My Dusty 71 GMCe Electruck

[Gregski]

bro thanks for that history lesson, but what does that have to do with the EV Conversion and when are we gonna see them wheels spin?

well, because the previous owner was rather conservative in the opening she cut, it made access to the emgeez difficult (MG1 & MG2) and since my Lexus transmotor came with only one MG safety cover thingie, The Greg had to figure out how to get to the other one, one had better access than the other, can you guess which side needed the cover, lol?


before pics of access to MG1 or should I say lack of, plus the orange high voltage cable ran way to close to the sheet metal and on these old trucks there are a million sharp edges or all sorts of pointy screws protruding below deck, just waiting to nick that cable


access to MG2 was gooder but also too close for my taste

[Gregski]

and here's what the MG covers look like I hope they are identical cause I just ordered a new one ($25 bucks plus another $20 to have it shipped, but I justified it as a much needed safety item)

Part # 82821-30710

[Gregski]

before commiittiing (how do you even spell that word? it's the Mississippi of verbs) blade to sheet metal, I made this fancy shield, to protect me... [wait for it] from me !!!

and couple angle grinder cutting wheels later and dust once again all over my beautiful shop and in my nostrils we had gorgeous access and clearance for MG2 and had to use an adjustable hammer to improve access to MG1

couple short 1 minute videos of how it all went down:

EV Conversion by a 1,000 Cuts

Body Work With An Adjustable Hammer

[Gregski]

so while I was standing in line at the Lexus parts counter the two dudes in front of me were buying OEM Lexus floor mats each, and one of them asked the parts guy behind the counter how do you install them [you can't make this stuff up people]

I am way more handsum than this, the sun was in my eyes, and the WS stands for World Standard (that's sum next level made up sh!et right there)

[zicc1835]

Originally Posted by Gregski

so while I was standing in line at the Lexus parts counter the two dudes in front of me were buying OEM Lexus floor mats each, and one of them asked the parts guy behind the counter how do you install them [you can't make this stuff up people]

I am way more handsum than this, the sun was in my eyes, and the WS stands for World Standard (that's sum next level made up sh!et right there)

LOL the G-Man always informative definitely entertaining

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by zicc1835

LOL the G-Man always informative definitely entertaining

ha thanks that made my day

[Gregski]

Me: "I need to stop procrastinating and figure out how to add more transmission fluid to that Lexus GS450 haytch !"

also Me: "Can you vacuum a shop-vac with another shop-vac ?"


Hank Hill proves WD40 is the answer to all problems.

[Gregski]

so back to that transmission oil top off which I have been avoiding doing, and here's why

Lexus claims for this to be a Maintenance Free Transmission (pronounced: good for 100k miles before you have to do anything to it) I recall this being attempted by automobile manufacturers in the past and it just takes simple tasks like checking the fluid levels and or topping off the fluid and makes them impossible to do later!

For instance this transmission does not have a dip stick, [unless you consider it's owner] and what appears to be metal dip stick tube, is actually an inlet for the coolant aka water cooling. and the best thing about that tube is that it is joined to the pressed in actual inlet on the body of the trans with a flexible rubber hose, so you can easily remove it / delete it as it is almost guaranteed it will interfere with the firewall in your conversion vehicle, and then you just run a rubber hose directly to that short stub on the transmission

Second, this transmission does not have a filler hole. That's right there is no unscrew this bolt and pour some delicious trans fluid in.

[Gregski]

so I am relying on this LS600h procedures but I recon they is the same(ish) Lexus LS600h Chassis

any of youz own or have dealt with one of these lifetime maintenance free transmissions ?

[Gregski]

poor girl was thirsty she drank 3 quarts and never overflowed yet, looks like I'll be heading back to the floor mat store

[72 tigger]

“Floor mat store”

[notsolo]

Nice work.....nowhere in the drain refill, instructions and implementation was the term filter used, reused, or filtered. Maybe that's where the floor mats come in, hope you got some. Nice work rehumping the trans bump hump. Oops, or metal thingy over transmission....Vacuuming the garage, oh boy, something big is coming!

