15 ms·

Stuffing a Tesla Drivetrain into a 1981 Honda Accord

416 points by mdesq 9y ago

inetsee 9y ago
Sounds a lot like the urban legend I read years (and years) ago, about the son of a Porsche dealer who dropped a Porsche Spyder engine into a Volkswagon Bug. According to the story, he had a lot of fun rolling up next to muscle cars at stop lights, and then watching them disappear in his rear view mirror.
- empath75 9y ago
  That’s called a sleeper car. A lot of people do that on purpose.
  - vvanders 9y ago
    One of the great sleepers was the Dodge Turbo Minivan[1] [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3Gdm_e_hxs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3Gdm_e_hxs
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
- hrrsn 9y ago
  A sleeper car. Very common. :) https://youtu.be/EE5x9vlb0ss?t=25 https://youtu.be/EE5x9vlb0ss?t=25
- oldcynic 9y ago
  Favourite silliness was the chap who got a Rolls Meteor aero engine (27l v12) put into a 1920s Bentley: https://www.topgear.com/car-news/850bhp-aero-engined-bentley-sale https://www.topgear.com/car-news/850bhp-aero-engined-bentley... Was sold to Jay Leno.
  - tim333 9y ago
    The 350mph jet school bus was kind of cool also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvAPzGCqVG0&feature=youtu.be&t=1m41s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvAPzGCqVG0&feature=youtu.be...
- tyingq 9y ago
  My favorite was the 190mph Volvette. A twin turbo corvette engine stuffed into a Volvo Station wagon. Pretty stealthily too.https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GFrPjMVhP04 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GFrPjMVhP04 and https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XBu6STlhh8Q https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XBu6STlhh8Q
  - semi-extrinsic 9y ago
    Small Block into a Volvo 240 is a pretty common hack in Scandinavia, to the point that you can buy kits that have all the required hardware and necessary paperwork to get it approved. They won't do 190 mph, but they are able to convert rubber into smoke perfectly fine.
    - tyingq 9y ago
      Right...it's the second video where it jumps directly to outrunning a Yamaha R1 motorcycle that shows this isn't just a kit job.
- p_eter_p 9y ago
  Subaru engine, but same idea... https://youtu.be/hpb2Him9CUo https://youtu.be/hpb2Him9CUo
- djsumdog 9y ago
  Back in University, we had one guy in the dorms who said his Uncle Bill put a Miata engine in an MGB. We were contemplating how that would even remotely be possible; looking up pictures of forums boards of both engine bays. "Well I guess, if you remove all of x, y and z and made custom mounts..." We later learned this guy ones one of those bullshitters who would lie about everything; told us he was in the national guard and hat to shoot rubber bullets at people looting stores after tornadoes. He was our age and had one of those civilian IDs they give military family members. Next semester we ask the guy if his uncle will bring his MGB to the car show we were putting together. "Oh he sold it." .... right ... Anytime we had some crazy idea for our cars. "I wonder if I could convert my mom's Maxima to a 5spd," the respond would always be, "I BET UNCLE BILL COULD DO IT!"
  - spitfire 9y ago
    In the UK they do put K-series[0] engines into the MGB. [0] The K-series is the descendant of the T16, which is the descendant of the M-series, which is the descendant of the O2-series, which is the descendant of the O-series, which is the engine that we /designed/ for the MGB, but never was put into the MGB before it was canceled. The O-Series instead went into a bunch of work vans and other hateful boxes instead. So he might have sort of been right. But he was probably still a royal bullshitter.
    - justinator 9y ago
      Apt username. Is that you, Mr. B?
    - poooogles 9y ago
      >The K-series is the descendant of the T16 Descendant only in the fact it came later. The engines share nothing from memory. The K series was an all new small capacity engine (1400cc) on release. Compared to the O, M and L (diesel) it's a fully aluminium block and head with steel damp liners. The K series had its bore and stroke upped to bring it to 1800cc after launch, along with adding variable valve control with the VCC engine. The two engines share very little in common, the most frequent thing being they're normally both attached to a a PG1 gearbox. Source: UK MG owner that used to own 300bhp ZR.
- Animats 9y ago
  That's been done more than once. Jalopnik has coverage.[1] [1] https://jalopnik.com/someone-should-buy-this-porsche-engined-beetle-so-i-don-1604908317 https://jalopnik.com/someone-should-buy-this-porsche-engined...
- Frondo 9y ago
  The best souped-up beater I've ever seen is the White Zombie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apoeGMWF17c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apoeGMWF17c (And he's in Oregon! go Oregon! haha) Acceleration to 60mph in 1.8 seconds. 1250 ft lbs of torque. This was in 2013, too.
- shaftway 9y ago
  There's a company that drops Chevy V8s into Miatas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CdOlX1iq_0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CdOlX1iq_0 Also, there's the guy that built a jet engine into his Beetle: http://www.ronpatrickstuff.com/ http://www.ronpatrickstuff.com/ > We get this a lot. A police officer picking at his nose while trying to figure out what to charge me with. Notice the hopeful anticipation of us on the right. We're rooting for him and offer suggestions but unfortunately, the California Department of Motor Vehicles did not anticipate such a vehicle so he's out of luck.
  - sq_ 9y ago
    The guy from your second link seems to be simultaneously completely crazy and completely awesome. I love his edit: You have to give the California Department of Motor Vehicles (the DMV) credit for creativity on this one. A DMV insider has disclosed to me that the DMV has made a formal request to a federal agency to rule if my Beetle constitutes a threat to national security based on what could happen if it got into the wrong hands. This raises three questions in my mind: #1 Does this mean I’m the right hands? #2 If someone with the name "b_laden13" is the highest eBay bidder for my Beetle can I refuse his offer even if he has the prestigious eBay Red Shooting Star feedback rating (the highest)? #3 Would this affect my eBay rating?
- gambiting 9y ago
  The version I've heard was that someone dropped a Porsche engine into a Trabant, which apparently was an easy swap as some technology for the Trabant was stolen from porche and the engine would just fit straight away. Then the Trabant would smoke everyone from traffic lights. I guess it's just an urban legend.
