Our Triple Square Driver set arrived and we got the head removed. Now it was time for milestone #1…the removal of the petrol powered engine. I will say that this was no easy feat. We had to move in baby steps, inch by excruciating inch, in lowering this thing to the floor. It was hard work, and we had to keep readjusting the jacks and the engine. Unfortunately, Tamera didn’t realize that the camera’s batteries died, so we lost much of this segment. This footage would have probably made a good bloopers segment. Four different times we thought we had it only to find out there were more bolts that seemed to magically appear out of thin air each time. At one point, when Tamera was helping guide the engine from the top as I was lowering from the bottom, the engine unexpectedly shifted and halfway pulled her into the car with it.
After much work, we finally got it out, and started getting the car cleaned up. When all was said and done we must have went through 4 or 5 cans of degreaser. It was a messy job, but well worth the end result.
Goodies Acquired:
Bottle Nose Jack
Floor Jack w/ stands
“If at first it doesn’t fit, cut something until it does…”
Finally, we had the money for the motor and the controller. We ordered it the moment we had the money, because something always pops up when we have any money in the bank. Be it tires, car repair, vet bills, something, anything. And sure enough, having just ordered the motor and stuff about a week ago, Tamera lost a crown on her tooth, and we all know how much dental work can cost. We were both very glad for having already ordered the parts, because we most likely would have put it off. Moral of the story - NEVER put it off, there is always something that will try to hold you back…always, always keep pushing forward no matter what!
I ordered the following: WarP 9 DC motor, 156v Z1K Controller, liquid cooling kit, Hall effect pedal, Zolox speed sensor, 500A fuse and a strut-N-Rod Plus. They threw in a free speed senor mount. Everything but the motor and the controller came in on the 28th of November.
In my head, the pedal fit perfectly, in reality, it did not. I had to modify the body of the car a bit where it needed to go. The main problem was that the steering column ran right where I need the pedal. I went with the controller with the Hall Effect pedal option and got a Hall Effect pedal, because using the original pedal with the controller would have required the use of cables. This car did not originally use any cables so I would have had to set all that up. I figured it would be easier not doing so. After an entire day of cutting, grinding and welding, while, I don’t really think it ended up being any easier, I am glad I went the route I did. In the end, we are both happy with the placement and feel of the new pedal.
Goodies Acquired:
Air compressor
Air tool set
Mig Welder
Drop light
Garage heater
I haven't posted much on this project lately. But I have been working on the Opel. I have been painting it in my garage with a roller. I came across a forum thread over how to paint your car with a roller. So wanting to save money on this project I decided to go for it and put that saved cash towards battery s.
Below is a video of the paint jobs progress I'm not 100% done here but getting close. The paint Job came out better than I could have imagined.
Goodies Acquired:
Polisher / Buffer
Well the motor installation went without a hitch. Tamera operated the engine lift and dropped it in the first time. After hashing out a few design ideas we settled and I notched out a semi circle in the motor's cross member then reinforced the bottom. I built the top motor mount that holds the motor in place and will also hold the electric components after I build a flat platform for them to mount on.
After we finished the install and the motor was secured I talked Tamera into taking a test roll out. hehe