Jimmy's Electric Adventures

[J1000]

It's charging! I had to replace the whole PDM/Charger assembly but at least it's working now.

Turned out to be a relatively easy swap, Nissan engineered it to come off without removing the wiring looms which is handy.

 

[allen.wrench]

When I read:

It's charging!

In my mind I was imagining you like Dr. Frankenstein. IT'S ALIVE!!! 😎👍
Glad to hear.
Allen

 

[J1000]

When I read:

In my mind I was imagining you like Dr. Frankenstein. IT'S ALIVE!!! 😎👍
Glad to hear.
Allen

No joke I was super worried and nervous. Literally had butterflies when I went to plug it in.

 

[J1000]

Got the coolant and t-case oil systems plumbed and realized the reason I didn't use this PDM was because it had a broken coolant inlet. I was able to goop enough silicone on it to hold for now. Luckily there is not much heat or pressure in an EV cooling system vs. ICE.

I drove it a bunch today and did a 0-60 test. It was able to do 0-60 in 14.5 seconds! That's not too shabby and not far off from a stock brand new 1996 Land Cruiser. I bet a lot of 80 guys on here have trucks slower than that lol!

New top speed 64 mph

 

[IoN6]

I bet a lot of 80 guys on here have trucks slower than that lol!

✋

 

[nakman]

so awesome! I'm gonna go tell 4000 of my best friends about this right now.

 

[J1000]

It's official now! The state says it's an EV. Going to the DMV tomorrow to get my special sticker!

The officer inspected the truck but mostly just matching the VIN. I popped the hood and showed him the goods and he only looked at the EV stuff for 5 seconds.

 

[DouglasVB]

It's official now! The state says it's an EV. Going to the DMV tomorrow to get my special sticker!

The officer inspected the truck but mostly just matching the VIN. I popped the hood and showed him the goods and he only looked at the EV stuff for 5 seconds.

That's a great milestone! Congrats!

 

[J1000]

That's a great milestone! Congrats!

Thanks man, I've been sweating this step way more than I should have. I guess the rules must have changed for 2023 because I looked into it last year and it required an additional step or two compared to this. Just a regular VIN verification was all that's needed. It was free also.

 

[On the RX]

Great to hear the charging issue was sorted and you can now get it legal! Your progress and motivation is inspiring... still trying to motivate my timing belt project here🤣

 

[IoN6]

only looked at the EV stuff for 5 seconds.

Sounds about right for a .gov official. Still rockin' though!

 

[J1000]

Sounds about right for a .gov official. Still rockin' though!

To be fair that's the extent of their ability. Yesterday was the cop's last day, today he is retired. He's been doing this for decades it's not really feasible to retrain every one to inspect an EV.

Really, the state just cares "does it use gasoline?" Yes or no.

I know Canada, UK, NZ, Germany and other countries are much more involved. The battery boxes need to be built to engineering standards, safety systems, etc etc. As a consequence DIY EVs are not very popular.

 

[Stuckinthe80s]

I know Canada, UK, NZ, Germany and other countries are much more involved. The battery boxes need to be built to engineering standards, safety systems, etc etc. As a consequence DIY EVs are not very popular.

Figures. I mean, I get it, you don't want people driving around in ticking fire bombs, but at the same time the process should be a bit more streamlined to incentivize people to do it.

How's the ride at 64mph? I'm assuming really smooth with that fancy new adapter?

 

[J1000]

Figures. I mean, I get it, you don't want people driving around in ticking fire bombs, but at the same time the process should be a bit more streamlined to incentivize people to do it.

How's the ride at 64mph? I'm assuming really smooth with that fancy new adapter?

It's a good point but in CO there aren't safety or roadworthiness inspections either. Also, cars are sort of self-regulating in that they break down and are immobile. Problem solved. Also everyone has insurance, or at least they're supposed to.

I do expect more stringent regs eventually. Right now, I think the political winds are blowing towards getting old and especially gas powered vehicles off the roads so they are happy to rubber stamp a homemade conversion. If it's shoddy and burns down then that's just a bonus in their book.

It runs extremely smooth. You can hear the gears making lots of noise though. I think it can go over 70 easy but taking baby steps at the moment.

 

[IoN6]

It's a good point but in CO there aren't safety or roadworthiness inspections either.

That is a slippery slope for sure. I can tell you I would be all for some kind of inspection process, especially if it meant decreasing the number of people with ridiculously bright, incorrectly adjusted headlights, or 146245245 light bars they feel the need to use around town.

And there are some straight boxes on the road that likely should not be.

 

[nuclearlemon]

That is a slippery slope for sure. I can tell you I would be all for some kind of inspection process, especially if it meant decreasing the number of people with ridiculously bright, incorrectly adjusted headlights, or 146245245 light bars they feel the need to use around town.

And there are some straight boxes on the road that likely should not be.

but if they fail you for light bars, that rules out our wheeling rigs. poorly adjusted lights that blind other driver, lights over approved wattages (a bit harder to enforce with leds) and light bars are illegal to run on the road, maybe the police should enforce the existing law.

 

[Pz10420]

That is a slippery slope for sure. I can tell you I would be all for some kind of inspection process, especially if it meant decreasing the number of people with ridiculously bright, incorrectly adjusted headlights, or 146245245 light bars they feel the need to use around town.

And there are some straight boxes on the road that likely should not be.

Coming from Pa where they had vehicle inspections annually I would hate to see that come here. While there is some validity to what they are doing by making some people get repairs on stuff that makes their vehicle unsafe on the road, it turns into any vehicle that is more than 5 years old they nit pic every little thing about it and you better be prepared to drop $1k into your vehicle to fix stuff that really isn't relevant to anything safety wise.

 

[J1000]

Boom. Electric Land Cruiser. Ever seen one of those before lol

 

[IoN6]

but if they fail you for light bars, that rules out our wheeling rigs. poorly adjusted lights that blind other driver, lights over approved wattages (a bit harder to enforce with leds) and light bars are illegal to run on the road, maybe the police should enforce the existing law.

Coming from Pa where they had vehicle inspections annually I would hate to see that come here. While there is some validity to what they are doing by making some people get repairs on stuff that makes their vehicle unsafe on the road, it turns into any vehicle that is more than 5 years old they nit pic every little thing about it and you better be prepared to drop $1k into your vehicle to fix stuff that really isn't relevant to anything safety wise.

As I said in the pretext, it is a slippery slope. Totally agree that the laws should be enforced. Totally agree that drivers should be responsible for the up keep of their vehicles. Sadly neither of those is occurring. I am just tired of being blinded by light bars, perma-high beams, obvious off-road only lights, or just plain headlights that have never been adjusted. And when you flash someone you'd think you insulted their first born.

 

[J1000]

As I said in the pretext, it is a slippery slope. Totally agree that the laws should be enforced. Totally agree that drivers should be responsible for the up keep of their vehicles. Sadly neither of those is occurring. I am just tired of being blinded by light bars, perma-high beams, obvious off-road only lights, or just plain headlights that have never been adjusted. And when you flash someone you'd think you insulted their first born.

Just be careful what you wish for