- jaclaz 9y ago
  Well this is reknown here in Italy, not an urban legend at all, a Fiat 500 (the original model of the 60's) with a Porsche 911 3.2 liter engine: https://www.omniauto.it/foto/19417/fiat-500-porsche/302209 https://www.omniauto.it/foto/19417/fiat-500-porsche/302209 Now (after having fitted a Ferrari engine) have made another one with a Lamborghini V12 engine (Italian, but not bad at all via Google translate): http://motori.ilmessaggero.it/news/news_fiat_vecchia_500_pi_ugrave_potente_mondo_oemmed_igrave_padre_figlio_preparatori_viterbo_scommessa_nata_al_motor_show-195372.html http://motori.ilmessaggero.it/news/news_fiat_vecchia_500_pi_...
- foobar1962 9y ago
  Back in the 70s I had a motor magazine with a story titled “Big (Golf) Balls” about a German who split a Golf GTI down the middle to widen it, then put a Porsche 911 transaxle in the back. That would have been a Mk I Golf too. Back then the title was quite risqué.
- pryelluw 9y ago
  Dunno about a spyder engine, but I used to sometimes tune an old beetle with a 911 (930) turbo engine and transaxle. It ran 9s on the 1/4 in low boost. Shit was scary.
- walshemj 9y ago
  I have heard credible similar stories (from an employee) of airship industry's at cardington putting one of the spare 3/4 race Porsche engines (used in the airship) into a Volvo they used as a chase car.
olivermarks 9y ago
http://www.nedra.com http://www.nedra.com
zw123456 9y ago
Oh, very very cool. My dream... Tesla spider chassis tucked under a Porsche 550 spider replica. James Dean Meets Elon Musk.
matte_black 9y ago
I wonder if Tesla will just sell a drivetrain by itself? Would be cool to just DIY your own electric car.
- userbinator 9y ago
  From what I've read, they don't even sell parts to owners of their cars, only authorised repair centers.
  - Scoundreller 9y ago
    Which means a surplus of spare parts because it's too expensive to repair a salvaged car.
    - astronautjones 9y ago
      Perfect HN opportunity to open up a marketplace for said parts, especially with so many early adopters here
  - icantdrive55 9y ago
    I've always felt this policy was a mistake. I kinda understand locking down the software, but not parts, especially when said vechicle is out of warranty. Get the parts out to DIY'ers. Don't make enemies right out of the gate? Plus--some of these rebuilders are brilliant.(This guy who out a electric engine in a Honda--for one.) I know the legal aspect, but just put a disclaimer on the part, like the rest of the them? So many people are buying high ticket items, but can't repair the item then it breaks. I guess it's the way the wealthy think? I don't have that luxury. I buy second hand stuff the haves discard. If I buy something, I should be able to fix it when it breaks down. I'll sign whatever legal papers you this at me. Fool me into thinking your company isn't violating The Sherman Antitrust Act? I've been poor all my life, and just don't like Authorized Repair Centers touching my stuff, at their outrageous prices. Especially when that joke of a warranty ends. To the guy who just bought a $25,000 Rolex watch this weekend. When it stops, and is out of warranty, you will not be able to repair it yourself. Even if dad taught you how to repair watches from a early age. You can open it, but buying a part from Rolex is something you can't do. How did I go from Tesla to Rolex? Just a bit off tonight? I do feel like I'm alone though. In the end, I just don't like the feeling I'm being fleeced, and then telling me, "Oh, it's for Quality Assurance. We care about you."
Rantenki 9y ago
Sounds awesome. Back in the day people were (or still are) stuffing VG30 (Nissan 300ZX) engines in 70s era Datsun 510s, which were awesome little rally cars in their time. Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0MXPq8LLhU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0MXPq8LLhU I guess this is the modern equivalent?
- loser777 9y ago
  I don't know if you mean literally sounds awesome ;). It's absurd (in a good way) how the RC-car electric sound belies the actual acceleration.
userbinator 9y ago
...and somewhere else, someone is probably contemplating swapping a combustion engine into a Tesla. The world has a way of balancing itself out with weird things.
- deleted 9y ago
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- pavel_lishin 9y ago
  To be fair, one of the most famous Teslas in the world was powered by a combustion engine.
  - ythn 9y ago
    > solar system
- glup 9y ago
  "I like the speed but miss the vroom," she explained.
  - stephengillie 9y ago
    BMW are playing canned engine noises through speakers in their newer cars, for people who enjoy engine sounds.
    - bdcravens 9y ago
      Don't forget the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act, so silent cars make noise to warn pedestrians: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/follow-up-report-president-obama-signs-pedestrian-safety-enhancement-act-into-law/ https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/follow-up-report-presiden...
      - stephengillie 9y ago
        I've been tempted to change the EV audio in my hybrid from the "wooshing" sound to thematic music or video game bleeps, though canned engine noises would be more apropo.
bri3d 9y ago
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt4fGIoVMpM https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt4fGIoVMpM Another fun swap: a Tesla drive unit and Volt batteries into a Lotus Evora. Basically recreating the original Tesla Roadster's bigger counterpart. Volt+Tesla is an increasingly popular swap because the Volt batteries are easier to manage and have a more convenient form factor. Plus, there are more of them available from recyclers.
- gonesilent 9y ago
  The main reason why is volt packs are dirt cheap vs tesla packs commanding a huge premium because DIY powerwall guys snatch them up.
  - SwellJoe 9y ago
    So, why aren't DIY Powerwall guys snapping up Volt battery packs? I can see two reasons to DIY a Powerwall: Price and to work around Tesla's stupid rules about where/how Powerwall can be installed. Seems like you'd want the cheapest batteries you could get if price is your motivating force in building a DIY Powerwall.
    - gonesilent 9y ago
      Volt pack is hard to split up to usable voltage. Tesla pack splits in to easy to manage voltages because of it's module design. BMS is also fully decoded on Tesla modules so get to keep safety aspects.
- tempestn 9y ago
  That's awesome!
walrus01 9y ago
Considering they built a new subframe and raised it so much, this is really more like a custom Tesla/volt frankencar that is wearing the body shell of an Accord as a hat.
