1 December 08 It Runs!
Friday I installed the control board and began installing the components while the girls went shopping for the after Thanksgiving sales. I did most of the wiring to the controller and potbox. Wired more of the power cables only to find I didn't have enough to finish and couldn't find any as everyone was close thus I couldn't take my mom for a spin. I had planned to take her on her first trip in an EV. She's 78 and lives 4 hours away so she may never get to do it as she and my sister departed for home this morning. She has Alzheimers and it has gotten pretty bad so she likely may never be back to my house. She was restless and hardly slept most nights. Sorry to get off topic but I'm in not too good of spirits after seeing her condition and it's a little consuming right now.Anyway today I picked up the cable and finally got things in shape enough to drive. I did a couple of preliminary things like check the pot to see if it were telling the controller to go or not and it checked ok as did the DC-DC converter. Put the rear axle on jack stands turned the ignition on. The wheels turned when I put it in gear and stepped on the pedal. I ran it up to maybe 25mph on the jack stands. We then lowered it to the floor and put the hood back on. Eased it forward towards the door, backed up a bit then threw in the song "Lowrider" by War and off we went! Absolutely awesome to see this thing work! It was unreal to push the pedal and see this thing start to move and it's nearly silent! An employee and I drove it around the block getting briefly on the interstate then finally made out way back to the shop. Took about 6-7 miles to complete.
Before coming back we visited the local Advanced Auto parts store where we've been buying parts for this thing for several months to let them see it. This thing draws people like you wouldn't believe. We had 5-10 people standing around asking questions and taking photos for several minutes until we had to go.
Don't recall if I mentioned but I've had a heck of a time with the vacuum system. I decided to just replace the entire rubber hose section as it appeared to have a manufacturing flaw that I figured was likely the source of the leak, which is what it was doing and I couldn't stop it! Started it again after replacing the hose and that issue was solved. Hooray!!! I've spent more time trying to get that up and running than it took me to fab, paint and install the front battery rack and probably cut out and prep the controller board!
Didn't take any photos as it's not very photogenic at the moment, the engine compartment that is. After I tidy everything up I'll post more photos.
Next on the list is to get the spring leafs added this week. I had not really thought about how low this thing was riding and upon getting on the interstate we hit a bump and the drive shaft yoke hit one of the racks edges causing a freak out moment until I remembered it really wasn't road ready without the spring additions! After the butt lift I'll replace the old wheels and tires with new ones I've bought. I may wait on the paint job a few weeks so I can go ahead and start getting some of my money back. I'm currently saving errands up so I can use my newfound money saving machine!
one comment:
Howdy! Great to read about your progress.
I’m at the tail-end of my own S-10 conversion. Check out http://www.myelectrictruck.com
A quick word about additional spring leaves: I added another leaf (to both sides, of course). There was an improvement, but the bed is still not perfectly horizontal. (I’ve got 26 batts in the bed.)
Thought about air springs to level things out, but was told by a knowledgeable guy to look at supersprings. Check ‘em out.
Cheers from Houston,
Steve Kobb
Steve Kobb () - 01 12 08 - 23:46
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