my daily electric car.
i had a 1963 comet 260v8 and it was cool back then in 1974, but your $4k project is awesome, stay on track
Everyone restores an old car back to original, making it an EV is epic. Do it!
Im only a few minutes into the video, but if youre going to miss the manual aspect, I know there are adaptor plates for the leaf motor to attach to a normal transmission so you could totally just run a t5 manual that would fit the car very well.
Good call! That'd be the best of all worlds!!
i've been looking for an old car like this with a blown engine to do the same. havent found anything affordable that still has a salvageable body yet.
Duuuuude, excellent video! Love the Big Lebowski inserts! This is going to be the best grocery getter.
Last I read transportation only accounts for a small chunk of greenhouse gas compared to manufacturing. Either way, I've driven EVs for 6 years and I love this project. I just think there is something to be said about massive corporations doing the vast majority of the damage making people like us think it's on our shoulders to reverse climate change. Anyway, love the channel! Keep the content coming!
I agree that too much of the blame is put on the shoulders of the individual. However, all these corporations that pollute can't exist without customers. We are usually the customer in most cases. Xina makes a lot of pollution, yet we are all guilty of buying Xinese goods. Is it really fair for me to blame Walmart for pollution when I shop there exclusively?
@@iiisaac1312 I mean, where else are you supposed to shop though? Part of the problem is darn near everyone's polluting. The businesses are blaming us for our tiny amount of pollution, while their answer is for us to buy new products from them to reduce OUR emissions, but which produce just as many emissions during the manufacturing process as always! And their processes pollute because they make more profit that way.
This is part of why my philosophy around classic cars is that they are greener by default simply by virtue of being old and still used instead of thrown away and replaced. A massive chunk of a vehicle's lifetime emissions come from its manufacturing process, and this is true of both ICEs and EVs, so naturally the older a vehicle gets, the greener it gets. If the average lifespan of a new car is 15-20 years (and getting shorter), every additional 15-20 years you care for it after that is an automotive lifetime without the initial emissions dump, which is a huge difference.
I don't feel particularly guilty about my 50+ year-old V8 land yacht or my 30+ year-old roadster, as they've both lasted multiple average vehicle lifespans by now and as long as I take care of them they'll keep working indefinitely. You don't have to drive a Tesla or Prius to save the planet, pulling a neat old ride out of the scrapyard and giving it new life works just as well, or just buy something old that still works and keep maintaining it and refurbishing it as necessary so it lasts.
What I like about this project is that it is taking scrap and giving it new life - specifically, the Nissan Leaf. Wrecked car, cheap drivetrain in good condition with plenty of life left in it, swapped into a more interesting old car with an engine most people are not interested in which would likely have been replaced with a V8 anyway. Now, a V8 would probably be more fun, but it wouldn't be as efficient or low-maintenance as an electric drivetrain, which makes this an interesting restomod. Basically, a charmingly fun grocery getter you can tool around town in without spending a lot of money on fuel or maintenance, which prevents the necessity of buying another new car to do the same thing.
Sometimes the answer really is as simple as reduce, reuse, recycle, with the emphasis on reduce and reuse.
@@Thinginator I guess the best option would be to create an EV that lasts 60 years and you keep that car for your lifetime. One car for each person which would limit the amount of manufacturing pollution. Now of course this would require a total shift in our culture, beliefs, etc. This would not be a profitable business so it's never going to happen, just a pipe dream.
@@thedude_-__-_7528 Essentially, treat cars like houses. Go back to the days of coachbuilt bespoke vehicles, where you're paying for something that will last a lifetime and is built exactly the way you want it according to your tastes and practical needs. At this point, automotive technology has basically peaked in terms of practicality and refinement, so if we stop caring about nonsensical tech gimmicks we CAN treat cars like houses - investments in mobility that can be passed down through generations. The downside is that housing mortgages need to become affordable for the average person before people can realistically take out a second mortgage on a bespoke car they want to drive for the rest of their life and potentially pass down to their kids.
