Project EVGT

[Tom Cheesewright]

I enjoyed my first (ongoing) electric Z3 project so much, I'm starting a new one. Plan is to do another Tribute Automotive kit once I've completed the EV conversion, but first I'll get this Z electrified. Going for a different, more powerful powertrain this time, out of a Lexus IS300h. But there's a lot of work to do before I get there.

View: https://youtu.be/lg7IqpF7itY

 

[Jack Ratt]

Good luck with the new project, and I'm sure loads of us will be tuned into this

 

[Tom Cheesewright]

Cheers! Should be good fun. Can't wait to get back in the garage next week.

 

[Stevo7682]

Great video looking forward to next installment.

Stephen.

 

[Tom Cheesewright]

View: https://youtu.be/497LHLcq6Bg

 

[Pingu]

Lots may not like it, but like garlic bread - it's the future

 

[Tom Cheesewright]

Lots may not like it, but like garlic bread - it's the future

I'm now thinking this should be called 'Project Garlic Bread'

Anyway, bit more progress:

View: https://youtu.be/QsDjphHgF1Q

 

[DaveP]

Have Subbed. Keep up the interesting diary

 

[DaveP]

Tom are you a FB man ? If so there is a Tribute Owners Group who would be very interested in this.

Assuming you not on it already that is

 

[Tom Cheesewright]

Tom are you a FB man ? If so there is a Tribute Owners Group who would be very interested in this.

Assuming you not on it already that is

Not a big FB person but sounds useful will hunt it out. Ta!

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PS Just applied to join. Toughest set of questions I've seen to join a FB Group!

 

[Lee]

Watching with interest keep us updated.

Something I want to do eventually.

 

[DaveP]

Not a big FB person but sounds useful will hunt it out. Ta!

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PS Just applied to join. Toughest set of questions I've seen to join a FB Group!

Good stuff. There is a Rebody kit car group too which cover other types of car, not only Tributes. It is a bit more free flowing with info at times and where you will find Tribute’s main build agents online offering assistance etc. They have built 2-3 ZGTs so know that model well as anyone now.

 

[Tom Cheesewright]

Good stuff. There is a Rebody kit car group too which cover other types of car, not only Tributes. It is a bit more free flowing with info at times and where you will find Tribute’s main build agents online offering assistance etc. They have built 2-3 ZGTs so know that model well as anyone now.

Ah cool - I'll find that one too. Guess I'll be spending more time back on FB!

 

[IainP]

I’d eBay the ‘x’ brace and make a new one, in true Blue Peter fashion, one I made earlier.


I’m about to make another, but a much simpler method. Rear bar is 25mm tube, waiting on a front cross member so I can make one plate straight across rather than 2 brackets. In your case I’d fishmouth some 20 or 25mm square tube to the rear bar, rest it on the front plate and weld it up. I have enough round tube and plate to send you a bar and front bracket, don’t have any square tube though, I’m using oval tube for mine.
You could bolt the battery box to that quite easily. I’d use alloy rather than steel www.aluminiumwarehouse.co.uk do section that clips together, skin that in alloy, or composite.
Or fold it, I can lend you a folder, bolts to a bench, 30” I think.
If you want to make the sides in composite, send me the sizes I’ll make you up some cored glass cloth vac bag sheet. 2mm thick, stiff and very light.

 

[Tom Cheesewright]

I’d eBay the ‘x’ brace and make a new one, in true Blue Peter fashion, one I made earlier.

View attachment 212771
I’m about to make another, but a much simpler method. Rear bar is 25mm tube, waiting on a front cross member so I can make one plate straight across rather than 2 brackets. In your case I’d fishmouth some 20 or 25mm square tube to the rear bar, rest it on the front plate and weld it up. I have enough round tube and plate to send you a bar and front bracket, don’t have any square tube though, I’m using oval tube for mine.
You could bolt the battery box to that quite easily. I’d use alloy rather than steel www.aluminiumwarehouse.co.uk do section that clips together, skin that in alloy, or composite.
Or fold it, I can lend you a folder, bolts to a bench, 30” I think.
If you want to make the sides in composite, send me the sizes I’ll make you up some cored glass cloth vac bag sheet. 2mm thick, stiff and very light.

Amazing. Hadn't even thought of making my own. That would be a good way to mount the battery box lower rather than using the engine mounts. Will have to give that some thought. I'm hoping to get access to a 3D scanner soon for the engine bay which will allow me to play with options and designs, including for that brace.

Re: the battery box, I've made one new one but it's rather over-engineered. Much lighter than my last one but could be lighter still if I did it with alloy and folding rather than square tube and steel skin. That said, a lot of the pros use a not dissimilar design and steel for safety - the batteries are a) heavy and b) have a habit of getting a little flamey if squished. So I might stick with steel for the current one but look at alloy for the GT. Weight is going to be really important there as I'm going to try to squeeze in at least 24kwh and ideally 40. So I'll be trying to save weight everywhere.

Using a motor that replaces the gearbox is a good start. This is currently on its way to me from Lithuania. Hoping I don't get too badly stung for import duties (but I probably will). Fortunately I got it for a good price.

 

[IainP]

I’ll send you a piece of tube and a bit of bent plate for the front bracket. Just gotten a message the cross member is in my shed , I can bend that up this weekend. You could then mount the battery 25mm above the lowest point of the crossmember, probably with a kink in the square tube.
At least you wouldn’t have an engine in the way to sort that!
Trying to line it all up crawling in/out continually is why I’ve simplified mine.

Flame resistant/ fire retardant resins are available but I don’t have any. Anything sheet is stupid cheap to make, light enough to astonish people, yet can be incredibly strong.

I’ve questioned customs charges in the past with success. The old local offices used to be great, you could pop in and speak to an actual person about charges, probably one of the reasons they got rid, much harder to explain over the phone.

 

[Tom Cheesewright]

Short little vid on a couple of parts that arrived this week:

View: https://youtu.be/AnMFo3ILSkw

 

[Tom Cheesewright]

I’ll send you a piece of tube and a bit of bent plate for the front bracket. Just gotten a message the cross member is in my shed , I can bend that up this weekend. You could then mount the battery 25mm above the lowest point of the crossmember, probably with a kink in the square tube.
At least you wouldn’t have an engine in the way to sort that!
Trying to line it all up crawling in/out continually is why I’ve simplified mine.

Flame resistant/ fire retardant resins are available but I don’t have any. Anything sheet is stupid cheap to make, light enough to astonish people, yet can be incredibly strong.

I’ve questioned customs charges in the past with success. The old local offices used to be great, you could pop in and speak to an actual person about charges, probably one of the reasons they got rid, much harder to explain over the phone.

Amazing. Ta!

I would like to get better at making large sheet pieces. I'm getting to grips with the sheet metal tool in Fusion360 - my battery box was my first attempt - and that helps. My bending capability is limited to more like 30cm than 30in at the moment, but I do have free access to a garage with much bigger tools - and someone to help me use them. Might give it a go for the next box.

 

[t-tony]

Best way to learn is "Have a go" and if you have someone to help/advise even better.

Tony.

 

[IainP]

Best way to learn is "Have a go" and if you have someone to help/advise even better.

Tony.

Exactly that, often you learn more from the mistakes.
I have a couple of things to bend up, should have that done early next week, then I’ll send in one go.