bartsev

Wow!

2007-09-26T10:01:27Z

I must say, I have been very surprised by the media attention I have received from the simple story that a friend at the Anchorage Daily News wrote over the summer.

Now it seems the article has been featured on many prominent websites, as well as several newspapers throughout the United States. As I read through comments on these webpages, I'm glad to see most people are very positive, and have mostly words of support.

Now the bad news: Unfortunately, I have school to contend with, so I haven't been able to keep the blog updated too much, nor work on the car to the extent that I would like. However, with my running season coming to a close, my weekends and afternoons should be a bit more free, leaving me with a little more time to focus on the project, as well as documenting it for everyone via LiveJournal.

If you are interested in knowing anything more about the car, please feel free to ask specific questions! I will respond to any comment you send as soon as I find some free time, but in the meantime, please be patient, and wish me luck!

Thanks.

Interior

2007-08-22T03:10:01Z

My interior parts came in today, so the inside of my vehicle should look much improved once I get it in.

Media Coverage

2007-08-17T21:39:55Z

I was unaware until yesterday that the article in the Anchorage Daily News was also printed in The Sun Chronicle in Massachusetts and the The Post & Courier in Charleston, SC (oddly enough, I have family in both these locations...). Anyhow, welcome to any non-Alaskan readers.

A brief update:

I realized I never posted my video on here when I got the car moving a while ago. Check it out on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsTG-My8xrA. It was a very exciting day.

Now, I have temporary battery boxes built, the batteries are in the car, and I have most of the high-current wiring in place at the moment. In addition, I have the controller, motor, shunt, charger, main contactor, and circuit breaker in and ready to go.

More news to come...

bartsev @ 2007-07-09T17:57:00

2007-07-10T01:59:17Z

I just realized that a photo similar photo as the ones I just posted are already below and have been posted.

However, I did not mount that part properly - meaning, what is mounted now is different, and much improved.

bartsev @ 2007-07-09T17:55:00

2007-07-10T01:56:01Z

Well, I have the motor ready to go, with everything in place and bolted on and prepared to be jacked up and mounted onto the transmission. I just need to find myself a transmission jack, now...

What does this mean? Well, I believe I should be able to test the motor while it's in the vehicle once I get the motor mounted in. Hopefully it spins!

Perfect World readers

2007-07-06T16:44:19Z

Welcome to everyone who saw the article in today's Perfect World. I'm glad you came.

Feel free to have a look around. A new update should be coming tonight, along with some information on the progress on the car, which should be cleared of its first major obstacle either tonight or this weekend.

Feel free to contact me with any questions, or just check back from time to time.

Photos as promised

2007-07-04T04:06:07Z

Summer's well under way, and I'm finally getting my act together by updating my blog.

I finally received my motor adaptor (the part that mounts the transmission and electric motor together) about a week and a half ago. However, the company I ordered from had some difficulties with shipping - they forgot to ship 2 vital parts. I contacted them, and they are now under way, but it but a bit of a damper on my work.

In addition, I forgot to post photos before of the new and improved floors. They can be seen below.

My motor mounted onto the motor adaptor.

Donations

2007-05-26T20:27:32Z

If you think you'd like to help out with the project, the best way to do so would be to make a tax-deductible contribution. In order to finish the project and buy the remaining necessary parts, I still need to raise some money. Please view the form here.

Parts!

2007-05-04T08:58:24Z

I came home today to find, waiting in the garage a small pallet

Small Pallet

Inside were pretty much all the parts I would need for my conversion.

Pretty much all the parts I need for my conversion.

In addition, I joined the EV Discussion List last night, expecting to get a little bit of help in finding an adaptor plate for my car, as the one I got is not proper for a VW. Well, I posted an ad, and I got about 5-7 responses within 24 hours, in addition to 130+ total e-mails. I was amazed. What else? Matt says the vehicle is ready to be picked up from KCC, with new floors and everything. I'll post photos as soon as I get it home.

bartsev @ 2007-04-23T23:36:00

2007-04-24T07:46:27Z

Matt has informed me that the rear storage... thing is in place, and should be able to hold up to 200 pounds, more than enough for 3 batteries.

My parts, which I thought would be delivered tomorrow or Wednesday, actually just entered the country today. They should be on a barge on Friday, to be here next Tuesday or Wednesday. I can deal with that.

In addition, I ordered an adaptor plate from EVParts.com, for the price of $650 + ($15.82 estimated shipping).

Total costs:

Car: $500
DVDs: $144.60
Kit: $3,500
Shipping: Unknown, ~$220
Customs Broker: Unknown
Adaptor: ~$665.82

Total Cost to Date: ~$5,030.42
Total Contributions to Date: $550.00
Possible Upcoming Grant: $2,500

I'm planning a carwash to raise some money this weekend (hopefully), and will be getting an account set up with the Parent Group so I can legally acquire donations from the general public.

bartsev @ 2007-04-20T15:53:00

2007-04-20T23:57:58Z

Everything seems to finally be working out for the better now.

After towing the bug to KCC and leaving it at the welding shop, it seems the rear storage space behind the back space has been cut out, the brace support on it has been replaced, and a new plate should be on within a couple days, along with floors, thanks to Matt Stratton.

What else? After numerous delays, long-distance phone calls, e-mails, and forms, my parts finally shipped yesterday from Vancouver. With luck, they'll be on a ship today headed for Anchorage.

