Electric Mini Conversion

[Kriss]

Thanks man.

[Kriss]

It occurred to me that getting rid of this project is not going to be easy. If possible at all. May just as well have some fun with it. I’m making centre console switch panel now.












Really liked knobs like those






It’s Bentley’s dashboard. They don’t operate switches here, I think they open/close air vents, but I thought they would go nicely with old style push&pull switches. So I got couple of cheap ones from eBay







, and made them Bentley style.








Needed pair of momentary switches for electric windows. Decided to use rotary ones.


Before After









And for hazard lights



Before After

[Kriss]

[Kriss]

Shaping up the dashboard

[johnnyj]

I have to say that it is some impressive engineering in that mini,
outstanding work. Can i ask what drivetrain you used in it? What
did it come from?

John

[Kriss]

Hi John, and thank you. Not sure if I understand your question correctly, but if you asking if there is an electric drivetrain that can be fitted into mini and comes from some other vehicle I’m afraid the answer is no, there isn’t one. If you asking, what car’s components I’ve used to build (basically from the ground up) mine drivetrain, it’s Fiat Seicento. I’m also using Seicento’s EPA steering column with steering rack, and master cylinder with servo


Drivetrain consists of AC-50 motor





and a single speed transaxle which I made by cutting up Fiat’s gearbox and leaving only differential with second speed gearing.

















It will ran at 7 point something (don’t remember exactly, have it written down somewhere) to 1 final ratio. Should give the car great acceleration, and get it to 100km/h, maybe little bit faster.

[johnnyj]

Hi Kriss, yes that was what i meant when i asked what drivetrain you had
as to whether you had purchased one already made or made one from scratch.
It is even more impressive the way you have it done, an ingenious piece of engineering. i must read it again to fully understand the concept of how you made it.

John

[Kriss]

Got the centre console panel done. I mean, except for finish paint and some graphics (icons and stuff)

[Kriss]

Made this.
























Not sure what I’m gonna measure with that, but it’s 0-100V voltmeter so I should be able to find some use for it, eventually. Meanwhile it is more like ornamental feature. Just fills up a hole in the dashboard.

[Albino_Hedgehog]

Hello,

You build looks great so far, and genuinely can not wait to see it on the road!

I am particularly interested in the mirrors and am interested in getting some more photos and details of how they went together!!

[Kriss]

Hi. Don’t know why, but I have only one picture of mirrors making process. It’s odd cos I have a habit of photo documenting everything thoroughly. I think, I wasn’t sure I’ll be keeping them, so I didn’t bother with taking detailed pictures. They grew on me thou. Anyway that’s the pic




















Not exactly aerospace engineering, as you can see. If you need more info ask specific questions please, I’ll answer to the best of my ability.

[Albino_Hedgehog]

Hi. Don’t know why, but I have only one picture of mirrors making process. It’s odd cos I have a habit of photo documenting everything thoroughly. I think, I wasn’t sure I’ll be keeping them, so I didn’t bother with taking detailed pictures. They grew on me thou. Anyway that’s the pic




















Not exactly aerospace engineering, as you can see. If you need more info ask specific questions please, I’ll answer to the best of my ability.

Thanks,

I will have a look when the ones I bought arrive, and where I need help I know where to find you xD

[Kriss]

Quick sketch of mirror joint assay





Happy new year to all

[keith]

I've never met a mechanical engineer that couldn't draw beautifully. Great illustration.

[Kriss]

Initial take at gauges scheme. Small 2 inch gauges for demonstration purposes only. There’s not gonna be any boost to measure, obviously. Not sure about tacho neither, as this is direct drive don’t see much point in it. Will have water temperature thou, with the sender in controller’s cooling system. Got them cheap gauges cos I wanted to see how it plays out, and these match my speedometer. Thought I get boost rather than oil pressure one, as it may come handy for checking vacuum in brake assistance system. Won’t need any oil pressure checking, will I? Next I need to machine a pod for the centre speedometer clock.








Stock little bit too big for my gear, but I’ll try to work around it. Stay tuned.

[keith]

great thread, fascinating as always.

[Kriss]

Cheers mate.

[Underhauled]

That's a dinky little lathe. What measurements is it?

[Kriss]

Well mate, in case you haven’t noticed, I quite like it little. This is my dinky little lathe







It ain’t awfully small, is it?











This is my dinky little miller







Mill is really small, have to admit that. This is my dinky little, someday to be electric, car.







And… this is relatively large gauge pod I’m trying to make using my dinky little gear.







Oh, BTW what measurements is your lathe mate?

[Underhauled]

I don't have a lathe but my comment was not intended to be abusive I was admiring yours. As an engineer with an interest in these things I was asking how long the frame was, chuck diameter distance between centres that sort of thing.

Mate.

[Kriss]

Progress on the speedometer pod.










Want to form it like this







Should be fun.

[Kriss]

……….

[johnnyj]

Hi Kriss, how is the car progressing?

[Billy]

Whatever happened to this project? It's even more topical that it was when Kriss started it several years ago. I see that Kriss hasn't logged on to this forum since 2018. Does anyone know did it get finished?

Thanks,

Billy

[keith]

these are all good questions.... K.