a mate and I have just purchased a 66 deluxe Bug that seams rust free, the plan is to pull the 40Hp 1200 motor which is in good condition and replace with a AC electric 77Hp motor and batteries for a 150Km range and 126 ft lb of torque at 1 rpm.
nbturbo ·
Will be interested in how you do the conversion. Please share the whole thing on here. I found a place in the U.S. that sells the motor,an ally engine adaptor,an electronic voltage unit and a sealed liquid cooling system with radiator and tank and pump to cool the unit. They want $7000 U.S. plus the batteries. Their system is good for about 350 miles before needing a recharge.
oldskoolguy ·
Welcome kiwiev.
I'm pretty sure a few people will be interested in your project, me included.
I have done a little bit of research on this myself, and the Beetles that have been converted already look very interesting.
Good luck, Rob.
kiwiev ·
Thanks Guys, Rob we have done a few conversions, and use some of the gear from the guy you refer too. I think the Bug will be a ripper 👍
,
We are hoping to convert them for around $22K plus labour unfortunately after that there will be no more noise, no more smell and no more fuel bills, but then there is more power $2 - $2.30 per 100Km to charge and start every time 😵
I will try to post everything on here.
Here is my Sonic 7 weights 840Kg 138Hp 1450 ft lb at the wheels and sub 0-100 Kph
Cheers Kiwi
adlbeetle66 ·
Interesting.
Please post plenty of pictures and details 👍
Will be most certainly watching this project...
68AutoBug ·
Very interesting...
I would think a very difficult job in a beetle....
How much heavier than a normal standard beetle??
with Drum Brakes all round???
but then again, virtually all beetles in the USA had drum brakes....
wouldn't it be easier in a Golf etc???
LEE
kiwiev ·
Hey Lee
The cool about AC motors is you can have variable regeneration braking, this is fully programble either foot off accelerator of a pressure transducer in the brake circuit.
Motor and controller weight 60Kg and you can lighten the flywheel to 2.5Kg, batteries will weight 140 Kg.
What does a 1300 motor and full tank of gas weight?
Cheers Kiwi
kiwiev ·
Well I'm getting the bug for these Bugs lol, I went and picked up another Bug I think a Superbug for my own project
kiwiev ·
So I need advise???
I will put it up on the Hoist Passenger pan has the flintstone look, where can I get pans in Oz?
kiwiev ·
It has the Carrera rear look UGLY but I'm handy with fibreglass and I think the Guards are wide so was thinking of cutting the tail light areas and smoothing back to a round curved look.
kiwiev ·
Oh yeah the plan is to insert 2 AC motors for nearly 250Hp and 250 Ft/Lb.
Can someone tell me if this interior is stock??
kiwiev ·
Also, I know lots of questions but I know there are some great people on this forum.
I would really like to get the 66 look on the front I have googled and you can get wider 66 look fibreglass guards for the front from the USA just wondering if there are any in Oz?
In 2008 there was someone at Warwick with an Electric Beetle - someone here might know the car/builder. Would be a valuable contact in building your car.
AA003 ·
kiwiev wrote:The cool about AC motors is you can have variable regeneration braking, this is fully programable either foot off accelerator of a pressure transducer in the brake circuit.
Why not on a DC motor?
kiwiev ·
Thanks Karmann
Nice looking Bug and ideas
Cheers Kiwi
kiwiev ·
AA003 wrote:
kiwiev wrote:The cool about AC motors is you can have variable regeneration braking, this is fully programable either foot off accelerator of a pressure transducer in the brake circuit.
Why not on a DC motor?
I destroyed a Warp 9" once DC motors are good for a couple of minutes flat out then they have issues.