- itomato 9y ago
  The gasser look really does not suit the first-gen Accord.
  - taneq 9y ago
    Agreed. Aesthetics are always subjective but to me it looks terrible.
    - stinos 9y ago
      Ha came here to see if anyone else'd posted this. I really like what an Accord looks like, also because my parents had one in my childhood, but making it high like this one just makes it look weird and ugly to me.
      - deleted 9y ago
        [deleted]
  - baseten 9y ago
    They really needed a normal strut and control arm setup. I think it was just a poor car choice. something american with wider track and mustang2 front suspension would have been a better fit.
bb88 9y ago
Awesome, so this is what it's like to be rich and bored.
- astronautjones 9y ago
  Honestly that applies to most long term posters here
  - cjcfjrf 9y ago
    Long term poster. Rich (10mm) but definitely not bored. Too Damn busy. Rarely see rich people being bored
    - senatorobama 9y ago
      How did you make your fortune, if you don't mind me asking?
saudioger 9y ago
Reading about this makes me feel like I'm hallucinating, wtf.
wheresmyusern 9y ago
this reminds me of the white zombie -- the car that started my whole obsession with electric cars all those years ago.
tyingq 9y ago
Kudos, but the fit/finish isn’t exactly “sleeper” category.
agentgt 9y ago
Watching that video of the car accelerate I remember being awestruck how fast circa 1990 my Taiyo RC Fast Traxx could go. I remember my dad and I scaling up the math (I was only 10 so I needed a little help) and I remember asking him why normal cars didn’t have batteries. I don’t recall the answer but it was long... I also was quite distracted with my new RC toy car .. err tank (google fast traxx).
- taneq 9y ago
  The answer was "NiCd batteries are way too expensive, lead acid batteries are way too heavy, and both have way too short a cycle life."
  - Tossrock 9y ago
    Deep cycle lead-acid batteries have fine cycle lives, and indeed were (and are) used for driving golf carts. However, they trade off for lower specific power, which makes them unsuitable for a full-sized, highway-speed-reaching car.
  - Hasz 9y ago
    The 2001 Honda Insight was built with NiMH cells -- not quite NiCd, but still doable.
tsomctl 9y ago
To anyone who isn't aware, there is a huge world of car hacking. There is of course the basics like getting an expensive air filter (pointless), and it goes all the way up to welding up your own custom car. The more common mods are things like tuning your suspension, replacing your engine with a more powerful one, or upgrading your differentials. It takes a wide range of skills, including welding, machining, panel beating, plumbing, and electrical. You can very easily nerd out on this.
- callahanrts 9y ago
  This is absolutely true. Here's one of Jim's other builds that's sitting in our office. It's a steam powered car on a Model A frame. He and one of our other engineers are getting pretty good at this. https://www.instagram.com/p/BbVdaa_gKB2/?taken-by=jimmy.built https://www.instagram.com/p/BbVdaa_gKB2/?taken-by=jimmy.buil...
- btgeekboy 9y ago
  The aviation world has similar stuff. In the US, the experimental homebuilt scene is great. Lots of us (myself included) buy a kit and build and customize from there. My build is a kit from Vans Aircraft (likely the biggest of such manufacturers), but other companies sell kits and even just plans to build to your heart’s content. As the builder of record, you’re free to build and customize things like engines and avionics without being a certified mechanic.
  - mycall 9y ago
    How popular are the Mosquito ultralight personal helicopters in the aviation scene?
    - btgeekboy 9y ago
      Not popular enough that I've heard of them by name, but I also don't tend to dabble with rotors. I prefer my engine up front, and my wings to remain stationary to my person. Also, if you think fixed wing is expensive, wait until you see how much rotorcraft go for...
coryrc 9y ago
How about Tesla drivetrain in a stretch Vanagon? http://cafeelectric.com/stretchla/about/ http://cafeelectric.com/stretchla/about/
- gonesilent 9y ago
  That one was never built but another guy did one in a vanagon transporter
asciimo 9y ago
EV West makes kits you can drop into your old Karmann Ghia, Beetle, Porche and more. http://www.evwest.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=40&osCsid=63bejo67v91j814k59tmakfcm6 http://www.evwest.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=40&osCsid=63be...
- russellbeattie 9y ago
  Oh wow! An electric Karmann Ghia would be about the best thing I could imagine driving.
avcdsuia 9y ago
Why do HNers like Tesla so much? Surely Tesla start the era of electric vehicles,but for me it's just yet another American luxury car.I fancy something more exquisite and fun to drive.
- frisco 9y ago
  Have you driven a high performance EV? (Specifically, a Tesla?) I can't think of something more fun to drive, and I've driven a lot of cars. It feels completely different from a combustion engine car.
  - userbinator 9y ago
    Oddly enough, I've had the chance to briefly drive a trolleybus, and while it doesn't accelerate quite like a Tesla, it's still surprisingly quick off the line, for a multi-ton vehicle. All that torque is available from a standstill.
  - rad_gruchalski 9y ago
    For entire 20 minutes of performance driving, sure.
- zanny 9y ago
  Especially when Tesla keeps pushing the bleeding edge of killing the right to repair that has been on life support in modern cars for decades now. Every auto manufacturer used the invent of digital tech as a means to kill the right to repair (in much the same way almost every industry did - digital tech has proven to be sufficiently magic that commoners won't even recognize what they give up when they go from an easily discoverable and repairable analog solution to a proprietary locked down digital one... at least not until its too late like farmers with tractors) but Tesla blazes trails in how much of a car they can cripple with a proprietary computer so that nobody except Tesla can know how it works, how to fix it, or how to change it. That is wholly antithetical to hacker culture. If the major tech players of the 80s treated personal computers the way auto manufacturers are treating cars today (or more appropriately for the last ten years) whole categories of software would never have existed. And cars, like the IBM PC architecture, show a seemingly inevitable destiny of the genie being put back in the bottle - for decades you could know how your car works so completely you could replace any one part by hand. In large part the same could be said