More updates to come soon - I promise.

bartsev @ 2007-04-12T23:16:00

2007-04-13T07:17:45Z

I have cleaned the garage, removed the nasty rear fender, and the nasty left running board.

I have decided that international shipping sucks. After 2 days of back and forth contact trying to figure out how to get parts across the border, I finally got the necessary paperwork, which I don't know what to do with after I've filled it out. Uh... great.

bartsev @ 2007-04-07T23:16:00

2007-04-08T07:17:01Z

Engine's out.

bartsev @ 2007-04-07T00:04:00

2007-04-07T08:08:59Z

I apologize for the lack of updates recently. Here's where things stand:

Parts were paid for, and they should be picked up in Vancouver by Lynden Transport for ~$230 on Tuesday, and will be here within 6-8 days after that.

The engine's out, but I don't have a jack that will lift the car high enough to remove the engine from the engine compartment. I'm working on that, though.

Photos:

The beautiful interior.

Engine off the car, on the ground.

I guess I need to clean up a little...

bartsev @ 2007-03-28T20:04:00

2007-03-29T04:05:56Z

There's an interesting article on MSN about alternative fuel vehicles - check it out.

In addition, parts have been paid for, so all I need to do now is arrange for shipping, and they should be here in the next week or two.

bartsev @ 2007-03-17T17:06:00

2007-03-18T00:08:39Z

I'm in beautiful, sunny Salem, Oregon right now (no clouds, 71°). I must say, I'm pretty excited to be here, but am just as eqaully excited to have won this.

bartsev @ 2007-03-12T21:42:00

2007-03-13T05:42:53Z

I have been formally offered 8 batteries (12 volt, US battery, 90Ah), and can pick them up as early as tonight. Hopefully, if I can get the proper jack by tomorrow, I can have the engine out before I leave on Wednesday (Washington) and will be ready to go by the time I get home.

In addition, I finally found a motor on eBay that I want. It's an 8" Advanced DC, for $935 ($500 less than new).

bartsev @ 2007-03-07T06:54:00

2007-03-07T15:56:35Z

I went to the Parent Group meeting at Steller last night (after learning that the website was wrong, and the meeting was to conclude in an hour), and requested up to $1,473 for a new, 8" Advanced DC Motor. They gave me $500, which, although it helps me, doesn't give me enough to order anything.

bartsev @ 2007-03-05T16:36:00

2007-03-06T01:37:44Z

Good news! I got my DVD explaining how to fix the floorpans on the bug.

I'm extremely excited, as I can now get on that. The replacement parts are only $30, and are in California. I also found a site that sells pretty much every part imaginable for the Super Beetle, so I'm set.

bartsev @ 2007-03-04T00:37:00

2007-03-04T09:37:02Z

With the help of Sean and his tools, the engine now looks like this:

bartsev @ 2007-03-01T00:06:00

2007-03-01T09:12:24Z

I'm slowly working away at what I'm able to take off - the rest of the screws and bolts on the engine are rusted out and at an angle where it's tough to reach them - meaning I'm going to need to find some better tools.

I did get the jack stands and grinder from Mike yesterday, though, so the car is now jacked up a couple inches, and I ground today for a couple minutes just to get an idea of the rust situation. Luckily, most of the surface rust isn't deep at all - it's coming off with relative ease.

I've got pretty much everything out of the front, though, so that's good to go. As soon as the engine comes out, I can start installing parts. We aren't used to parking without a garage, though, so this morning was a bit of a shock on the drive over. Since wind chill tonight is supposed to get down to as low as -30°, we decided to garage it. Bug's in the way, but somehow the Suburban fit...

bartsev @ 2007-02-27T23:29:00

2007-02-28T08:29:08Z

I spent a good 2-3 hours messing around with the Bug today, trying to get as much as I could off of it. Unfortunately, several of the screws are stripped, or in there really tight, so I'm having trouble getting the engine out. Hopefully by the weekend? In addition, I found the coolest electric car ever. <a href="http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/819" target="_blank<>font color=black>Check it out!</a>

The Best Investment Known To Man

2007-02-26T07:32:11Z

I stumbled upon a website owned by an old VW mechanic - 36 years experience. The problems I'm having with my car include rusting under the back seat (where the battery sits). This is what I just bought.

In addition, I'm getting a grinder, a set of jack stands, and the parts I mentioned before tomorrow.

bartsev @ 2007-02-25T03:19:00

2007-02-25T12:34:07Z

I have officially been offered 2 necessary components for my vehicle, and both are new, and free. A main contactor ($165) and a Circuit Breaker ($216.50). Total value (saved) is $381.50.

Thursday night the guys came over and we worked on removing some random parts, including engine, trunk door, gas tank, hoses, tubes, wiring, and whatever else we deemed unnecessary. We also discovered the lack of a good interior, and the abundance of rust beneath parts of the interior. Pretty much anything beneath the main upholstery was rotted out, so it's all out.

Parts from the car scattered all over the garage. It was a fun cleanup.

The interior of the car, with the front seats on the left side of the photo. The back seat is out, but notice the rust behind the passenger seat.

bartsev @ 2007-02-21T23:19:00

2007-02-22T08:20:36Z

Dean and I worked on cleaning up the car a little bit today, taking out seats, the fuel tank, etc. Photos?