In general, I think the world would be better off owning fewer but nicer things - valuing craftsmanship over quantity. It's not about how much you own, but the story behind what you own, who built it and the choices you made in commissioning it, how it was made to your specifications so you'll be happy with it for decades to come. It does indeed require a shift in our collective values to realize this future, but the sooner we do the happier we'll be.
The way I look at it, it's your car you can do whatever you want to but if you have doubts just don't change anything that you can't change back. I drive 40 year old Mazda trucks and I've been considering changing one of them to electric as well. One way or the other good luck with it.
LOTS OF STRANDS in the Old Duder's Wiring Harness!!
Lots of ins, lots of outs....
OMG the editing with the rust scraping, so good.
FYI, Pendleton, the company that made The Dude's sweater in The Big Lebowski, is making the "Westerly" sweater again. Be prepared for sticker shock.
i do not disagree However in my project I want to keep the gas engine but add Electric Hub wheel motors to the non Driven wheels. So my classis becomes a Hybrid. Using Gas on the highway with some EV Boost, then Pure EV in the city to reduce emissions to Zero in Populated areas. And recharge either with the Gas engine in the highway or plug in when parked. I like the idea of having Both one backs up the other. Of course using the Leaf system saves you a lot of custom design work. Good on you buddy, make it happen for the Good Earth, D
I think it's awesome you're even allowed to just replace a vehicles driveline, here I can't do that without a mountain of paperwork and money
Do you live in a communist country?
You have convinced me to convert my 1960 Plymouth Suburban wagon to EV drivetrain. Mine has no drivetrain with a good-ish body with solid floors and frame. I love the Dion axle idea!
People actually said you were ruining it by converting it? That car(?) - a Comet Station Wagon?! I mean,, it's hardly an E-Type or a 72 Scout, is it? So long as you maintain or restore the shell, I don't see what the beef is. But, I guess no matter which old car you could have chosen for an electric conversion, you'd have been goring someone's sacred cow. Well, other peoples' opinions are fine. But it's yours that counts in the end. And afterall, you're keeping it from dissolving down into an iron oxide stain on the ground or going to the crusher. I think you're owed major points for that. Cheers!
Love the job. Love the sentiments. Love the motivations.
Keep it up, and ignore the madness, the fever will pass.
I have similar views I think. And while I can’t change the world, I do think I can be one more straw on the camel’s back to ditch the fossil fuels by driving an electrified old classic around town.
From another Resolve EV / Leaf project person (vw T2)
What microphone is that?
good job dude!
love it. thank you for caring about the planet.
New video so soon! Yay! ❤
Edit: 3 minutes in and several The Big Lebowski clips.. this is gonna be a good one.
I like the idea of a De Dion tube and an axle-mounted motor. I converted my 1974 F-100 to electric, but used the original drivetrain with a 2012 Nissan Leaf motor. Is the Tesla gearbox a single-speed? If multiple speeds, how does it switch gears? Thanks for your great videos.
I have a 1966 F-100 and I briefly thought about converting that vehicle instead of the Mercury. But the wheels on the truck are much larger (29"?) than the Leaf's (25") so I don't think I would have wanted to use the Leaf's gearbox in that configuration. And would instead need to connect it to the Muncie transmission and drive around in etierh 2nd or 3rd gear. So, no de-dion axle.
@@ThisOldJalopy I saw your F-100 restoration video and really liked the brown paint for the bed. I plan on doing the same to mine after coating with POR-15. Thank you for the idea. As for the transmission, mine doesn't have a Muncie, so I'm not sure what the limitations may be on yours, but I can tell you for mine, which is a Ford 3.03 toploader 3-speed column shifter. I recently rebuilt the transmission. I have regenerative idle (regeneration upon throttle release, not brake application), so I would only be able to shift gears if the motor were not regenerating (when the motor is regenerating, the motor grabs on to the input shaft, preventing gear shift). I can temporarily switch the motor to "Neutral" (motor neutral, not transmission's mechanical neutral) via my Forward-Neutral-Reverse (FNR) switch. But instead I connected a normally-closed (NC) foot pedal right between the "Forward" position in the FNR switch. I placed the foot pedal by where the original clutch pedal is (the original clutch pedal is no longer used, since I do not have a clutch but rather a direct coupling between the motor shaft and the transmission's input shaft, so I recessed the clutch pedal against the firewall) and can now switch gears. It is a clutchless shift, but only takes about a second for the synchronizers in the transmission to synchronize with the next gear, and then the shifting is easy. If your transmission has helical gears, it should be smooth as well, in case you'd like to keep the original transmission. Notwithstanding, I like your idea of the de-dion axle - so cool, and I think you will get much better torque delivery and a smoother driving experience. I love the drive on my truck, too, as it feels like the original drive. Thanks again for your great videos.
