Electric 944?

[GerhardRP]

Hello all:
I hope you don't think it blasphemy, but l am thinking of getting a 944 to convert to electric drive. I would put a 3 phase AC motor directly on the spline of the transmission.
I would want a good body, smooth tranny, air bags but no engine, clutch or torque tube.
The help I need now is for someone to measure couple of dimensions.
How far is it from the front of the transmission housing to the torsion bar support tube?
What is the clearance between the torque tube and the torsion bar?
What would you estimate the weights of the engine, clutch, torque tube and shaft, exhaust, and fuel system?
What is the DIN spec of the transmission spline?
Thanks, Gerhard

[Tishabet]

There's a guy named "Fuzzbeaner" on here who has already tackled/is tackling this project. Do a search for his posts.

[SoCal Driver]

A good exercise in engineering but otherwise a waste of money and time and a good 944.

Do it to an older 924.

[fast924S]

Ummm ok, If you want electric go get a Prius or insight. Your wasting your time and good parts making a golf cart out of a 944

[fast924S]

Here is a link of some body that has done it

http://www.jstraubel.com/944EV/EVproject.htm

[bryanthompson]

Or you could take the guts out of something like a Prius or Insight and make one hell of an electric 944. Well "one hell of one" as far as electric cars go. it'd probably be cheaper in the end, plus think of the quality... all of the stuff is already worked out, you just gotta make it fit.

[SoCal Driver]

I know where there are stacks and stacks of spare parts.

Have to pry them out of the flattened bodies though.

[GerhardRP]

Hi All:
Thanks for giving me Jeff's handle "Fuzzbeaner" so I could find his posts and your responses here. I had already exchanged a few e-mails with him, he has turned the project over to someone in Michigan citing lack of time and funds now that he is in college studying chemistry.
I am also aware of Straubel's project. Now that is no "Golf Cart" with a 0-60 time of 8.7 seconds.
The stack of crushed cars is part of the choice of 944 for the project. This is an excellent, low drag, rustproof body with an engine that tends to self destruct. I should be able to get a fine carcass for $1k or less.
Perusing "Fuzzbeaner's" threads on this forum, and your responses, I find it odd that no one has offered to answer the question we both presented: what is the distance between the front of the transmission and the back of the torsion bar tube. If you own a ruler, and will be under your car, can *anyone* measure?
I've found elsewhere that the spline is 1" X 23.
thanks, Gerhard

[SoCal Driver]

The Stack of Cars are crushed GM EV-1's. A just fitting to to a bad idea.

The 944 and 924 will prove difficult to use because the trans and engine mounts hold up the whole drive train. Take the engine out the torque tube is not supported in the front. Take the engine and the torque tube out the the trans is free to flop around.

While a 0-60 time of 8.7 seconds is good just how many times do you think you can do that on at best a 40 mile range battery powered electric car? Yeap. A golfcart.

Better to get a lighter car start with. A Miyata or a Hiyunda or a Yugo. Something that has a 3" wide tire that you can put 60 psi in to reduce the rolling resistance.