I can see where it would be polarizing. ha. I absolutely love it. There were EV's back when this one rolled off the line, some folks might want to check their history. (edit) Forgot to mention THANK YOU for making it reversible. I don't know if people know how much work that is.
@@dissrepair uh they lost favor due to the damn muffler and electric fkn starter motor being invented(thanks Kettering. Until post ww2 people still had to buy gas outside of cities mostly in cans from drug stores and pharmacies.
Nearly all EVs were gone by the time the Model A came out. There heyday was mostly before the First World War. Most were gone by the early 20s, with a couple lasting until the early 30s. And those sold in tiny numbers.
If you think how many Model A were hot ridden in the 50s, this is really just a continuation of the spirit of hot rodding. You put a modern power plant in it and made it better and faster. That’s hot rodding at its very finest.
As a 1931 Model A Roadster owner myself, I think this is pretty dang awesome. I appreciate the fact that it is a bolt in conversion and does not detract from the driving experience (minus the engine sound that I am a sucker for). In a more looking into the future tone, as electrics and the battery improve I do see a place for EV conversions such as this. Especially looking 30+ years away. Do I feel you will still be able to get fuel for the old engines? Hopefully, however I do see rising cost and if EV's fully take, less locations to get fuel, Let alone fuel that is more friendly to the old engines (AKA no ethanol). Thanks for helping make things look a little brighter in the future of the old car hobby.
I'm a purist yet I appreciate beautiful engineering. I think it's pretty awesome. Painting the unit green was a very nice touch as well as the charging port. No doubt I would upgrade the brakes. Other than that, it's a fantastic local cruiser.
Excellent work as always guys! The fact that it is entirely reversible with no significant modifications made to the body or frame of the car is the cherry on top, also that charging port location was a stroke of genius. You can still fully enjoy the car and get more reliable use out of it than you might with the original motor, but if you change your mind or want to sell it later you can simply swap the original motor back in. I have driven cars from that era before and trying to navigate modern congested roads with a 20-30hp car that tops out at 40mph can be unnerving to say the least.
Thank you for the encouragement. We loved this car and look forward to building more like it. I especially like that it can be returned to original, if someone wanted to. It is basically an engine swap! Thanks for watching!
The Model A has 40 horsepower. It was the older Model T that had only 20 horsepower. Don't exaggerate. Classic cars should be kept STOCK. Get a Shay Replicar if you want faster and/or more modern.
@@michaelbenardo5695 I see your reading comprehension is lacking. I was referring to a prewar packard and others not the model A when I mentioned HP and speed. You must be a miserable person at car shows. In the many shows I have gone to I have only seen a handful of truly all original stock cars. Different intakes or exhaust, different carbs, paint, etc the majority or cars I see are modified in some way. At least in this case the car can easily be returned to stock and it wasnt cut up to make a hot rod. I find it hard to have a problem with someone bolting on a set of reproduction wheels and radial tires on their muscle car to drive around on while the bias plys sit in the garage. Thankfully its not your car and not your decision so all you can do is scoff at people from your self appointed position of piety as you walk around car shows noticing bolts put in backwards and alternators where generators should be.
@@michaelbenardo5695 They already HAD the car. The conversion did not hurt ANYTHING and can easily be reversed. The fact is that it is THEIR car to do WHATEVER they want with it. You don't have to like it.
@@lurch789It depends on the area and the traffic. Quiet back country County roads or even Highways in rural areas are just fine. Even in town in smaller towns where speeds are under 30 anyways is OK. Interstates or expressways no way. Heavily congested multi-lane or two lane no way.
i own a Model A and i had thought of converting to electric or a modern 4 cylinder because keeping it up and driving on the old slow engine sucks even though i converted to 12v , electronic ignition and weber 2 barrel carb
It's too bad that happens. Because right now the intervening footprint for electric vehicles is greater at the time of its setting at the dealership compared to the entire lifetime as a conventional fuel vehicle.
I don't love gutting an original Model A because it overheats. It shouldn't. They could have probably fixed that problem with a radiator swap. I do love that there is a E conversion kit for the A though. The Model A is on a short list of cars that will probably always have available parts. Much like a VW bug, you can essentially build one from scratch today out of a parts catalog if you had the money. So having an electric drivetrain available so that someone could build an e-rod is a great idea.