DeDion tube?!? Sweet!
You don't need to explain yourself to the naysayers. They will never stop. Lol at the Jack Daniel's holder in the engine compartment. 😂
Well how much does a full tank of gas weigh? I'll bet he added weight of the fuel will even the scales a bit.
I couldn't give a shit about the drivetrain if it means the classics are still on the road. Keeling them on the road is top priority, keeping them sounding nice comes second
Edit: id be very interested in tips and tricks to doing a conversion like this, might do it on my ford escort
DUDE! Chademo?? Will you be able to fast charge your swap?!
I love this series. Really looking forward to the next installment! Wagons forever!!!
This is cool as hell, can’t wait to see it running
In not a fan of EV’s. But this is a really cool project 😎
Do you have more info on the speedhut RPM gauge? Is it CAN or does it use a separate sensor? I'm planning a Leaf swap in an S10 next year.
CAN. If you’re using Resolve-EV, they have a section specifically for that controller.
@@ianlighting100 I'm using the Thunderstruck VCU. I got my parts from a partially started project and that's what it had.
Way better than buying new EV, which at last count release about 4 years of ICE motoring CO2 in their manufacture? This is way less and looks marvelous. Good on ya.
Basically if the engine and transmission are nothing special, go for it. If the engine is the point of the car, don't.
LOL Do you have any Kahlua?
I would love to EV swap an Avanti. Purest would hate it, but it looks like it was made to be electric.
The Dude abides in your EV conversion dude.
I recently saw an electrified Corvair. It was amazing they kept the old drive train but it drove better because there was better weight distribution , plus it had a heavier curb weight. Cheers!
I dont have a problem with EVs, but how are my classics the problem when all these rich guys are flying rockets and the Chinese tankers are putting out more emissions in a day then my entire lineage has?
omg. took way too long to bust the vacuum out..... especially without a proper set of anti-tetanus gloves from mom.
great work! looking forward to the next one :D
Love what you been doing... but waiting long between updates. please keep it manual would be lovely
its a little sad to see the old motor come out, but its great that the ole car gets to keep being useful in the future
It may be further off in the future than I would like, but I cannot wait for the day when I get to square up with some Boomer in his muscle car and just before the light turns green you can hear my launch capacitors wine louder than his 454. That look on his face when my “toy” can make your hair stand up is going to be priceless. When we start sticking our heatsinks out the top of the hood like a blower is when the real fun will start.
Ha ha yes 😂 .
I have been running EV's in the UK since 2020 and was wondering the other day, that in a few years will all the people with the ridiculous pop and bang r'tard maps be paying for extra loud regen whine ?
Reddit
Nice idea but bad design choice better options out there for battery, electric motor combo.
Love the Split Lip shirt man!
Ofcoarse.
Thanks for spelling out the obvious.
The silence is a next level.
And - Isaac is a hero!
(unsung yo! what's a Isaac doing in Switzerland?)
You’d have to really hate EV’s to be against this project. I’d hope most people would reserve their criticism for cars that are rare or have great engines. Anyway this seems like a very fun project and I think the final product will be cool.
I want to do something similar someday. It's a cool concept!
I think converting classic cars to EVs is generally a good idea- but the costs at the moment.. I own a VW bus from 1988. The engine is nothing special, it doesn't really add to the experience and the car could need another gear for highways. So a good starting point for an EV conversion, but it is just way way too expensive. And since we have very strict laws in my country- the DIY version is basically not possible. Btw you can have Volkswagen convert you classic bus/van- it will only cost you 70k€.. and half the car will be full with batteries..
