this is beautiful progress Ali! Congrats. One thing I was thinking about on the mounts is that if you ever have to take out a module or anything like that, it may be somewhat impossible to get those threaded clips back on the threaded rod in the same exact spot. And since they have to line up with the mounting holes in the bottom, that could be a problem. I don't know that it is a big issue though. If it happens, I think I would just modify your clips to have horizontal slots in them instead of holes that way you have some side to side freedom from needing them to be in the exact same spot on the threaded rod every time. Great stuff!
Good to see it coming on Ali. I must admit I've never seen such a rusty Freelander. It looks like it's been driven in the sea. Are you going to add any sort of drain to the underslung battery box? Or are you going to seal it tight from any water that might get into the vehicle? As you'll know, the normal cubby box has a reputation for filling with water from the rear door seal.
Thanks mate. Yeah this one is not great but it's useful for when I cock things up. I don't need to worry about it. 😉 I'm going to try and seal it from below but will still have access from above to check if damp has got in. In the video I showed the upper box with glands but I'm going to change that to a cut out slot so I can see through to the lower box.
Ali mate,it's coming along beautifully. My only concern is getting the D.O.T to certificate it so you can legally drive it on public roads . I'm guessing you live in N.I ,so how would you go about that sort of problem. You may have explained this in earlier videos,but i tend to skip through videos and may have missed it . Good luck with your fully loaded first road tour .
I have deliberately changed as little of the structure of the car as possible to ensure this should not be a problem. The motor is bolted to the original motor mounts, the gearbox is as it was, I have mostly used existing bolt holes and nothing structural has been modified significantly. In essence the DOT should see this as a change of drive train and fuel type in the same way people change engines from 4 cyl to V8 or petrol to LNG or whatever. So long as the car is not structurally modified it should be OK, at least that is what I have seen with other conversions in the UK and I'm hoping will happen for me. If there was a long history of conversions like this and a predefined path to follow it would be easier to predict what will happen but unfortunately I will be in the hands of bureaucrats making decisions on things they may never have seen before and don't understand. There is still the possibility everything could be a massive waste of time but my glass is half full. 😉
This is a great and very interesting project. I like the battery box design.
Thanks mate.🙂
this is beautiful progress Ali! Congrats. One thing I was thinking about on the mounts is that if you ever have to take out a module or anything like that, it may be somewhat impossible to get those threaded clips back on the threaded rod in the same exact spot. And since they have to line up with the mounting holes in the bottom, that could be a problem. I don't know that it is a big issue though. If it happens, I think I would just modify your clips to have horizontal slots in them instead of holes that way you have some side to side freedom from needing them to be in the exact same spot on the threaded rod every time. Great stuff!
Thanks Frank, that is a very good point as these modules will have to be removed for painting and sealing so slots may well be the answer. 🙂
Good to see it coming on Ali.
I must admit I've never seen such a rusty Freelander. It looks like it's been driven in the sea.
Are you going to add any sort of drain to the underslung battery box? Or are you going to seal it tight from any water that might get into the vehicle? As you'll know, the normal cubby box has a reputation for filling with water from the rear door seal.
Thanks mate.
Yeah this one is not great but it's useful for when I cock things up. I don't need to worry about it. 😉
I'm going to try and seal it from below but will still have access from above to check if damp has got in. In the video I showed the upper box with glands but I'm going to change that to a cut out slot so I can see through to the lower box.
Ali mate,it's coming along beautifully.
My only concern is getting the D.O.T to certificate it so you can legally drive it on public roads .
I'm guessing you live in N.I ,so how would you go about that sort of problem.
You may have explained this in earlier videos,but i tend to skip through videos and may have missed it .
Good luck with your fully loaded first road tour .
I have deliberately changed as little of the structure of the car as possible to ensure this should not be a problem. The motor is bolted to the original motor mounts, the gearbox is as it was, I have mostly used existing bolt holes and nothing structural has been modified significantly. In essence the DOT should see this as a change of drive train and fuel type in the same way people change engines from 4 cyl to V8 or petrol to LNG or whatever.
So long as the car is not structurally modified it should be OK, at least that is what I have seen with other conversions in the UK and I'm hoping will happen for me.
If there was a long history of conversions like this and a predefined path to follow it would be easier to predict what will happen but unfortunately I will be in the hands of bureaucrats making decisions on things they may never have seen before and don't understand.
There is still the possibility everything could be a massive waste of time but my glass is half full. 😉