This is actually a great use for EV….brings new life to ancient technology and reliability! ……especially vehicles that sit a lot …no worries about fuels going bad etc.
My belief is if the engine is past the point of no return then make it Propane fuelled or Electric it may not be original but at least some part of history survives.@@donreinke5863
Yeah if the engine is beyond repair but aside from that it is pointless to convert a Ford Model T and A if anything it is damaging the whole Charm and historical value of the car second these engine run on anything that burns you don't need gas for it so restmod a beyond repair sure aside from that no however you do you what the guy wanted makes sense the engine was bad and he wanted to enjoy it everyday that I agree with I just don't want all the Model T and A to be electric keep some of them preserved at least.
If you did even watch the video they made everything using original mounting points without any modifications so you can switch back to original engine. Because these conversions make these vehicles usable and can be driven even in cities in the future. This way more people can see you driving and you don't need to abandon these nice old machines.@@jonathancunningham8739
I appreciate the engineering and I know it wasn’t easy to do and it’s good you guys made so you can always take it out and install the original engine.
My very first car was a '31 Model A coupe and I rebuilt it from the frame up but I would never have thought of seeing an electic one in my lifetime; great job guys and I'd LOVE to own one. Thanks!
True essence of hot rod or car builders. Never stop changing or improving. The car culture is alive. I'm in California, crazy governor will outlaw hot rods one day. Would love to convert my 31 ford pu.
Considering electric cars predates this wonderful classic by some two decades, I'm not at all upset at the conversion. And anything to get young people interested in classic/antique cars is a plus in my book.
Painting the battery box the original Ford engine green is a very nice touch. Really appreciate the engineering that went behind this conversion. I have seen many chops and hacks into electric, but to engineer this into a totally reversible back to its original engine is an awesome feed of engineering.
As a classic car enthusiasm the engine is part of the fun. Even being stopped at a red light just listening to the engine in idle is a pleasure. While i drive a hybrid/auto geabox mon-fri, on weekends the plesure of a column stickshift and a petrol engine humming away on the road is unbeatable.
Awesome conversion! I would absolutely love to do an electric conversion on my Z car. I've been a gear head my whole life, bought an EV just to save $$$ on my commute. Now I don't think I'll ever own another ICE model again, ever. I'm 46 and have done all my own work. Everything from rebuilding a motor, transmission, engine swap, you name it. I love the simplicity of EVs. No more oil changes, brakes last longer, etc..
Okay...as a Model A owner it is not for me, because I enjoy the maintenance and tinkering of the historic engineering. However, I am very impressed with how well you did this job, and the fact that you made it a reversible conversion. Brilliant choice to paint the motor box original Ford engine green. I always say, your car...enjoy it the way that is right for you.
I see this conversion the same way I see rat rods: I wouldn't do it myself, but there's a unique beauty to it and I really admire the work, care, and thought that went into it, and if it makes the owners happy then sweet!
I LOVE this so much! Fantastic example of the Engineer's Creed K.I.S.S.! If I ever win the lottery I will be buying a pre-war era Rolls Royce Phantom II and having it converted to an EV just like this!
Nicely done reversible conversion! The green battery box, charge port, and bell housing adapter are quite nice! Which BMS and charger did you go with? Is your DC/DC converter 6V or 12V? Glad to see you’re keeping it reversible. My ‘30 Model A Ford pickup is already a Frankentruck, I’m looking forward to a similar conversion this Fall. Thanks for the inspiration!
While not a fan of EV's, I do appreciate how it's a bolt in and removable conversion. One thing's for certain, no more cracked fenders and numb hands from an unbalanced Model A engine. As many other have mentioned, updating the brakes should be on the list for safety.
I love it, it's gonna remove all that nasty smell, you don't need to play with the fuel mixture and the timing, you don't have to warm up the car, downside you have no engine noise, you can play sound simulator.