Yeah I know David he does an awesome conversion with EV West
Thanks
nbturbo ·
Good day Kiwi-your door trims and seats are not VW.The door trims were recovered when the donor seats were trimmed.The blank panels each side of the speedo are not standard VW either.The electic motor set up you are proposing is some serious horsepower.I wish to run a heater and air conditioner in my next project-both those would be difficult with only electric power.John Sherman in QLD does a wider standard look guard in glass for your model.
kiwiev ·
nbturbo wrote:Good day Kiwi-your door trims and seats are not VW.The door trims were recovered when the donor seats were trimmed.The blank panels each side of the speedo are not standard VW either.The electic motor set up you are proposing is some serious horsepower.I wish to run a heater and air conditioner in my next project-both those would be difficult with only electric power.John Sherman in QLD does a wider standard look guard in glass for your model.
Thanks mate do you have a contact for John Sherman?
Also is there anyone selling floor pans here local?
yes its some cool quiet horsepower but I have 220Kg of batteries to put in too.
Thanks heaps for your help
Cheers Kiwi
kiwiev ·
here is a couple of pics of motors
Cheers Kiwi
AA003 ·
kiwiev wrote:I destroyed a Warp 9" once DC motors are good for a couple of minutes flat out then they have issues.
Don't tell the railways. They've been using DC motors for over a hundred years.
AA003 ·
kiwiev wrote:Also is there anyone selling floor pans here local?
Vintage VeeDub Supplies should have everything that you need.
karmann141 wrote:In 2008 there was someone at Warwick with an Electric Beetle - someone here might know the car/builder. Would be a valuable contact in building your car.
Didnt Mike Kirsten at CBB build that car?
He use to have a section in his web site for electric cars but doesnt seem to be there any more
nbturbo ·
AA003 wrote:
kiwiev wrote:I destroyed a Warp 9" once DC motors are good for a couple of minutes flat out then they have issues.
Don't tell the railways. They've been using DC motors for over a hundred years.
They are also used in diesel/ electric Haulers.I worked at a Coal Mine in a previous life on GM 150 ton Haulers.The motors were GM 16v 2 stroke diesels with 1600 HP generators and two 750 HP DC wheel motors. They would be driven at full power loaded from the pit up to the dumps which was a 20 minute trip. They used Dynamic Braking which turned the wheel motors into generators and ran the energy into massive resistor banks with massive fans to get rid of the heat. Dynamic Brakes could pull up a fully loaded Truck in a real short distance.The wheel motors were always subjected to flash overs which used to cause the Sparkies at lot of grief.
kiwiev ·
Quick update
Have placed order with EV west for a AC50 motor and controller chiller plate, water cooler motor adapter engine bay covers all for the 66 bug.
The super bug is going on the hoist tomorrow to see how terminal the rust is will update.
Whats everyone's thoughts on suspension?.
I would love to air bag the rear mainly because the two motors controllers and 23 batteries is over 250 kg. But what will it handle like?
The front will have 90kg of batteries.
I want a low look and handling , and I think I will order the aero guards all round if they aren't to pricy.
Thanks for all your input and help.
Kiwi
grumble ·
Bizarre wrote:
karmann141 wrote:In 2008 there was someone at Warwick with an Electric Beetle - someone here might know the car/builder. Would be a valuable contact in building your car.
Didnt Mike Kirsten at CBB build that car?
He use to have a section in his web site for electric cars but doesnt seem to be there any more
Barry the last time that I had some work done at Mike's shop he had a kombi there that he was converting to electric, but that was a few years ago too.
nbturbo ·
Kiwi- I have just ordered a pair of front guards through Brad at Westside- pm me and I will give you the fibreglass blokes phone number. Very well priced.
kiwiev ·
nbturbo wrote:Kiwi- I have just ordered a pair of front guards through Brad at Westside- pm me and I will give you the fibreglass blokes phone number. Very well priced.
PM sent mate
kiwiev ·
So I finally got the Bug up on the Hoist good and bad but I hope mostly good.
Can someone tell me what the year is from this Chassis number??
Cheers Kiwi
Edit all good a 1971 model which I thought it was
kiwiev ·
Here are some photos of rust are these an easy fix?
Cheers Kiwi
kiwiev ·
The rest of the car looks OK hopefully
kiwiev ·
and more
kiwiev ·
and last one
adlbeetle66 ·
That pan shouldnt be too much of a problem... just use the wire wheel to clean up the WHOLE pan first - then buy the repair panel you need.