PLEASE tell us you are going to restore and repaint the old beast! :D
I mean climate change is real but it's inevitable, natural History guy. But great build, definitely a more powerful reliable conversion than maintaining the inline 6
This is a dream project for me. Have an old 80s toyota starlet with a diesel. Would be so cool to modernise that!
I love this build, for all of the reasons that you do. Wagons all the way!
I'm not going to tell you why I think global warming is a myth. I'm EV converting my 2000 Ford Ranger for reasons that don't make people think that I'm gullible. I have tons of solar and tons of batteries. Why not carry some batteries and a hybrid inverter along with a few solar panels on my truck when I'm away from home? Seems like a pretty practical solution to my over-building my energy independence. The truck will be solid as soon as I replace all of the suspension, the minor steering components, and front brakes. I should expect a few hundred thousand miles out of it if I live long enough since it'll be my daily driver and since I typically drive about 35 miles per week. The cool thing will be pulling a trailer to a construction site and powering a Hercules compound miter saw and an air compressor for a weekend before driving home to charge up and prepare for the next weekend. While at home, my 144-volt system will be separated by removing Anderson connectors and each 48 volts of cells will be connected to its BMS and charged/discharged with my home's solar power system. Sorry for being a tech junky. I couldn't help myself. At least I won't be letting some insensitive set of computers and servos do my driving for me. Driving is one of my pleasures as long as the roads are otherwise empty. I look forward to seeing your old rust bucket squeaking down the street in a future video.
EVs will not fix the dependency we have on oil. We need to fix the dependency if that's the problem.
He fixes the cable? LMAO
Giddy Up
I love this project
This is such an awesome project! Another aspect of a swap like this is parts availability. Especially on something that is far less common and popular than a mustang or other “catalogue car”, keeping these old cars running right at factory spec is becoming far more difficult. I have a very similar car, a 62 Buick special wagon, and while it remains in factory condition finding quality replacement parts or often ANY parts at all is becoming more and more of a battle every day
kiij giis. looking good. shouldn't be too hard to get a lil strip on metal welded on the back sill
You HAVE to keep the headliner. It's perfect.
Here’s something that might make you feel better during difficult times of this project. In England you are not allowed to put any new holes or change the car’s structure, so they have to use whatever the car comes with and add brackets where necessary to adapt the car’s original mounting holes. I get this from watching the Electric Classic Car RUclips videos. They do a lot of conversions of classic sports cars so they do have to deal with some hate. But all of their cars can be converted back. Anyway, I think Americans have an advantage over the Brits because of this, but they do amazing work at Electric Classic Cars.
Nice Blip Roasters sticker!
Do it !
Love it, go for it.
Whatever keeps them on the road.
Don't forget in your weight calculations you left out the exhaust and fuel tank weight. You should factor in the weight of a full tank of fuel as well since the battery pack is permanently 'full'.
You're right I did, as well as the driveshaft, but all those don't really add up to weigh much I don't think. And I just picked up all the steel to build the new rear axle (de dion tube) and it weights a tune because 1/4" wall thickness was the only thing available.
Where is the electricity coming from, I mean when you're charging the batterys.
I agree with you about the climate crisis. However people seems to think that stopping burning fossil fuels will lower the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere finally lowering the temperature again. That is not the case. All CO2 that is added to the atmosphere stays. Which means the concentration will increase until the last drop is burned and that could take hundreds of years.
The sea absorbs some of the CO2 but it cant continue to absorb as today. Also another source to absorb CO2, the forests areas are decreasing. To that formally locked in CO2 in the permafrost areas has started to release CO2. The rate of releasing grows with the rising of temperature. People are not willing to change in the speed needed. It is these people that vote for our politicians not voting for the politicians we need. Wast investments are tied up i the fossil fuel dependent industry. Also pension funds are the same and the system still absorbs huge amounts of peoples investments in fossil fuel dependent economy.
This means unfortunately that I think it is too late.
However. I want to be able to lie on my deathbed saying I did what was possible. Eating vegan food and many more adjustments.
