RockitRiviera Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 I can start working on the body now...There are a few odds and ends with the chassis...but they can wait until the body is nearing completion. Thank you to everyone that has helped me out. This is not easy and your kind words and advice have kept the project moving forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slosteve Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 Curious RockitRiviera, your signature mentions "and Conversion to Electric". If you've elaborated on this previously please forgive, but what exactly does that mean?The work you've done so far is top notch. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockitRiviera Posted August 22, 2015 Author Share Posted August 22, 2015 I'm simply converting the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) power train to electric. So I'll have a low voltage (12 volts) system for all of the accessories (lights/radio/power windows/locks/vacuum pump for the power brakes/etc and a high voltage (300-350Volt) battery pack (which I do not have yet) to run the electric motor (which I do not have yet). Technology is changing quickly, so by the time the body is completed and ready to go back on the chassis (in the Spring of 2016?), I hope to find a high tech and low cost motor/inverter/DC-DC converter/batteries/etc. Thanks for asking Steve. Regards,Paul 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slosteve Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 I'm simply converting the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) power train to electric. That sounds like an ambitious project to me but glad that you're up to the task and will look forward to seeing your progress. I am in awe of people like yourself that think waay outside the box. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyntre Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Hey Paul.... Love seeing some more " OPTIONS " come to the table to power classic cars as a whole .....seems that just a few years ago putting fuel injection on a nailhead ,or any other vehicle that came with a quadrajet , Holley , Afb , etc...was voodoo NASA crazy talk ! Love this Riv forum and all the wealth of information and people like yourself that stretch the norm !!! Have you seen the guys at "WELDERUP" in Las Vegas that did the electric motor conversion on a 1928 Buick for the folks that own E-STOPP ?? That shows it can be done ! Good luck and keep the ROA up to date !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockitRiviera Posted August 23, 2015 Author Share Posted August 23, 2015 Pyntre,No, I had never heard of that...living in a world with out cable/satellite TV has it's downsides... I googled them and took a look at a few pics. They chose to go with a DC motor. Pretty cheap way to go, but I'm sure it serves their purpose of having a show car that moves under electric power. I'm going with PMAC (Permanent Magnet AC) motor. The OEM's all go with PMAC's because they are more efficient (smaller, more powerful, use less battery power)...plus they are quiet, have regen braking and no brushes to replace...ever. PMAC's do run hotter so they need a coolant system. I think Electric Hot Rodding is in it's infancy...The infrastructure (fast chargers) are being built up everywhere...I have one in my little town and one 40 miles away...so maybe I won't need as many batteries as I once thought. It's only a matter of time before restoration projects replace the gas engine with electric motors. (BTW, I'm in now way against internal combustion engines...I have my 1972 Buick Centurion Convertible with a 455 and I love cruising around in that). If I can make my Riviera about 300 pounds lighter than the stock version while having all the gizmos (AC/PB/PS/PW/PL, etc) I'll consider that a huge win. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alini Posted August 23, 2015 Share Posted August 23, 2015 Looking good and cant wait to see how your project goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrlforfun Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 OK Rockit: I must apologize that I can't help you with your project. (You don't disclose your location). I think you are 100% correct in saying electric conversions are in their infancy. I would be so impressed if more rodders with the high ego as well as the high skill set would consider the electric projects. Of course, the pinnacle would be GM making retro kits for their old iron....but I doubt this is in their agenda. I created two threads which discussed GM's not getting it. One, the longest thread in BCA forum history was about GM on life support, the other on why GM farms out their licensing for aftermarket parts when they could sell their own authentic reproduction parts over their own counter and have loyal GM people going through their showrooms to get the parts...looking at GM cars along the way. I got bombed every step of the way. I hope you aren't on your own but unfortunately you may be. I fully support your efforts and if it came to having an electric motor to replace the 425 dual quad motor in my Riv GS....the electric would win hands down. Mitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockitRiviera Posted August 25, 2015 Author Share Posted August 25, 2015 Mitch, I'm in the land of long winters and short summers (MN). I do have a 65 GS (Dual Quad Intake) in the garage waiting for restoration...and I plan to keep that 100% original. I'd like to develop an electric motor/transmission package/kit for others to do the conversion. But the problem (like all hot rods) is that they are all unique because the builder/owner wants different things for different reasons. Some want a car that could potentially win a drag race, others want a parade car... I enjoy a challenge...so this should be fun. Right now, I'm working on rust repair of my 65 (originally a 401, that someone replaced with a 350 Buick engine). I felt since this car was so messed up that the originality was no longer a concern. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrlforfun Posted August 25, 2015 Share Posted August 25, 2015 OK Paul: A Retro electric motor will revolutionize the old car hobby. Reliable, cheap to run and efficient I see lots of people putting in an electric motor and bombing around in an old car that would otherwise be worthless. Mitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flh73 Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 Wow ok regular question. What color did you use on your suspension pieces. Looks great. Not sure but I think I should use something like east woods detail gray. Any help is appreciated since we're talking chassis sort of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockitRiviera Posted September 17, 2015 Author Share Posted September 17, 2015 I used the Eastwood silver gray Encapsulator. I sandblasted every thing then painted with the Eastwood stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flh73 Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Ok, I'm also removing rust. Going ahead with Eastwood cast iron gray for the cast steering parts gear box, pitman arm, idle arm. I have the detail gray and used it on the intermediate and tie rod ends so maybe I'll use it on the contr arm stabilizer and switch to something like you have for the swing arms. I'm also looking at maybe staying with black in thoughts as well. Thanks for the pictures. I'll try and post mine when done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Stoneberg Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Took a ride in a Tesla this past weekend. That will change your mind for sure about an Electric car. One of its options was for the head rest to hit you in the back of the head when you mashed the gas. Lots of Torque. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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