of many transitionary computer systems - before systemic abstraction layers could cordon off the hardware from the user and render it wholly proprietary and black box (again) there was a short stint of time where you could get the programming manual for your chip and often diagnostic manuals for the mainboard that contained CAD documents related to it for self-repair of capacitors. New generations of car geeks will be stymied when the cars they grow up with will be magic metal boxes that do things themselves and prevent them from understanding how they work because its more profitable for all involved if you are beholden to someone else to create, operate, repair, and improve the thing than yourself. Just the same as how new generations of hackers will be stunted by growing up on Android and iOS devices that don't even have an included compiler or any way to install one, on locked bootloaders and proprietary drivers, filled to the brim with planned obsolescence and non-removable batteries and body frames designed to disintegrate if you force it apart to see whats inside. Thats not to say nobody will push car culture forward the same way hacking won't die, but large corporate interests have certainly done their best to put up all the barriers they can to prevent anyone from developing an interest.
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CodeWriter23 9y ago
A long time ago I would go to the street drags on S. Eubanks in Albuquerque. This guy rolls up in a beater Corvair. Starts powerbraking it, burning up the stock 14” wheels on the back, egging anyone on to race him. Everybody is ridiculing him. One of the regulars with I’d guess about a 12 second muscle car (quarter mile in 1977, pretty fast) takes his challenge. The Corvair totally smokes the muscle car. I only recall a couple of seriously built cars being that fast. Corvair guy dies his victory lap, comes back to the starting line, stops and turns on his dome light. He’s got a Pontiac 428 where the back seat used to be, a 2 speed automatic is hooked up to a static rear axle via chain drive. Absolutely brilliant in its simplicity and ROI.
- joncrane 9y ago
  Wait, did you say chain drive? How does the chain handle all that power? Must wear out the sprockets quickly.
  - CodeWriter23 9y ago
    I’m taking Corvair guy’s word for it. The transmission was buried under the floor pan, so we couldn’t see the final drive. The car was nearly silent, it didn’t have the typical rumble of a V8. It had this odd whine it made when it was in motion, which he attributed to the chain drive.
  - dsfyu404ed 9y ago
    I see no reason it couldn't last if built right. You can buy really big roller chain.
renw0rp 9y ago
such a waste; it's so fugly
Zardoz84 9y ago
Sadly, this kind of things on Spain are far of being possible as a car that run on the streets need to be homologated, and a lot of paperwork. Something stupid and simple like replacing the lights by led lights would required it.
alex_hitchins 9y ago
One day, when money is not an issue and I have the time to tinker all day long, I'd love, I mean LOVE, to build my own electric Saab 9000. I'm a big fan of the early, non GM Saabs and currently own two. For some unknown reason, I've always had it in my head that an electrified 9000 would be the most perfect car every possible. I understand and am comfortable knowing I am alone on this. Buy lordy, one big lottery win and I know the first thing I'm getting myself!
- the_rosentotter 9y ago
  I'm not a big car guy, but I am nostalgic for my 9000. Like a true Saab it was in many ways a strangely put together car, but it had a hard to describe feel of being well engineered and a great ride. I owned a 900 too, and had Saab still existed I would most likely still be driving a Saab today. Perhaps the new Chinese owners jump onto the electric wave and need a good base vehicle? One can dream! At least an electric 9000 wouldn't have the balance chain chewing up the engine block ;)
  - alex_hitchins 9y ago
    It's such a solid car. Over engineered I dare say but such a lovely thing to drive. And personally, I still think it looks quite contemporary amongst cars of today. My father had a 900 and I feel that was my gateway Saab as I adored that thing. In a way I don't really feel for any other cars. I like cars, but often can give or take. Saabs make me feel all funny. Perhaps I should see someone about it... Must admit, I've never had any issues with the balance chain. After a head gasket (that was skimmed, fixed and happy for another 80k) I had a heater matrix go and a radiator, then water pump but I put all these down to the gasket going. Another brilliant thing with the ones of my era, is they are designed to be worked on. No job was ever that much of a pain.
    - the_rosentotter 9y ago
      Saab designs have always been timeless (mostly pre-GM of course) and still look great today. The easiest fix for the balance chain issue on 9000s is to simply remove it. It's a whole subsystem only there to counter vibrations for smoother engine operation. This speaks to your point about over-engineering, but is also an illustration of the kind of design that makes the car feel so good.
atroyn 9y ago
Does anyone know how much a Model S powertrain costs at salvage? I'm wondering about the total cost (less labor) of this mod.
sgt 9y ago
Also worth checking out: http://evbmw.com/ http://evbmw.com/ this is electronics wizard and Irishman Damien Maguire converting BMW's (in his view, the best cars in the world) to electric. His videos are very detailed and also fairly slow paced so you can take your time to understand. He's done several brilliant builds already including an E39 (aka the best 5-series in my opinion), and E31 (8-series from the early 90s). Currently he's busy with an E36 EUR1000 conversion which almost sounds too good to be true so it will be very interesting to view.
triviatise 9y ago
moment motors is an austin startup that converts classic cars to electric. Here is a porsche they did https://www.momentmotors.com/porsche/ https://www.momentmotors.com/porsche/
mikehotel 9y ago
He is just getting his feet wet with this first ev project. Looking forward to his next one! This won’t be his last electric build, either. Next up, he’d like to build a full-size version of an RC10 radio control car. That’s our kind of toy, for sure.
tritium 9y ago
Geeze, if Honda Accords didn’t look drastically different back then...
abritinthebay 9y ago
One day I'll take my '67 VW Bus and put a nice powerful engine in it. Maybe one of the early 90s Porsche engines (as it would be nice to stay air-cooled and Porsche has VW heritage). But damn it's an expensive hobby to even own an older car - let alone mod it.

