This EV restomod highlights the joys and flaws of the classic MGB
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Any idea why they kept the manual gearbox setup? Is it for maintaining the classic manual shifting experience, or more about efficiency gains? Because it sounds like shifting is quasi-optional, even if not optimal. And I imagine there would be some weight saving from ditching it so the reason to keep it is probably strong.
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Also sounds like it makes the old match-engine-speed-to-road-speed thing that you need for smooth shifting really hard, without a rev counter or engine note as a cue.
I wonder if a dab of 'throttle' during the shift, or even double-declutching would help. Maybe it's about preserving shifting skills? It's an interesting interaction design choice.
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Reading that they're using a MX-5 gearbox, reminded me that Zero EV converted an MX-5. Various videos on YouTube, including a review by Jonny Smith on the late brake show.
Edit: MX-55... what a car. That is to say, Zero EV were making a kit to convert the MX-5.
Edit: MX-55... what a car. That is to say, Zero EV were making a kit to convert the MX-5.
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One of the photos shows an analogue power gauge with numbers around the edge, I assume that's RPM of the motor?
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My hunch is to do with minimising the amount of conversion work? That it still has a classic drive train from the clutch on, but the flywheel has been replaced with direct power from an electric motor?? Might be barking up the wrong tree, and the whole thing is a software simulation of manual shift, in order to retain the 'feel' of the original - given that's what a lot of us enjoy about driving vintage cars.
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Guessing from the 0-100 scale that it is the percent of power from the motor. Also guessing the 0-40 the other way that the drive train allows for some regenerative braking.
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I was wondering the same thing. Maybe to optimise the performance (torque & speed) of the motor against current draw...? But I think your first idea might be right.
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That's not the first EV conversion that I've seen retain the manual transmission. I thought usually you're not really supposed to shift it while driving the way you would an ICE, just pick a gear that will cover your speed range and leave it be.
How would even rev-matching work, is there a flywheel, and will it try to regen from it while the clutch is in? Does hitting the throttle briefly raise the RPM enough to downshift?
How would even rev-matching work, is there a flywheel, and will it try to regen from it while the clutch is in? Does hitting the throttle briefly raise the RPM enough to downshift?
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Peak efficiency of this motor is around 1200 rpms. With a continuous maximum rpms of 3300.
Long story short they wind these motor coils knowing you will be using an ICE drivetrain.
https://www.go-ev.com/PDFs/HyPer_9_Sales_Sheet.pdf
Long story short they wind these motor coils knowing you will be using an ICE drivetrain.
https://www.go-ev.com/PDFs/HyPer_9_Sales_Sheet.pdf
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My father restored an MGC roadster - the 6cyl version of the MGB - as part of his 'keep himself active as he retires' plan.
I drove that car a bunch of times, the engine was a ~3ltr I-6, which made it pretty nose heavy, but silky smooth to drive. I can only imagine that this is a delight to drive.
The old MGB's were never fast, but they handled nicely enough and the low seating position made them feel better than they were, but the federalised rubber bumper ones were a travesty, the increased ride height made an impact on the handling and they were just so dammed ugly......
I drove that car a bunch of times, the engine was a ~3ltr I-6, which made it pretty nose heavy, but silky smooth to drive. I can only imagine that this is a delight to drive.
The old MGB's were never fast, but they handled nicely enough and the low seating position made them feel better than they were, but the federalised rubber bumper ones were a travesty, the increased ride height made an impact on the handling and they were just so dammed ugly......
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But then you'll miss the classic character of plowing into a tree when the brakes don't work properly
Thanks for posting this, I guess I've never looked at electric motor efficiency plots but this is pretty surprising considering the "common knowledge" that EVs don't need transmissions. That's actually a pretty huge difference, like between 95% at lowish RPM and ~70% at lower power but high speeds. Exactly like what you'd see at highway speeds.
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This is similar to early hobbyist motors that were available for backyard conversions. It's a Netgain Hyper 9. Early conversions used Netgain Warp 9 which was a brushed DC motor. While this one AC, I doubt either motor was purpose designed for automotive use. Both are rather low RPM, which require a multi-ratio transmission.