Another word of advice - buy the better quality panels 😀
Someone else would be able to give you advice on the rear C pillar... Maybe grind it all back so we can see how bad it is...
nbturbo ·
kiwiev wrote:
nbturbo wrote:Kiwi- I have just ordered a pair of front guards through Brad at Westside- pm me and I will give you the fibreglass blokes phone number. Very well priced.
PM sent mate
I haven't seen it yet. My PM stuff doesn't work properly. I haven't been able to send a new one for years- but have been able to answer any that have been sent to me.
kiwiev ·
nbturbo wrote:
kiwiev wrote:
nbturbo wrote:Kiwi- I have just ordered a pair of front guards through Brad at Westside- pm me and I will give you the fibreglass blokes phone number. Very well priced.
PM sent mate
I haven't seen it yet. My PM stuff doesn't work properly. I haven't been able to send a new one for years- but have been able to answer any that have been sent to me.
Hey mate I sent another one not sure if they are going thru
nbturbo ·
No haven't seen it- but I think I may have got one out to you
kiwiev ·
nbturbo wrote:No haven't seen it- but I think I may have got one out to you
Got it mate
Cheers Kiwi
kiwiev ·
So I frigged around for 2 hours this morning on the bug to get her going, frozen fuel pump.
Took her for run down our dirt road wow it drives really well nice light steering.
Then I got back to the shed and saw the oil trail its a good think I am pulling it out and going eectric.
Cheers Kiwi
kiwiev ·
Just a wee update
We put the original beam back in the 66 and kepted the drop spindles in, raise the rear 2 notches which was 1 too many so will have to try next week. We are trying to set her up for the extra 100Kg of batteries and make her handle and drive nice.
Ordered a AC50 from EV works so now we just have to wait for all parts to arrive.
Btw we will be selling the 1200 motor which appears to run queit well no oil leaks and starts first turn down here in the snow.
Cheers Kiwi
newghia ·
Kiwi,
I may have the guards you are looking for,
I've PM'd you about the beam......my number is in there,
Nath
kiwiev ·
some goodies turned up today.
Adapter plate
engine bay covers
controller chill plate
controller chiller
controller mount
Now waiting on the motor AC-50
Cheers Kiwi
nbturbo ·
That didn't take long-where did the stuff come from? That adapter looks top class.
kiwiev ·
nbturbo wrote:That didn't take long-where did the stuff come from? That adapter looks top class.
The gear came from EV west and only took 7 days postage.
The adapter is there design and a bit more expensive than a standard one but it doespolish up nice.
Cheers Kiwi
kiwiev ·
De-iced the 1966 VW bug last weekend 😀 took all of 20 minutes 😂 more work taking out the after market oil filter.
started playing around with battery placement, motor should be here this week.
Cheers Kiwi
kiwiev ·
Yahoo the motor turned up today also doubled ended so could run an AC compressor off it later, just have to take flywheel off motor and start bolting up cant weight to drive the baby silent.
Cheers Kiwi
kiwiev ·
Does anyone know of a air con kit for a 66 67 Bug??
Wold love to see someone in OZ fit one of these up.
lolight70 ·
Theres a Ghia for sale on the samba thats been electrified,not that expensive considering
nbturbo ·
I was doing some research yesterday on air con compressors and there are plenty available that are now electric- can mount them anywhere.I was thinking of getting a small belt driven one to mount on the Subaru motor and use it as an air compressor for my air bag suspension.If you google hot rod air conditioning- there is plenty of stuff available
kiwiev ·
thanks for the links to AC kits hopefully enough room for pulley.
A Wee bit of progress on the 66 VW Bug
AC-50 mounted complete with flywheel clutch and controller mount.
Cheers Kiwi
Also looking for an oval window insert to put into the super bug steel or fibreglass thanks
kiwiev ·
batteries turned up today
36 x 180 Ah LiFe batteries to give 20.7 Kwh of cruising juice.
plan is to put 24 on the back parcel shelf and 12 up front where the fuel tank was.
