Start rear rack

Bought some steel and started the rear rack. The layout is for 5 batteries: 2 length wise, 2 more length wise below them and one width-wise (is that a word) to the right. Should fit into a 28” x 14.5” rack. My welding sucks, by the way.

Motor, motor mounts in!

Got two boxes today from EvParts. The motor looks pretty big…

Sold more parts on craigslist

Sold the catalytic converter, radiator and intake tube – and also got some interest on a conversion too. Seems like theses Miata folks often have more than one car and are genuinely interested in what I’m up to. A couple asked if I could send them some info on electric Miata conversions.

Buy first welding set

Bought a used welding set: handle, torch, regulators tanks and a roll around rack. I didn’t want to spend a lot, and it looked okay to me.

Drop flywheel off for lightening

The stock Miata flywheel in 19 pounds. An ICE engine needs the flywheel to keep it revolving between power strokes. An electric motor doesn’t need one. So why keep the flywheel? It’s how the clutch is connected – and I want a clutch (some conversions don’t use clutches, but they are difficult to shift). The lighter the flywheel the better the acceleration – racers know this and use expensive ($500 and up) aluminum flywheels. My plan is to have the flywheel lightened. I called a local machine shop and they told me that only one shop in the Bay Area does this stuff. I gave him a call and he quoted me $160 to lighten it. The shop isn’t open on weekends so I arranged to drop it off on my lunch hour.

Ordered motor, motor mounts

Ordered the motor from www.evparts.com since they had the ring clamp that’s going to be the key part to my motor mount. I like the idea of spreading the money around for this project – keeps everybody in business… I also got a couple of biscuit style mounts since the stock motor mounts and location may not work for me.