416 points by mdesq 9y ago

Sounds a lot like the urban legend I read years (and years) ago, about the son of a Porsche dealer who dropped a Porsche Spyder engine into a Volkswagon Bug. According to the story, he had a lot of fun rolling up next to muscle cars at stop lights, and then watching them disappear in his rear view mirror.

empath75 9y ago
That’s called a sleeper car. A lot of people do that on purpose.
- vvanders 9y ago
  One of the great sleepers was the Dodge Turbo Minivan[1] [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3Gdm_e_hxs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3Gdm_e_hxs
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
hrrsn 9y ago
A sleeper car. Very common. :) https://youtu.be/EE5x9vlb0ss?t=25 https://youtu.be/EE5x9vlb0ss?t=25
oldcynic 9y ago
Favourite silliness was the chap who got a Rolls Meteor aero engine (27l v12) put into a 1920s Bentley: https://www.topgear.com/car-news/850bhp-aero-engined-bentley-sale https://www.topgear.com/car-news/850bhp-aero-engined-bentley... Was sold to Jay Leno.
- tim333 9y ago
  The 350mph jet school bus was kind of cool also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvAPzGCqVG0&feature=youtu.be&t=1m41s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvAPzGCqVG0&feature=youtu.be...
tyingq 9y ago
My favorite was the 190mph Volvette. A twin turbo corvette engine stuffed into a Volvo Station wagon. Pretty stealthily too.https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GFrPjMVhP04 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GFrPjMVhP04 and https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XBu6STlhh8Q https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XBu6STlhh8Q
- semi-extrinsic 9y ago
  Small Block into a Volvo 240 is a pretty common hack in Scandinavia, to the point that you can buy kits that have all the required hardware and necessary paperwork to get it approved. They won't do 190 mph, but they are able to convert rubber into smoke perfectly fine.
  - tyingq 9y ago
    Right...it's the second video where it jumps directly to outrunning a Yamaha R1 motorcycle that shows this isn't just a kit job.
p_eter_p 9y ago
Subaru engine, but same idea... https://youtu.be/hpb2Him9CUo https://youtu.be/hpb2Him9CUo
djsumdog 9y ago
Back in University, we had one guy in the dorms who said his Uncle Bill put a Miata engine in an MGB. We were contemplating how that would even remotely be possible; looking up pictures of forums boards of both engine bays. "Well I guess, if you remove all of x, y and z and made custom mounts..." We later learned this guy ones one of those bullshitters who would lie about everything; told us he was in the national guard and hat to shoot rubber bullets at people looting stores after tornadoes. He was our age and had one of those civilian IDs they give military family members. Next semester we ask the guy if his uncle will bring his MGB to the car show we were putting together. "Oh he sold it." .... right ... Anytime we had some crazy idea for our cars. "I wonder if I could convert my mom's Maxima to a 5spd," the respond would always be, "I BET UNCLE BILL COULD DO IT!"
- spitfire 9y ago
  In the UK they do put K-series[0] engines into the MGB. [0] The K-series is the descendant of the T16, which is the descendant of the M-series, which is the descendant of the O2-series, which is the descendant of the O-series, which is the engine that we /designed/ for the MGB, but never was put into the MGB before it was canceled. The O-Series instead went into a bunch of work vans and other hateful boxes instead. So he might have sort of been right. But he was probably still a royal bullshitter.
  - justinator 9y ago
    Apt username. Is that you, Mr. B?
  - poooogles 9y ago
    >The K-series is the descendant of the T16 Descendant only in the fact it came later. The engines share nothing from memory. The K series was an all new small capacity engine (1400cc) on release. Compared to the O, M and L (diesel) it's a fully aluminium block and head with steel damp liners. The K series had its bore and stroke upped to bring it to 1800cc after launch, along with adding variable valve control with the VCC engine. The two engines share very little in common, the most frequent thing being they're normally both attached to a a PG1 gearbox. Source: UK MG owner that used to own 300bhp ZR.
Animats 9y ago
That's been done more than once. Jalopnik has coverage.[1] [1] https://jalopnik.com/someone-should-buy-this-porsche-engined-beetle-so-i-don-1604908317 https://jalopnik.com/someone-should-buy-this-porsche-engined...
Frondo 9y ago
The best souped-up beater I've ever seen is the White Zombie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apoeGMWF17c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apoeGMWF17c (And he's in Oregon! go Oregon! haha) Acceleration to 60mph in 1.8 seconds. 1250 ft lbs of torque. This was in 2013, too.
shaftway 9y ago
There's a company that drops Chevy V8s into Miatas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CdOlX1iq_0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CdOlX1iq_0 Also, there's the guy that built a jet engine into his Beetle: http://www.ronpatrickstuff.com/ http://www.ronpatrickstuff.com/ > We get this a lot. A police officer picking at his nose while trying to figure out what to charge me with. Notice the hopeful anticipation of us on the right. We're rooting for him and offer suggestions but unfortunately, the California Department of Motor Vehicles did not anticipate such a vehicle so he's out of luck.
- sq_ 9y ago
  The guy from your second link seems to be simultaneously completely crazy and completely awesome. I love his edit: You have to give the California Department of Motor Vehicles (the DMV) credit for creativity on this one. A DMV insider has disclosed to me that the DMV has made a formal request to a federal agency to rule if my Beetle constitutes a threat to national security based on what could happen if it got into the wrong hands. This raises three questions in my mind: #1 Does this mean I’m the right hands? #2 If someone with the name "b_laden13" is the highest eBay bidder for my Beetle can I refuse his offer even if he has the prestigious eBay Red Shooting Star feedback rating (the highest)? #3 Would this affect my eBay rating?
gambiting 9y ago
The version I've heard was that someone dropped a Porsche engine into a Trabant, which apparently was an easy swap as some technology for the Trabant was stolen from porche and the engine would just fit straight away. Then the Trabant would smoke everyone from traffic lights. I guess it's just an urban legend.
jaclaz 9y ago
Well this is reknown here in Italy, not an urban legend at all, a Fiat 500 (the original model of the 60's) with a Porsche 911 3.2 liter engine: https://www.omniauto.it/foto/19417/fiat-500-porsche/302209 https://www.omniauto.it/foto/19417/fiat-500-porsche/302209 Now (after having fitted a Ferrari engine) have made another one with a Lamborghini V12 engine (Italian, but not bad at all via Google translate): http://motori.ilmessaggero.it/news/news_fiat_vecchia_500_pi_ugrave_potente_mondo_oemmed_igrave_padre_figlio_preparatori_viterbo_scommessa_nata_al_motor_show-195372.html http://motori.ilmessaggero.it/news/news_fiat_vecchia_500_pi_...
foobar1962 9y ago
Back in the 70s I had a motor magazine with a story titled “Big (Golf) Balls” about a German who split a Golf GTI down the middle to widen it, then put a Porsche 911 transaxle in the back. That would have been a Mk I Golf too. Back then the title was quite risqué.
pryelluw 9y ago
Dunno about a spyder engine, but I used to sometimes tune an old beetle with a 911 (930) turbo engine and transaxle. It ran 9s on the 1/4 in low boost. Shit was scary.
walshemj 9y ago
I have heard credible similar stories (from an employee) of airship industry's at cardington putting one of the spare 3/4 race Porsche engines (used in the airship) into a Volvo they used as a chase car.