First, I'm happy to see the mostly positive feedback from people with open minds. There is one valid point for my specific support of this project. With the ICE, the car could not meet the needs of the owners as a car they could rely on. Whether it was a weak engine, noise, fueling issues, or something else, the switch to an EV made the car more useful to those owners. It became faster, more reliable, easier to maintain, and likely to last far longer than to refurbish the original engine. I do hope the owners like the modification enough to make the decision to modernize other parts, like the brakes and transmission, saving those original parts from further wear and tear, while making the car even more useful to themselves. It was also nice to see these modders show respect to the car they were working on. Far too many people leave nothing original, turning a classic into something else. (better maybe, but like this car, the quirks make the car.)
ill tell ya now if more of these was converted to ev you would see a lot more on the roads and i would love that.cant beat the look of these old beautiful cars
I love it. Had an old Jeep for more than 20 years, then bought an EV. Love both, but fact at least for Germany is: Upkeep of IC-Vehicles is expensive, especially those with high fuel consumption and electric vehicles give you a smoth drive with way more power. I also can charge at home on a very stable grid. Turning a classic into an EV gives you the best of both worlds.
Great video. This is exactly what I want to do to my model A. I can't wait for this stuff to come down in price and be accessible to the average hotrodder.
I like it. I also like that the modification is completely reversible. Now while the engine and cooling system are out, time to do a complete restore on those items.
It's just crazy that some folks think gasoline is not going away! Apart from missing the cool combustion engine sounds, going electric just transforms the driving experience of any old classic car!
Fun Fact: I have been daily driving my stock 1929 Ford Tudor for a year and a half now, and still haven't had any troubles. Also, I am doing this at the age of 19.
Brother you're living my dream! Paul Shinn got me hooked on model As a little over a year ago, and I've been looking for the right car ever since. Hopefully I'll find one here before too long! I'm 23 btw so the older folks need not worry about this hobby, the younger generation will keep these cars going for a long time yet
Fantastic job gents. The EV vs ICE question can be divisive. I’ve got one foot in each world and get lots of enjoyment out of both. I appreciate my modern, silent and quick MiniCooper EV and my old, rattle can, smoky, leaky Jeep.
I'm glad I found this video I have wanted to convert a Model A for a while now. Amazing build focused on simplicity and not changing the car so a future owner can convert it back if needed.
First and foremost I most appreciate your dedication to avoiding modifying anything permanently. That was the best news. The workmanship looks quite good too. It doesn't look like a hack job, which is also very good news. That said, I normally do not consider electric conversions that retain the transmission to be good, but, in this case, it avoided hacking up the drive train, and so it actually makes sense here. Just leave it in high gear, if it has an appropriate motor. You could swap in a lower axle ratio. No harm in that. My Model A pickup has 4.11 gears, and the old engine is rather screaming along at 65 mph. Would love to swap my gears for yours lol. To me, the BEST part of old vehicles IS the original or at least period correct drive train. THAT'S what makes them interesting, outside of just looking neat. So, I don't have a problem with the electrical conversion specifically, just non-period correct engine swaps in general. In my experience, Model As drive in today's traffic without issue, so all of that talk to the contrary was just unnecessary justification, and it is largely untrue. Never heard of one blowing a head gasket, but of course it's possible with any engine, so I don't doubt it could happen with one of these as well. Mine has been in the family since 1941, and of course I want to keep it as original as practical. It's not restored, it's just a cool old truck. Driving it is very much like stepping into a time machine. The sights, sounds, vibrations, the odors, all of it. Like stepping back in time.
I LOVE this video...I have always been a Model A fan and it is so refreshing to see something totally different done to it. I also appreciate how stock the car looks. I would love to convert a classic to electric. My dream car for a project like this would be a 1960's Ford Falcon Ranchero. Nice job. Thanks for posting this!!!
Unfortunate that the previous restoration sounded more cosmetic than mechanical. Even in gas form these cars are pretty tough and reliable. That said, this is a neat conversion. Also the brakes are terrible because they’re not adjusted, not because they’re mechanical. Should still be plenty able to lock up at speed on Model A tires and at that point more braking doesn’t help.
