Nicely engineered electric conversion kit

[nkaminar]

A friend sent this to me, see link below. I don't know how much it costs or how many miles the car gets on a charge.

The kit is really amazing for how it fits into the Model A. No guess work. Plug and play.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N31rVVY9U0

[alexiskai]

I think this kit was in the $10-15k range. I recall looking into it when the video was published.

[alexiskai]

Sorry, I mean when a prior video involving this or a similar kit was published. I know the motor in both videos is the same.

[nkaminar]

I am wondering if the car serial number should be stamped on the motor? Don't want to confuse the DMV.

[Y-Blockhead]

Anyone get the Restorer Magazine? The May/June 2025 issue has a very good article on an Electric "29 Pickup. Really clean installation using the stock drive train.

As an added bonus, there is a Tiny-Tip by yours truly in this issue 0n page 57...

[Joe K]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

So which is more likely to get burned - a Ford EV, or a Tesla EV?

I think the Pickup Article in the Restorer alludes to the question.

Perhaps we're better not even discussing the allusion?


Joe K

[cadillac512]

Originally Posted by Joe K

So which is more likely to get burned - a Ford EV, or a Tesla EV?

I think the Pickup Article in the Restorer alludes to the question.

Perhaps we're better not even discussing the allusion?


Joe K

The guy who has to make the payments.

[AL in NY]

At their website (https://flashdrivemotors.com/electric-conversion/) they list the complete kit at $25,000. There is no mention of range or charging times.

[headonz]

I dont understand why you would need the gearbox ?


I would want to seal off the engine/battery compartment to keep out the weather/moister/dirt and most importantly MICE .

[nkaminar]

According to the article in the Restorer Magazine, high gear is used all the time except when you want to go slow or have a lot more torque, and then second is used. The Model A is stopped to switch gears. It may also be true that it is easier to just use the transmission instead of designing a new system to hook up the wish bone, U joint, and speedometer cable.

[Y-Blockhead]

It is also mentioned that IF someone wanted to revert to a stock Model A, nothing in the drivetrain is modified to the point that it cannot be changed back (except for the engine and components, of course).

[ModelA29]

Originally Posted by AL in NY

At their website (https://flashdrivemotors.com/electric-conversion/) they list the complete kit at $25,000. There is no mention of range or charging times.

Using info from their site on battery capacity and motor model:
Recharge time would depend the charger Level 1 (110v) 16 hours or Level 2 (220v) 3 1/4 hours.

Without knowing the specific vehicle and driving conditions, a range of roughly 75 to 130 miles is a reasonable estimate for a car with a 25.7 kWh battery and a Hyper 9 motor.

A new Tesla 3 is $35,000 with 350 mile range and 125 mph top speed. If you want an electric car sell your A for $10,000 add that to the conversion price and get a new Tesla. Did I mention it also has AC, power steering and a radio?

It's a sad commentary of the times that Model A people will embrace the modification of a Model A to electric but not a newer gas engine swap.

[Harpkatt]

I would think the rear half of the drivetrain would not like what it's attached too. These machines aren't made for instant torque delivery. The rear keys come to mind.

[nkaminar]

I am not going to change over anytime soon, but, being a retired design engineer, I do admire the engineering that was put into this kit.

Electric cars, with the instant full torque, have amazing acceleration. I wonder if they engineered some torque limitation into this kit.

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by nkaminar

I am not going to change over anytime soon, but, being a retired design engineer, I do admire the engineering that was put into this kit.

Electric cars, with the instant full torque, have amazing acceleration. I wonder if they engineered some torque limitation into this kit.

I’m with nk on this. The limited range (and I remember hearing around 100 miles somewhere, perhaps in the original video?) would be a deal killer for me, as I live about 30 miles from our club’s normal muster point and as such would not be able drive reliably on even a day tour. But the engineering is impressive, and the novelty and challenge of such a conversion would make this an attractive project to resurrect a Model A with a blown engine (if you were willing to invest the $$$ knowing you’d never get them back).

But if the battery is limiting, why (naive question) could you not put in a larger battery? Yes it’s a weight tradeoff, but my son has a Kia Niro EV, which is not a large car at all, and it has a 64 kW-hr battery, over double what this kit provides.

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by JayJay

But if the battery is limiting, why (naive question) could you not put in a larger battery? Yes it’s a weight tradeoff, but my son has a Kia Niro EV, which is not a large car at all, and it has a 64 kW-hr battery, over double what this kit provides.

The battery (screencap shown) takes up most of the engine compartment and I presume is as large as they could get it. You could modify the kit to add more battery cells, but they'd have to be in some other area of the car, and the kit seller has no way to know what body style you have or where you'd want to put it. So you could extend the range but it would have to be a DIY solution.

[petew]

Very comprehensive and well engineered kit but at the end of the day at $25-$27k it doesn't make a lot of sense.
Plus in 10 or 15 years ( or less ? ) that battery pack will need to be replaced and what will that cost ?
But it is cool and I would love to drive it ...

[nkaminar]

New battery approved for production that charges in 18 seconds. It is for electric vehicles. See https://www.livescience.com/technolo...ass-production

It can also discharge in 18 seconds which means that all the energy in the battery can be dumped into the electric motor in 18 seconds, if the equipment can handle it. That means that a battery electric dragster could outrun the top fuel ones.

For a normal car the current to the motor would be limited.

[Bob Bidonde]

I started my career in engineering designing equipment lines installations, and this kit appears to be very well done. I also did structural & equipment installation designing in aircraft, and the kit is cleverly engineered from fit & function points of view. However, before even considering a conversion, I want to know its full specifications & performance including its cost, range, acceleration, weight & weight distribution, stress analyses of the brackets and Model A frame attachments.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by petew

Very comprehensive and well engineered kit but at the end of the day at $25-$27k it doesn't make a lot of sense.
Plus in 10 or 15 years ( or less ? ) that battery pack will need to be replaced and what will that cost ?
But it is cool and I would love to drive it ...

Likely the proper phrase would be "...at $25-$27k it doesn't make a lot of senseto me." To many, this conversion would make perfect sense to them. To the hobbyists that are mechanically challenged and needs to have the engine rebuilt/replaced in their Model-A, this is a viable option financially. To the hobbyist that must hire the engine maintenance work performed on their model-A, this is a valid option.

I have a son that is an EV instructor at a local Tech College. Because of that I have become educated about the workings of EVs. Just like news media sources when it comes to obtaining accurate information regarding politics, you also will find there is as much, -if not more misinformation regarding EV vehicles and their components. Replacement of a battery pack is not as prevalent as one might think.