olivermarks 9y ago

http://www.nedra.com http://www.nedra.com

zw123456 9y ago

Oh, very very cool. My dream... Tesla spider chassis tucked under a Porsche 550 spider replica. James Dean Meets Elon Musk.

matte_black 9y ago

I wonder if Tesla will just sell a drivetrain by itself? Would be cool to just DIY your own electric car.

userbinator 9y ago
From what I've read, they don't even sell parts to owners of their cars, only authorised repair centers.
- Scoundreller 9y ago
  Which means a surplus of spare parts because it's too expensive to repair a salvaged car.
  - astronautjones 9y ago
    Perfect HN opportunity to open up a marketplace for said parts, especially with so many early adopters here
- icantdrive55 9y ago
  I've always felt this policy was a mistake. I kinda understand locking down the software, but not parts, especially when said vechicle is out of warranty. Get the parts out to DIY'ers. Don't make enemies right out of the gate? Plus--some of these rebuilders are brilliant.(This guy who out a electric engine in a Honda--for one.) I know the legal aspect, but just put a disclaimer on the part, like the rest of the them? So many people are buying high ticket items, but can't repair the item then it breaks. I guess it's the way the wealthy think? I don't have that luxury. I buy second hand stuff the haves discard. If I buy something, I should be able to fix it when it breaks down. I'll sign whatever legal papers you this at me. Fool me into thinking your company isn't violating The Sherman Antitrust Act? I've been poor all my life, and just don't like Authorized Repair Centers touching my stuff, at their outrageous prices. Especially when that joke of a warranty ends. To the guy who just bought a $25,000 Rolex watch this weekend. When it stops, and is out of warranty, you will not be able to repair it yourself. Even if dad taught you how to repair watches from a early age. You can open it, but buying a part from Rolex is something you can't do. How did I go from Tesla to Rolex? Just a bit off tonight? I do feel like I'm alone though. In the end, I just don't like the feeling I'm being fleeced, and then telling me, "Oh, it's for Quality Assurance. We care about you."

Rantenki 9y ago

Sounds awesome. Back in the day people were (or still are) stuffing VG30 (Nissan 300ZX) engines in 70s era Datsun 510s, which were awesome little rally cars in their time. Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0MXPq8LLhU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0MXPq8LLhU I guess this is the modern equivalent?

loser777 9y ago
I don't know if you mean literally sounds awesome ;). It's absurd (in a good way) how the RC-car electric sound belies the actual acceleration.

userbinator 9y ago

...and somewhere else, someone is probably contemplating swapping a combustion engine into a Tesla. The world has a way of balancing itself out with weird things.

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pavel_lishin 9y ago
To be fair, one of the most famous Teslas in the world was powered by a combustion engine.
- ythn 9y ago
  > solar system
glup 9y ago
"I like the speed but miss the vroom," she explained.
- stephengillie 9y ago
  BMW are playing canned engine noises through speakers in their newer cars, for people who enjoy engine sounds.
  - bdcravens 9y ago
    Don't forget the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act, so silent cars make noise to warn pedestrians: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/follow-up-report-president-obama-signs-pedestrian-safety-enhancement-act-into-law/ https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/follow-up-report-presiden...
    - stephengillie 9y ago
      I've been tempted to change the EV audio in my hybrid from the "wooshing" sound to thematic music or video game bleeps, though canned engine noises would be more apropo.

bri3d 9y ago

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt4fGIoVMpM https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt4fGIoVMpM Another fun swap: a Tesla drive unit and Volt batteries into a Lotus Evora. Basically recreating the original Tesla Roadster's bigger counterpart. Volt+Tesla is an increasingly popular swap because the Volt batteries are easier to manage and have a more convenient form factor. Plus, there are more of them available from recyclers.

gonesilent 9y ago
The main reason why is volt packs are dirt cheap vs tesla packs commanding a huge premium because DIY powerwall guys snatch them up.
- SwellJoe 9y ago
  So, why aren't DIY Powerwall guys snapping up Volt battery packs? I can see two reasons to DIY a Powerwall: Price and to work around Tesla's stupid rules about where/how Powerwall can be installed. Seems like you'd want the cheapest batteries you could get if price is your motivating force in building a DIY Powerwall.
  - gonesilent 9y ago
    Volt pack is hard to split up to usable voltage. Tesla pack splits in to easy to manage voltages because of it's module design. BMS is also fully decoded on Tesla modules so get to keep safety aspects.
tempestn 9y ago
That's awesome!