Cheers Kiwi
kiwiev ·
I think the ride height will be right ???
Cheers Kiwi
nbturbo ·
You have nailed the ride height of you have over 250 kg's in the back. Is that only up 1 spline. That works out to having 3 adults sitting in your back seat at all times.You may have to eventually go to larger rear torsion bars. Years ago I made a beetle ute and used to carry a 360 Yammie on the back and a lot a heavy stuff- but I was forever readjusting the sagging torsion bars.
kiwiev ·
Thanks mate when we got her she was low so we raised her 2 notches bastard of a job lucky I have a hoist and use the weight of car against a piece of RHS under the swing arm but it was too high so we dropped it one notch.
Just have to measure up battery boxes and tig up some 3mm aluminum, whats yourthoughts on bolting thru floor of parcel self do you think penny washers on bottom side will be enough or a piece of flat bar?
Cheers Kiwi
KalgoorlieGreg ·
Use mudguard washers and more than a few bolts with nylocks and you'll be fine.
nbturbo ·
Definately 3mm for that much weight- you are putting all that weight into an area that was designed to hold maybe 40 or 50 kg's of luggage. If you fold your ally with the front,bottom and back in one piece,then weld the ends in, it should be strong enough. If your not using the rear seat belts,there are 4 good anchor points that will hold a lot of weight.
kiwiev ·
Does anyone have a photo of the rear decklid fiberglass spoiler I think someone in Sydney sells them.
Cheers Kiwi
kiwiev ·
Just a wee update got the controller chiller, battery charger and motor side covers mounted today.
Cheers Kiwi
wombatventures ·
Mate... It's Electrifying!
Awesome work. Hope you'll put up a video once its mobile.
Can't wait.
nbturbo ·
That's a neat looking install Kiwi. With those engine covers, will they keep cooling air away from the motors? With that battery power- how far would you expect to travel at highway speed? Would the recharge cycle take long?A lot of questions
kiwiev ·
wombatventures wrote:Mate... It's Electrifying!
Awesome work. Hope you'll put up a video once its mobile.
Can't wait.
Thanks mate cant wait either will post video btw should do 0 to 100 in sub 8 seconds.
Cheers Kiwi
kiwiev ·
nbturbo wrote:That's a neat looking install Kiwi. With those engine covers, will they keep cooling air away from the motors? With that battery power- how far would you expect to travel at highway speed? Would the recharge cycle take long?A lot of questions
Thanks Greg
Engine covers wont stop air cooling, air comes from gearbox end and out the back and up to hood vents.
Battery capacity works out at approx 1.5km per 1 % battery at 70 mph.
The charger we installed will take 8 hours on a 10amp plug but I could put a charger in that takes 2 hours.
F I do another bug I can get Tesla batteries for the same weight as these range would be 320 km.
Cheers Kiwi
matara ·
Hi, is this the complete $18,990 kit, or did you buy the starter kit and get the batteries over here?
Cheers
Steve
kiwiev ·
matara wrote:Hi, is this the complete $18,990 kit, or did you buy the starter kit and get the batteries over here?
Cheers
Steve
Hi Steve
We are a dealer so we get most of our parts from EV West but source batteries from China for CALB and Tesla batteries from EV West.
But we can do a conversion starting from $29, 990
Cheers Kiwi
kiwiev ·
Hi
Not sure how to link YouTube videos here but I will put link below.
Sorry for the poor audio and the Hang over look.
There is a bit of the bug on it.
Cheers Kiwi
kiwiev ·
So managed to push two 25mm conducts thru the transmission tunnel from the front to the gear linkage cover. We had already drilled 2 gland nuts in the side to exit 50mm2 cable.
Mounted and fitted front 12 batteries really happy with the result looks clean.
Cheers Kiwi
nbturbo ·
Good work Kiwi.What do you reckon that lot of batteries would weigh?
kiwiev ·
Thanks Greg
Weight about 60Kg so maybe 20Kg more than the fuel tank fill of gas, hopefully start on the rear box this week.