There are better motors available now, that can build with single speed reduction gearing.
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These conversions have been around for a while in the UK at least, there is even a no welding bolt in kit you can buy they fitted one on Car SOS a couple of years ago.
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Electric Classic Cars have done some incredible conversions
This though is beautiful -
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M48GwJPbEeI
This though is beautiful -
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M48GwJPbEeI
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The car shown is more properly called a MGB GT. Typically, MGB’s are the roadster version. I’m sure the GT version is better for this purpose because the chassis is more rigid.
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RickRoyLeonPrisZhoraRacha
Ars Praetorian
Talking about EV and retros...I saw this Verge bike and was like, How do you change the rear tire?
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It looks like they did:
Brakes front: 273 mm vented discs with 4-pot calipers
Brakes rear: 265 mm 2-pot calipers
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Would be super easy to learn to drive a stick- never stall the engine!
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I have no idea why the author called the original engine "notoriously finicky".
They are the polar opposite of finicky. It's a very basic, under-stressed, carburated 4 banger. It'll run for ages with some maintenance, although the original carbs and ignition take more fiddling than modern fuel injection and electronics. It's pretty standard for cars of this era.
I have an MGB GT in my garage.
They are the polar opposite of finicky. It's a very basic, under-stressed, carburated 4 banger. It'll run for ages with some maintenance, although the original carbs and ignition take more fiddling than modern fuel injection and electronics. It's pretty standard for cars of this era.
I have an MGB GT in my garage.
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I have recently looked into buying an mgb and a conversion like this would be awesome. However, I worry that it would be too expensive and out of my price range.
The reason I have been looking into an mgb is my parents had one when they first got married and loved it. I would buy it with the plan to let them drive it for a year and then i would sell it, hopefully recouping most of my money and would let me "pay them back" for college costs.
What has held me back is i am worried about the car suffering a major mechanical event during that one year of ownership.
The reason I have been looking into an mgb is my parents had one when they first got married and loved it. I would buy it with the plan to let them drive it for a year and then i would sell it, hopefully recouping most of my money and would let me "pay them back" for college costs.
What has held me back is i am worried about the car suffering a major mechanical event during that one year of ownership.
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How long have you owned it?
What is your average maintenance cost per year and what has cost the most in the time you have owned it?
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I suspect it is much more prosaic. You need a differential, the differential already in the transmission is ideally sized for the current suspension and axle lengths. It is hard to get the differential out of the transmission. It is very easy to mount the motor to the transmission. Therefore, just leave it in.
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MGB had front disc brakes, and mine (1980) had power assisted brakes, though that was an option on earlier models.
The engine-gearbox was very solid, though the emission control stuff was finicky and required attention each year to pass the emissions test.
I do miss that car.
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If that's the case, then why did the author mention that the brakes were substandard?
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There may be issues with new build old plan cars not meeting various modern safety standards. Rebuilds don't have that issue.
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Otherwise, it would be called a transaxle like a FWD car or RWD car like a 911.
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The relevance of the Abingdon name is that this is where the MG factory was (site is now a McDonald's and a police station that looks a bit like a ship).
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You said it right there yourself, The factory Strombergs can be a pain, and I think I already saw at least two references to the ‘Lucas, Prince of Darkness’ electrics in the comments.
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We call that soul and personality in vintage and collector car circles. You can line up three or four cars of the same model and year of production, and not only will they feel and sound different, but many claim they all drive slightly different from one another. Soul and personality.
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Is it though? If you put a manual transmission on a bed would it be more fun to sleep in? Just seems unnecessary and it reduces efficiency. Remember that this is a vehicle where you're going to be shifting with no engine noise or mechanical feel, I'd have to try it myself to be sure but that doesn't sound fun to me.
Adding a manual transmission to an EV is just an unnecessary complication that makes the vehicle worse for no real reason. I think 20 years from now we'll look back at this as an oddity that only existed for a brief time.
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