walrus01 9y ago

Considering they built a new subframe and raised it so much, this is really more like a custom Tesla/volt frankencar that is wearing the body shell of an Accord as a hat.

itomato 9y ago
The gasser look really does not suit the first-gen Accord.
- taneq 9y ago
  Agreed. Aesthetics are always subjective but to me it looks terrible.
  - stinos 9y ago
    Ha came here to see if anyone else'd posted this. I really like what an Accord looks like, also because my parents had one in my childhood, but making it high like this one just makes it look weird and ugly to me.
    - deleted 9y ago
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- baseten 9y ago
  They really needed a normal strut and control arm setup. I think it was just a poor car choice. something american with wider track and mustang2 front suspension would have been a better fit.

bb88 9y ago

Awesome, so this is what it's like to be rich and bored.

astronautjones 9y ago
Honestly that applies to most long term posters here
- cjcfjrf 9y ago
  Long term poster. Rich (10mm) but definitely not bored. Too Damn busy. Rarely see rich people being bored
  - senatorobama 9y ago
    How did you make your fortune, if you don't mind me asking?

saudioger 9y ago

Reading about this makes me feel like I'm hallucinating, wtf.

wheresmyusern 9y ago

this reminds me of the white zombie -- the car that started my whole obsession with electric cars all those years ago.

tyingq 9y ago

Kudos, but the fit/finish isn’t exactly “sleeper” category.

agentgt 9y ago

Watching that video of the car accelerate I remember being awestruck how fast circa 1990 my Taiyo RC Fast Traxx could go. I remember my dad and I scaling up the math (I was only 10 so I needed a little help) and I remember asking him why normal cars didn’t have batteries. I don’t recall the answer but it was long... I also was quite distracted with my new RC toy car .. err tank (google fast traxx).

taneq 9y ago
The answer was "NiCd batteries are way too expensive, lead acid batteries are way too heavy, and both have way too short a cycle life."
- Tossrock 9y ago
  Deep cycle lead-acid batteries have fine cycle lives, and indeed were (and are) used for driving golf carts. However, they trade off for lower specific power, which makes them unsuitable for a full-sized, highway-speed-reaching car.
- Hasz 9y ago
  The 2001 Honda Insight was built with NiMH cells -- not quite NiCd, but still doable.

tsomctl 9y ago

To anyone who isn't aware, there is a huge world of car hacking. There is of course the basics like getting an expensive air filter (pointless), and it goes all the way up to welding up your own custom car. The more common mods are things like tuning your suspension, replacing your engine with a more powerful one, or upgrading your differentials. It takes a wide range of skills, including welding, machining, panel beating, plumbing, and electrical. You can very easily nerd out on this.

callahanrts 9y ago
This is absolutely true. Here's one of Jim's other builds that's sitting in our office. It's a steam powered car on a Model A frame. He and one of our other engineers are getting pretty good at this. https://www.instagram.com/p/BbVdaa_gKB2/?taken-by=jimmy.built https://www.instagram.com/p/BbVdaa_gKB2/?taken-by=jimmy.buil...
btgeekboy 9y ago
The aviation world has similar stuff. In the US, the experimental homebuilt scene is great. Lots of us (myself included) buy a kit and build and customize from there. My build is a kit from Vans Aircraft (likely the biggest of such manufacturers), but other companies sell kits and even just plans to build to your heart’s content. As the builder of record, you’re free to build and customize things like engines and avionics without being a certified mechanic.
- mycall 9y ago
  How popular are the Mosquito ultralight personal helicopters in the aviation scene?
  - btgeekboy 9y ago
    Not popular enough that I've heard of them by name, but I also don't tend to dabble with rotors. I prefer my engine up front, and my wings to remain stationary to my person. Also, if you think fixed wing is expensive, wait until you see how much rotorcraft go for...

coryrc 9y ago

How about Tesla drivetrain in a stretch Vanagon? http://cafeelectric.com/stretchla/about/ http://cafeelectric.com/stretchla/about/

gonesilent 9y ago
That one was never built but another guy did one in a vanagon transporter

asciimo 9y ago

EV West makes kits you can drop into your old Karmann Ghia, Beetle, Porche and more. http://www.evwest.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=40&osCsid=63bejo67v91j814k59tmakfcm6 http://www.evwest.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=40&osCsid=63be...

russellbeattie 9y ago
Oh wow! An electric Karmann Ghia would be about the best thing I could imagine driving.

avcdsuia 9y ago

Why do HNers like Tesla so much? Surely Tesla start the era of electric vehicles,but for me it's just yet another American luxury car.I fancy something more exquisite and fun to drive.

frisco 9y ago
Have you driven a high performance EV? (Specifically, a Tesla?) I can't think of something more fun to drive, and I've driven a lot of cars. It feels completely different from a combustion engine car.
- userbinator 9y ago
  Oddly enough, I've had the chance to briefly drive a trolleybus, and while it doesn't accelerate quite like a Tesla, it's still surprisingly quick off the line, for a multi-ton vehicle. All that torque is available from a standstill.
- rad_gruchalski 9y ago
  For entire 20 minutes of performance driving, sure.
zanny 9y ago
Especially when Tesla keeps pushing the bleeding edge of killing the right to repair that has been on life support in modern cars for decades now. Every auto manufacturer used the invent of digital tech as a means to kill the right to repair (in much the same way almost every industry did - digital tech has proven to be sufficiently magic that commoners won't even recognize what they give up when they go from an easily discoverable and repairable analog solution to a proprietary locked down digital one... at least not until its too late like farmers with tractors) but Tesla blazes trails in how much of a car they can cripple with a proprietary computer so that nobody except Tesla can know how it works, how to fix it, or how to change it. That is wholly antithetical to hacker culture. If the major tech players of the 80s treated personal computers the way auto manufacturers are treating cars today (or more appropriately for the last ten years) whole categories of software would never have existed. And cars, like the IBM PC architecture, show a seemingly inevitable destiny of the genie being put back in the bottle - for decades you could know how your car works so completely you could replace any one part by hand. In large part the same could be said of many transitionary computer systems - before systemic abstraction layers could cordon off the hardware from the user and render it wholly proprietary and black box (again) there was a short stint of time where you could get the programming manual for your chip and often diagnostic manuals for the mainboard that contained CAD documents related to it for self-repair of capacitors. New generations of car geeks will be stymied when the cars they grow up with will be magic metal boxes that do things themselves and prevent them from understanding how they work because its more profitable for all involved if you are beholden to someone else to create, operate, repair, and improve the thing than yourself. Just the same as how new generations of hackers will be stunted by growing up on Android and iOS devices that don't even have an included compiler or any way to install one, on locked bootloaders and proprietary drivers, filled to the brim with planned obsolescence and non-removable batteries and body frames designed to disintegrate if you force it apart to see whats inside. Thats not to say nobody will push car culture forward the same way hacking won't die, but large corporate interests have certainly done their best to put up all the barriers they can to prevent anyone from developing an interest.