Then thats most of the hard items done and the rest is really only wiring up 3-4 days.
Cheers Kiwi
kiwiev ·
Wee bit more progress over the weekend finally got the rear battery box and batteries in. We used eight 6mm countersink bolts thru the bottom with 2mm plate washers 100 x 50mm.
then I had a brain wave and we drilled 2 holes thru the fire wall at the top of the box to locate the threaded rod retaining the batteries.
Cheers Kiwi
kiwiev ·
Finally got a day off with my mate to mount the rear battery box. Worked out well 8 bolts thru the base with 100 x 50 mm plate on bottom to stop the bolts pulling thru. Also feed 2 of the threaded rods thru to the rear motor compartment so happy the box won't move in an accident. Also the box sits behind the lip at the front.
So the bug is all loaded up now and sitting level.
Wold love to see someone in OZ fit one of these up.
I can vouch for the AC kit from gilmore for the bay window bus. Very complete, good instructions. Fitted it earlier this year, worked well for me in sundays heat in brisbane.
kiwiev ·
So a few updates
The 66 BUG is on the road hooning did its first Friday night lapping around town amazing the people that come out and look at her and are blown away when they see the motor. The power is more than enough for this old girl :mrgreen:
Cheers Kiwi
kiwiev ·
another show off photo
kiwiev ·
And of course I had to lay some rubber 🙅
kiwiev ·
a quick video
kiwiev ·
and another one
matara ·
Looks great, nice neat build. It would be interesting to see the itemised build cost for this conversion if possible. I have been thinking about getting a EV West kit and running it off 16550 batteries if possible.
Thanks
Steve
kiwiev ·
matara wrote:Looks great, nice neat build. It would be interesting to see the itemised build cost for this conversion if possible. I have been thinking about getting a EV West kit and running it off 16550 batteries if possible.
Thanks
Steve
Hi Steve thanks mate.
We are now supplying and installing EV west Kits in Australia with 18650 Tesla packs we can fit 30Kwh of these packs in the floor to give a solid 200 Km range PM for more details.
So the 66 does 0-100kph in just under 10 seconds which scares the S%^T out of me enough power to get in trouble.
SO I would like your thoughts on the blue super bug:
I have fibreglass front guards with 66-68 headlights sloop back look, will cut the rear Toranna lights out and go old school pre 60 tail lights keep the 14" mag wheels but powder coat and polish the outer rim edge. Try and get this bug sitting at 100mm of the deck when converted to electric and remove as much dead weight as possible.
Remove the front bumper and integrate front indicators Porsche style LED.
Pretty sure you will have seen this Kiwi but thought I'd share it anyway.
kiwiev ·
wombatventures wrote:Pretty sure you will have seen this Kiwi but thought I'd share it anyway.
Yeah stay tunned to Jehu we maybe doing something together
Cheers Kiwi
nbturbo ·
You have done a top job on the Bug Kiwi-it looks the part as well.I like the emblem you have on the front hood.
kiwiev ·
nbturbo wrote:You have done a top job on the Bug Kiwi-it looks the part as well.I like the emblem you have on the front hood.
Cheers mate we are installing the headliner and trying to source carpets any recommendations' mate?
Cheers Conrad
nbturbo ·
No mate-I have only done one new interior.I had a new headlining made here for my Oval-because I fitted the steel sunroof,so had to modify everything to get it fitted.The carpets I cut out myself using OG carpet pieces for templates.I had a lady edge everything with a machine they edge house floor mats with.I will do everything the same again on the hotrod.I have a spare steel sunroof complete-been thinking of grafting it into the hotrod-just won't be able to wind it fully back.
kiwiev ·
nbturbo wrote:No mate-I have only done one new interior.I had a new headlining made here for my Oval-because I fitted the steel sunroof,so had to modify everything to get it fitted.The carpets I cut out myself using OG carpet pieces for templates.I had a lady edge everything with a machine they edge house floor mats with.I will do everything the same again on the hotrod.I have a spare steel sunroof complete-been thinking of grafting it into the hotrod-just won't be able to wind it fully back.