Interesting project, I hope to do the same on a Reliant Kitten Estate someday, a miniature version of your Comet so to speak. I am curious about the De Dion rear axle concept, I know the principle. Greetings from the Netherlands.
Interesting to see how differently cars age in different climate. In Germany you quiet often have a car that looks very good from the outside, but the underside is completely rusted away. You never see that outside rust on the panels, because it will take just a few more months until it is completel gone.
Go for it; I would love to do this to my type 3 vw!
Now that I know we're on the same page politically and scientifically, I'm subscribing. I've removed more than a few automotive channels from my feed when I see things like Don't Tread On Me flags or Tr*mp signs in the background of garages. I'm not giving those people the benefit of any views.
I haven’t seen the Trumpy indicators on the videos I’ve watched but there have been a couple where I’ve been deleted for saying anything in regard to Trump or Musk. The worst was one where the producer would argue with anything critical of Musk or Tesla and then delete you if you proved him wrong. For example I pointed out that some people were turning away from Tesla because of Musk’s open support of Trump. Anyway, I’ve become a bit more selective too. The Musk sycophants can get kind of weird.
@@Molishious I now realize I should've been keeping screengrabs of the evidence.
@ That would have been interesting.
Global warming- I’m out. Bye
haha only thing disappointed by is its not Tesla ..I need more knowledge on how to figure out a Tesla mods.. I want to first convert my Moms 87' Suburban .. once I get that figured out and done, the second will be a full restore on Grandpas 67' El Camino with a EVrestomod also making it right hand drive w/suicide doors so I can drive it again.. park them both under a solar carport :) sounds like a nice dream to me
Hot Rodding is Hot Rodding
Farming (tractors not cow farts) and US military assets are what produce the overwhelming majority of carbon emissions. But recycling a used electric motor and batteries is 100% a good thing.
OMG!!! Even though it is spelled "Solder," the word is pronounced (in the U.S.A.) "Sah-der!" The "L" is silent here in this country!! (I am assuming that you are from the U.S. I know its a little thing, but to make yourself more believable on video word pronunciation is paramount to credibility!!
Other than that, I am so into what you are doing with the Leaf and the Comet!! Good work!!!
Give yourself an uppercut son… This lad is doing some amazing work and you’re bitching about the pronunciation of “solder”. Two important things to know here… 1. How do I make that drink? 2. It’s “Solder”… not whatever the fuck you said… and 3. I’m pretty keen to try that drink, what are you mixing up there, young fella?
i am English and can't fathom why Americans call in Sodder.
How do we really know why global warming is happening when we are not allowed to talk about it without being called a science denialist.
Global what?
it's not a classic, it's an old car.
Converting a classic car to EV is an awesome idea, but quit with the climate change hysteria already.
Love what you're doing however...in the US it's sodder not sol-der. Leave that to the Brits, Aussies and Canucks
white russian
nice
Are you employed!!? 😂
that is sooo not a tractor engine.
You we doing great until I realise you are gullible about climate change. Next you will say men can use womens toilets . Just follow the crowd .However you great work.
High levels of carbon bigger trees more food bigger animals have a look at history ie dinosaur. No carbon in the air on the moon nor mars.
Anyone that is offended, remember that the first EV roadster was an EV upgrade based on a gas platform.
I could not give a shit less about emissions from my classic vehicles, or any of them for that matter. I think the earth naturally heats up and cools down over the centuries. I also think an emissions-reduction focus needs to include the power grid. Can't have electric stuff without power. Wind and solar are both effective some of the time, but there needs to be a way to store that energy for when there isn't the sun or wind, and there has to be a backup for when they fail and the storage is depleted. Nuclear is the only emissions-clean method to produce the energy needed IMO. HOWEVER.
I think the change on this car to electric is cool in its own right, akin to swapping in any other non-native engine into an old car. I like Robot Cantina swapping lawn mower engines into all kinds of vehicles. It's just neat, and I enjoy that. If your motive is saving the planet, I think it's misguided and ultimately ineffective if you aren't producing your own power ala solar panels. But it don't matter, that's not why I'm here. Crimp those wires and lay down some rubber!
2cool4school