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CodeWriter23 9y ago

A long time ago I would go to the street drags on S. Eubanks in Albuquerque. This guy rolls up in a beater Corvair. Starts powerbraking it, burning up the stock 14” wheels on the back, egging anyone on to race him. Everybody is ridiculing him. One of the regulars with I’d guess about a 12 second muscle car (quarter mile in 1977, pretty fast) takes his challenge. The Corvair totally smokes the muscle car. I only recall a couple of seriously built cars being that fast. Corvair guy dies his victory lap, comes back to the starting line, stops and turns on his dome light. He’s got a Pontiac 428 where the back seat used to be, a 2 speed automatic is hooked up to a static rear axle via chain drive. Absolutely brilliant in its simplicity and ROI.

joncrane 9y ago
Wait, did you say chain drive? How does the chain handle all that power? Must wear out the sprockets quickly.
- CodeWriter23 9y ago
  I’m taking Corvair guy’s word for it. The transmission was buried under the floor pan, so we couldn’t see the final drive. The car was nearly silent, it didn’t have the typical rumble of a V8. It had this odd whine it made when it was in motion, which he attributed to the chain drive.
- dsfyu404ed 9y ago
  I see no reason it couldn't last if built right. You can buy really big roller chain.

renw0rp 9y ago

such a waste; it's so fugly

Zardoz84 9y ago

Sadly, this kind of things on Spain are far of being possible as a car that run on the streets need to be homologated, and a lot of paperwork. Something stupid and simple like replacing the lights by led lights would required it.

alex_hitchins 9y ago

One day, when money is not an issue and I have the time to tinker all day long, I'd love, I mean LOVE, to build my own electric Saab 9000. I'm a big fan of the early, non GM Saabs and currently own two. For some unknown reason, I've always had it in my head that an electrified 9000 would be the most perfect car every possible. I understand and am comfortable knowing I am alone on this. Buy lordy, one big lottery win and I know the first thing I'm getting myself!

the_rosentotter 9y ago
I'm not a big car guy, but I am nostalgic for my 9000. Like a true Saab it was in many ways a strangely put together car, but it had a hard to describe feel of being well engineered and a great ride. I owned a 900 too, and had Saab still existed I would most likely still be driving a Saab today. Perhaps the new Chinese owners jump onto the electric wave and need a good base vehicle? One can dream! At least an electric 9000 wouldn't have the balance chain chewing up the engine block ;)
- alex_hitchins 9y ago
  It's such a solid car. Over engineered I dare say but such a lovely thing to drive. And personally, I still think it looks quite contemporary amongst cars of today. My father had a 900 and I feel that was my gateway Saab as I adored that thing. In a way I don't really feel for any other cars. I like cars, but often can give or take. Saabs make me feel all funny. Perhaps I should see someone about it... Must admit, I've never had any issues with the balance chain. After a head gasket (that was skimmed, fixed and happy for another 80k) I had a heater matrix go and a radiator, then water pump but I put all these down to the gasket going. Another brilliant thing with the ones of my era, is they are designed to be worked on. No job was ever that much of a pain.
  - the_rosentotter 9y ago
    Saab designs have always been timeless (mostly pre-GM of course) and still look great today. The easiest fix for the balance chain issue on 9000s is to simply remove it. It's a whole subsystem only there to counter vibrations for smoother engine operation. This speaks to your point about over-engineering, but is also an illustration of the kind of design that makes the car feel so good.

atroyn 9y ago

Does anyone know how much a Model S powertrain costs at salvage? I'm wondering about the total cost (less labor) of this mod.

sgt 9y ago

Also worth checking out: http://evbmw.com/ http://evbmw.com/ this is electronics wizard and Irishman Damien Maguire converting BMW's (in his view, the best cars in the world) to electric. His videos are very detailed and also fairly slow paced so you can take your time to understand. He's done several brilliant builds already including an E39 (aka the best 5-series in my opinion), and E31 (8-series from the early 90s). Currently he's busy with an E36 EUR1000 conversion which almost sounds too good to be true so it will be very interesting to view.

triviatise 9y ago

moment motors is an austin startup that converts classic cars to electric. Here is a porsche they did https://www.momentmotors.com/porsche/ https://www.momentmotors.com/porsche/

mikehotel 9y ago

He is just getting his feet wet with this first ev project. Looking forward to his next one! This won’t be his last electric build, either. Next up, he’d like to build a full-size version of an RC10 radio control car. That’s our kind of toy, for sure.

tritium 9y ago

Geeze, if Honda Accords didn’t look drastically different back then...

abritinthebay 9y ago

One day I'll take my '67 VW Bus and put a nice powerful engine in it. Maybe one of the early 90s Porsche engines (as it would be nice to stay air-cooled and Porsche has VW heritage). But damn it's an expensive hobby to even own an older car - let alone mod it.