A much smoother ride is obtained when the originals A’s wheels are replaced with 1932 wheels and the spare fits the fender well too.. I drove a 1931 Model A pickup with 1932 wheels in high school and College.
Awsome! I have a 1930 Model A speedster with a 32-34 model B motor. I've been considering a shift to electric. the motor mount is very clean. I have a Borg Warner overdrive that helps with dirvability. Thanks for sharing your build.
@@michaelbenardo5695 I understand. My car was made into a speedster some many years ago. It has upgraded brakes, 16" wheels, and an upgraded engine ( Ford model B). The reason I'm interested in this conversion is there's little modifications needed and the motor could be reinstalled. However a model B trans is different than a model A. Thank you for your quest to retain history. I completely understand.
The perfect conversion. Ford would have loved to build similar, if they'd been possible/practical back then. Even his wife drove a Detroit Model 47 and temporarily looked at building electric cars around 1914. Of those who were down on the conversion, I'd bet a lot of them have hacked up some old cars in their time. You just did a sensible swap, 100% reversible.
@@dissrepair Odd fact: V8=cool, EV=ruined. 😁 It should be more pleasant to drive and store, just climb in and drive. He might notice his car and garage loses its distinctive "musk" smell after a few months; 70% burned oil, 20% from fuel, common with pre-60's cars.
We’ll, it has good visibility. Nice job with the trans adapter, but the Model A flywheel housing isn’t cast into the block, it’s a bolt-on part, and you can buy one for about $40. Another advantage of the Model A is that third gear is not a gear, but a direct coupling of the input and output shafts, so it’s totally quiet.
I love the fact that the conversion is not overtly complex. People forget that some early cars were electric but battery tech at the time meant they were not good for long range. I see wedding cars and even avertisers benefiting from something like this!
Great way to see a classic stick around and actually get used more often. With the Regen braking they could probably fell like it will actually stop instead of 'push and pray' brakes.
Fantastic. You know, my generation probably longs for muscle cars but really I can see how say a Modal A for cruising around would be just as much fun and having electric would really be cool.
Model A guy here. Never been a purist, to each their own. I Love it. Would like to get a step file for the adapter plate. Any interest in selling the design?
Well done. Thanks for the video. I like everything about it except the tech part. I'm a geezer and just the term "firmware" make me incontinent, lol. Looks like you guys had lots of fun. Very respectful of the car. The charging port is awesome!
Great job lads. 😀 "like a tesla only cooler" Yep. Fantastic idea and the charging port is genius and elegant with it. A lovely car with family history that can now be actually used reliably(and put back to original if ever required). 👍
What the girl says about the car (12:53) is all true and the one and only best description ever. It's like all the coolest ev cars, only way cooler. 👍😁
It’s a really well done build, but I personally wouldn’t do it. Part of the charm of the Model A is it’s mechanicalness. I just drove my 1930 Fordor on a 2600 mile trip with my son and zero mechanical issues. We did 500 miles on day. I don’t think you’d be able to do that with this-the converted vintage cars typically have very limited range. If the owner converted simply because of overheating issues, they should just fix the overheating issues. I drove mine in some brutal weather, horrible Chicago traffic, and parades, don’t have overheating issues. The only time my car has gotten very hot was when I was pushing it too hard in the colorado mountains. I simply took it a little easier on it and the temps were within a safe range. I keep hearing about converting their old cars to electric for reliability reasons. Realistically, those old cars -VWs, model As, Porsches, etc , are super reliable when they are done right. Let’s remember that Tesla’s do not exactly have a great record for reliability- so converting to electric isn’t a guarantee. Again, it’s a nice build. I would not do it personally , but I can’t say I hate this one either
Nice workmanship and engineering. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should though. Like retro-mods of 50s and 60s cars, many were retromodded even when they drove well and kept up with highway speeds and handling. The charm is then gone, gone is the unique sound of the Model A and the sometimes cumbersome driving but charming experience and down to earth history.
If I had to own and drive an EV. I would take the Model E over a top of the line Tesla every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Excellent job guys. Who said EV's couldn't have real style.
I think that it's great that this conversion was done in a way which completely respected the original design and made no changes that couldn't be reversed. But given the new motor's capability, I don't believe that unless the software is changed to limit its performance, limit top speed, AND unless the brakes are improved, the car is unsafe to drive in traffic on today's public roads.
