Tesla swapped 2wd 1st Gen build

Yea I will have coolant running through everything using heat exchangers and such, I plan on using a 400volt inline water heater for cabin heat and to heat the batteries in the winter. And i plan on using a earlier model s ac compressor that is PWM controlled for cabin AC and possibly as a chiller for the coolant

IMO the AEM stuff is nice but seems to be over complicated and expensive. Maybe if I was using something besides Tesla stuff it would be a option, but ev controls controller is a no brainer when using Tesla stuff

And yes J1772 will mainly be charging, I won’t be able to access teslas network unless I get one of those new tesla charging stations local that lets non teslas charge there

 

I’m in. Subbed.

 

Subbed

 

Im not really an EV guy, but this looks awesome! sub'd for sure

Is there any downside to relocating the battery controller "penthouse" all the way up front? Aka is voltage drop for any of its functions a concern?

 

You won’t see a voltage drop over the 10ft cable it will probably have, the two frame mounted battery modules are hooked up right under the penthouse, and the bed mounted ones will probably be 10-15ft long so it shouldn’t be a problem

 

With Tesla convincing just about every other manufacture to adopt their charging standards I would think it would become "open season" for using the Super Chargers

 

Do you have to use all the Tesla computers and such for traction control, throttle management, etc? Or can you bypass all that and drift that thing??

 

It will all be bypassed, ev controls sell a traction controller but it’s GPS based and I’m not sure how much I’d like that, after it’s all installed I’ll probably install a LSD in the drive unit since they come with a open diff and everything is computer controlled on a normal Tesla

 

Can’t wait to see how this goes. where do you buy the Tesla parts?


Been curious about a similar swap for my 4wd reg cab. When I built the flatbed, I left space under it where I could fit a battery pack.

would be really hard to retain 4wd I guess… unless I mounted the Tesla motors so that each wheel drives an axle.

 

@stevesnj

 

Great project!

 

Subd this so cool.

 

Unplugged Performance sells a model 3/Y torsion LSD unit:
https://unpluggedperformance.com/pr...tial-lsd-for-tesla-model-3-and-tesla-model-y/

 

Not to hijack but this company is offering in 2025, a solid axle motor with locking capability and inverter. Steerable front version also. Looks like it will simplify conversions of your favorite truck/SUV

https://www.magna.com/stories/article/2023/ebeam-a-smart-practical-solution-for-electrifying-trucks

 

What would be the right name after conversion?
TacoEV
Evtaco
Evoma

 

Oof might wanna delete that last one

 

This is why the internet was created.

 

At first I thought’s, you’ll build a hybrid , so you won’t remove the engine. This way is cool too. You can add a 2nd battery to go 400 miles later, just a thought!.

 

Oops, good idea, let me do so. Done.