New EV914 build owned by engineer of Classic Retrofit, Electric AC for a 914 Options

[914forme]

Watching motor trend, and saw a 914, and thought okay, I'll watch that, don't like the show all that much. Interested in the concept, engineering can be a bit off as can the logic.


Place battery box in the 914, they decided to load from the top down via the engine bay. Save yourself the trouble and build from the bottom up, and place the pack on a stand and lower the car over it. Come on.....

But the usage of the Tesla rear motor should make a nice run at it. It is the details like that that drove me nuts. But in the first few minutes of the show, I started linking pieces together. UK fitter of modern electronics into older cars, specifically AirCon. Its got to by Classic Retrofit guys. Then I say some of the parts being prototyped, and while I am not a huge fan of the center console, and wish they took the time to redo the fresh air blower, it works.

Show Vintage Voltage - Season 1 Episode 10



Aircon bits original console and side vents piped in.



Production on the car stoped due to COVID-19

Not a huge fan on the changes they have planned to the body, but each their own.

I get making it more aero, but come on Ronal Turbo wheels are not any more areo than lets say a Mahle Gas Burner. And in an EV I would go for lightness and low drag over looks any day. So hopefully the car comes together, it looks good, and we end up with another potential aircon solution. Not being a petrol car, means the electric aircon can be placed anywhere, so crafty placement might still be on us.

BTW, could nt find a way to share the video link, only Facebook and Twitter.

[Jonny Retrofit]

Hi 'teeners!

Believe it or not I only just got to see the Vintage Voltage episode as it only aired just now in the UK. As with most things in TV land, things are not quite as they seem, so I thought you might like to know more about the car.

I bought this car 5 years ago from California, the PO bought it as a roller and converted it to electric power 20 years ago, he used it for his commute to work. It was a typical first generation conversion with a fork lift motor mated to the transmission.

I met Moggy a few years back when he was working out of his own garage and we needed some help with the conversion, mainly the fabrication of battery boxes and engine mounts. Months passed and he was getting more attention so was struggling to find time to do the car. After 18 months he phoned to say that he was moving to a bigger premises and to tell me about the TV show. So the goalposts really moved.

In parallel, Classic Retrofit was also growing and you just can't do everything! Moggy's place is 6 hours drive from us and we had Covid lockdowns and travel restrictions. It just made more sense to get his guys to do more of the work. We have collaborated on the layout and design of the conversion all along.

The main goal was to retain the weight distribution. We have achieved 49(f) / 51® with a total weight of 1200kg. Although that is 250kg more than the ICE 914, it is pretty much the same as a 911SC, but we have 300HP and instant torque.

We considered putting the batteries in from underneath but this didn't work out because of the strengthening required for the rear of the car. The battery supports that you see in the show also strengthen and tie the rear swing arm mounts together which is a weak point. As well as the cabin strengthening we also have the inner wheel arch plates and the swing arms are boxed too. The drive shafts are custom made and heat strengthened to deal with the torque as 930 units have been snapped like twigs. So there is a lot going on in a small area and it is immensely stiff and strong now.

Although the Ronal turbo wheels look great on the car in the show, we could not make them work so the car will run a 911 bolt pattern. The front end is 911SC and the rear has custom made adjustable shocks/springs but still the original diameter. Because we are retaining the narrow body, we are limited to 8 inch rear wheels. We want good weight transfer on launch to get those tyres to stick so the compliant full size spring is important.

Brakes. 911SC or Boxster fronts. VW/Audi rears with electric E Brake.

The car still has a full rear trunk and 1/3 of its front trunk.

Interior. We are currently going with a retro modern look but this changes on a daily basis! Obviously it will have our electric AC and heat and lots of other toys.

The car is a rolling development platform for all things 914 AND EV. The electric drivetrain is really only the beginning of the story.

More info here..

https://www.classicretrofit.com/blogs/news/...vintage-voltage

[DRPHIL914]

Hi 'teeners!

Believe it or not I only just got to see the Vintage Voltage episode as it only aired just now in the UK. As with most things in TV land, things are not quite as they seem, so I thought you might like to know more about the car.

I bought this car 5 years ago from California, the PO bought it as a roller and converted it to electric power 20 years ago, he used it for his commute to work. It was a typical first generation conversion with a fork lift motor mated to the transmission.

I met Moggy a few years back when he was working out of his own garage and we needed some help with the conversion, mainly the fabrication of battery boxes and engine mounts. Months passed and he was getting more attention so was struggling to find time to do the car. After 18 months he phoned to say that he was moving to a bigger premises and to tell me about the TV show. So the goalposts really moved.

In parallel, Classic Retrofit was also growing and you just can't do everything! Moggy's place is 6 hours drive from us and we had Covid lockdowns and travel restrictions. It just made more sense to get his guys to do more of the work. We have collaborated on the layout and design of the conversion all along.

The main goal was to retain the weight distribution. We have achieved 49(f) / 51® with a total weight of 1200kg. Although that is 250kg more than the ICE 914, it is pretty much the same as a 911SC, but we have 300HP and instant torque.

We considered putting the batteries in from underneath but this didn't work out because of the strengthening required for the rear of the car. The battery supports that you see in the show also strengthen and tie the rear swing arm mounts together which is a weak point. As well as the cabin strengthening we also have the inner wheel arch plates and the swing arms are boxed too. The drive shafts are custom made and heat strengthened to deal with the torque as 930 units have been snapped like twigs. So there is a lot going on in a small area and it is immensely stiff and strong now.

Although the Ronal turbo wheels look great on the car in the show, we could not make them work so the car will run a 911 bolt pattern. The front end is 911SC and the rear has custom made adjustable shocks/springs but still the original diameter. Because we are retaining the narrow body, we are limited to 8 inch rear wheels. We want good weight transfer on launch to get those tyres to stick so the compliant full size spring is important.

Brakes. 911SC or Boxster fronts. VW/Audi rears with electric E Brake.

The car still has a full rear trunk and 1/3 of its front trunk.

Interior. We are currently going with a retro modern look but this changes on a daily basis! Obviously it will have our electric AC and heat and lots of other toys.

The car is a rolling development platform for all things 914 AND EV. The electric drivetrain is really only the beginning of the story.

More info here..

https://www.classicretrofit.com/blogs/news/...vintage-voltage

thanks for posting the info and updates, please post afew pics here too and keep the page current, i think there is a lot of interest in it. My son and i bought my 914 12 years ago with the intent to do a conversion to EV but several things got in the way, one was just the expense for the batteries at the time and lack of range, so since it is a rare color and numbers matching car we restored it instead.
but i still would love to do one and do it right, and now with the technology finally getting to the point were that is feasible. love the development of the batter boxes. i think using Tesla components is probably the way to go . looking forward to the rest of the story.