Very cool. I work with a bunch of EV guys in Portland OR and this would be perfect here. I have a 27 T roadster that I made a custom chassis for to make a traditional hot rod but it doesn't have an engine in it yet. May be the best way to go. Also, the 3 wheeler on my avatar I built but the motor needs work so that may be a good candidate too.
I can see where it would be polarizing. ha. I absolutely love it. There were EV's back when this one rolled off the line, some folks might want to check their history. (edit) Forgot to mention THANK YOU for making it reversible. I don't know if people know how much work that is.
You are correct. EVs were around at the start. They lost favor to petrol once gas become a commercially available fuel! Thanks for watching
@@dissrepair uh they lost favor due to the damn muffler and electric fkn starter motor being invented(thanks Kettering.
Until post ww2 people still had to buy gas outside of cities mostly in cans from drug stores and pharmacies.
Nearly all EVs were gone by the time the Model A came out. There heyday was mostly before the First World War. Most were gone by the early 20s, with a couple lasting until the early 30s. And those sold in tiny numbers.
There's also steam powered cars but who suggested we go back to using steam again? Okay there's a couple people.
@@CAROLDDISCOVER-2025 I think Jay Leno got a speeding ticket in a Stanley Steamer... and let's not forget Wood gas powered cars!
the fact that the IC can go back in is what 'sold' me. That charging port... fantastic. Nice job gentlemen.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
The VW conversion I'm doing is the same. It's a completely reversible bolt in job.
If you think how many Model A were hot ridden in the 50s, this is really just a continuation of the spirit of hot rodding. You put a modern power plant in it and made it better and faster. That’s hot rodding at its very finest.
The old guys hated that I had historical plates on my 1980 brat.
I bet they were shocked that a brat could be historic !! It still seems like they weren’t made that long ago!
Made them feel old, remembering Ancient times of 1980 LOL. Cars only 44 years old now.
We need to bring them back into production.
As a 1931 Model A Roadster owner myself, I think this is pretty dang awesome. I appreciate the fact that it is a bolt in conversion and does not detract from the driving experience (minus the engine sound that I am a sucker for). In a more looking into the future tone, as electrics and the battery improve I do see a place for EV conversions such as this. Especially looking 30+ years away. Do I feel you will still be able to get fuel for the old engines? Hopefully, however I do see rising cost and if EV's fully take, less locations to get fuel, Let alone fuel that is more friendly to the old engines (AKA no ethanol). Thanks for helping make things look a little brighter in the future of the old car hobby.
about the sound, you can always rig the EV loudspeakers one at front and the other at the rear and play a Ford Model A sound.
I'm a purist yet I appreciate beautiful engineering. I think it's pretty awesome. Painting the unit green was a very nice touch as well as the charging port. No doubt I would upgrade the brakes. Other than that, it's a fantastic local cruiser.
Beautifully done conversion
Thank you
I’d consider buying a kit (if you made one) and doing this to one of my model As. Y’all did a great job..
Thank you. We do have it available as a kit if you wanna reach out to flash drive motors
Excellent work as always guys! The fact that it is entirely reversible with no significant modifications made to the body or frame of the car is the cherry on top, also that charging port location was a stroke of genius. You can still fully enjoy the car and get more reliable use out of it than you might with the original motor, but if you change your mind or want to sell it later you can simply swap the original motor back in. I have driven cars from that era before and trying to navigate modern congested roads with a 20-30hp car that tops out at 40mph can be unnerving to say the least.
Thank you for the encouragement. We loved this car and look forward to building more like it. I especially like that it can be returned to original, if someone wanted to. It is basically an engine swap! Thanks for watching!
The Model A has 40 horsepower. It was the older Model T that had only 20 horsepower. Don't exaggerate. Classic cars should be kept STOCK. Get a Shay Replicar if you want faster and/or more modern.