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by notsolo

Nice work.....nowhere in the drain refill, instructions and implementation was the term filter used, reused, or filtered. Maybe that's where the floor mats come in, hope you got some. Nice work rehumping the trans bump hump. Oops, or metal thingy over transmission....Vacuuming the garage, oh boy, something big is coming!

oh my lord, note to self do not attempt to drink coffee whilst reading another one of this guys comments, he hits all the marks

• opens with a complement
• mentions floor mats (he reads my words?)
• metal thingy (speaks my language)
• nails it with a comic that hits home so hard (when I used to buy cars on the weekend, on Monday a buddy of mine back at the office would ask: What colors is it? get it plural as in a junker?

[Gregski]

so it was back to the Floor Mat Emporium


Me: "two quarts of ATF WS transmission juice please"

Lexus:

[Gregski]

so after a second trip to get more trans fluid, she only took a small swig of the 4th bottle for a total of 3 1/4 quarts thought this will be helpful to future Padawans topping theirs off

[Gregski]

this next high voltage motor cable repair I wrote up in excruciating detail in this Lexus GS450h Transmission Inverter High Voltage Cable Repair so here I will just share some highlights, in case you was wondering why the truck aint running yet

when i first got my Lexus GS450h transmission off a seller on eBay I noticed the big fat orange cables attached to the motors had small gashes in them with some copper exposed, Not Good!

[Gregski]

I was very pleased to learn that the cable ends come apart and that these cables are serviceable, Mr. Toyota will be receiving a Christmas Card this year

[Gregski]

and now I had to do the other side

Fun Level: 2

[MDPotter]

As always, I enjoy the humorous updates. "Floor Mat Emporium"

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by MDPotter

As always, I enjoy the humorous updates. "Floor Mat Emporium"

appreciate the positive feedback MD, it feeds my fragile eagle, have you ventured out by the The Good Enuff Garage Channel of Tubes for You

[MDPotter]

Originally Posted by Gregski

appreciate the positive feedback MD, it feeds my fragile eagle, have you ventured out by the The Good Enuff Garage Channel of Tubes for You

I hit the subscribe button and I'll check out your archive!

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by MDPotter

I hit the subscribe button and I'll check out your archive!

thank's I'll Venmo you the bribe money

[MDPotter]

Originally Posted by Gregski

thank's I'll Venmo you the bribe money

The government can track that, I only take cash.

[Gregski]

just a quick check list of how my Final Assembly went down as a husband, amateur EV converter, and a father of a teenage daughter with a 2010 Mazda 3 which just through a P0753 code aka "bad shift solenoid" [pronounced: "needs a new friggen $900 dollar TCM"]

1. Install Inverter bracket
   
   • remove the bad OEM TCM from Mazda
2. Install the six Battery modules
   
   • install brand new $400 dollar aftermarket TCM in the Mazda
3. Install Inverter
   
   • test drive... [ahem] the Mazda
4. Install Safety Box
   
   • learn that the new TCM is a brick and needs to be programmed / so remove it (how did it even drive, I don't know?!)
5. Install the battery pack lid
   
   • put the bad OEM TCM back in the Mazda
6. Install the DC-DC Converter
   
   • learn that the Mazda stealership won't program the new brick aftermarket TCM unless it's installed
7. Install the Battery Charger
   
   • remove the bad OEM TCM from Mazda [again]
8. Install the Main Engine Wire Harness (the Inverter plug one)
   
   • deliberately reinstall the brand new $400 dollar aftermarket bricked TCM in the Mazda
9. Install the Transmission Wire Harness (the one with the resolver cables)
   
10. Simply connect both the A and B plugs into the VCU, and you're done!
    

Easy-peasy !!! do you have a similar story? I would luv to hear about it to calm my nerves, jk



The Suspect and People's Exhibits A & B

[D.B]

Bulletpoint for 9: Drive to Mazda stealership for TCM programming.

Bulletpoint for 10: Give Mazda back to teenage daughter.

At least you made a few people happy. Your daughter will get her car back, your wife because your daughter is happy and you because both your daughter and your wife is happy. Nothing beats having a happy family. Oh, also you got practice in removing and re-installing a TCM in a 2010 Mazda 3.