@@michaelbenardo5695 I see your reading comprehension is lacking. I was referring to a prewar packard and others not the model A when I mentioned HP and speed. You must be a miserable person at car shows. In the many shows I have gone to I have only seen a handful of truly all original stock cars. Different intakes or exhaust, different carbs, paint, etc the majority or cars I see are modified in some way. At least in this case the car can easily be returned to stock and it wasnt cut up to make a hot rod. I find it hard to have a problem with someone bolting on a set of reproduction wheels and radial tires on their muscle car to drive around on while the bias plys sit in the garage. Thankfully its not your car and not your decision so all you can do is scoff at people from your self appointed position of piety as you walk around car shows noticing bolts put in backwards and alternators where generators should be.
@@michaelbenardo5695 They already HAD the car. The conversion did not hurt ANYTHING and can easily be reversed. The fact is that it is THEIR car to do WHATEVER they want with it. You don't have to like it.
@@lurch789It depends on the area and the traffic. Quiet back country County roads or even Highways in rural areas are just fine. Even in town in smaller towns where speeds are under 30 anyways is OK. Interstates or expressways no way. Heavily congested multi-lane or two lane no way.
i own a Model A and i had thought of converting to electric or a modern 4 cylinder because keeping it up and driving on the old slow engine sucks even though i converted to 12v , electronic ignition and weber 2 barrel carb
The one guy was right, once batteries catchup then EV's will take over. Nicely done guys.
You are so right. Battery tech is the number one challenge.
It’s on the horizon
@@scottmeeker9971 So is fusion power supplying electricity too cheap to meter 😀
It's too bad that happens. Because right now the intervening footprint for electric vehicles is greater at the time of its setting at the dealership compared to the entire lifetime as a conventional fuel vehicle.
@@dissrepairhow about the environmental damage caused by the mining materials needed for the batteries?
I don't love gutting an original Model A because it overheats. It shouldn't. They could have probably fixed that problem with a radiator swap.
I do love that there is a E conversion kit for the A though. The Model A is on a short list of cars that will probably always have available parts. Much like a VW bug, you can essentially build one from scratch today out of a parts catalog if you had the money. So having an electric drivetrain available so that someone could build an e-rod is a great idea.
Beautiful job on this in so many ways, especially the preservation effort. Truly a renaissance in motoring!
Thanks. It’s the next evolution for sure.
I m still waiting for my back to the future hover car conversion. LoL
This is actually a great use for EV….brings new life to ancient technology and reliability! ……especially vehicles that sit a lot …no worries about fuels going bad etc.
Dont want any glorified golf cart. Doesnt matter what body it has.
My belief is if the engine is past the point of no return then make it Propane fuelled or Electric it may not be original but at least some part of history survives.@@donreinke5863
Yeah if the engine is beyond repair but aside from that it is pointless to convert a Ford Model T and A if anything it is damaging the whole Charm and historical value of the car second these engine run on anything that burns you don't need gas for it so restmod a beyond repair sure aside from that no however you do you what the guy wanted makes sense the engine was bad and he wanted to enjoy it everyday that I agree with I just don't want all the Model T and A to be electric keep some of them preserved at least.
If you did even watch the video they made everything using original mounting points without any modifications so you can switch back to original engine. Because these conversions make these vehicles usable and can be driven even in cities in the future. This way more people can see you driving and you don't need to abandon these nice old machines.@@jonathancunningham8739
@@donreinke5863as if a 100 year old engine is much faster
Great work. Most people don't know Henry's wife drove an electric car.
I appreciate the engineering and I know it wasn’t easy to do and it’s good you guys made so you can always take it out and install the original engine.
My very first car was a '31 Model A coupe and I rebuilt it from the frame up but I would never have thought of seeing an electic one in my lifetime; great job guys and I'd LOVE to own one. Thanks!
That's awesome that it was your first car. Thanks for watching.
True essence of hot rod or car builders. Never stop changing or improving. The car culture is alive. I'm in California, crazy governor will outlaw hot rods one day. Would love to convert my 31 ford pu.
Sounds like a super cool project ! I’m sure we can help you out.
Next a Model A engine in a Tesla.
Considering electric cars predates this wonderful classic by some two decades, I'm not at all upset at the conversion.
And anything to get young people interested in classic/antique cars is a plus in my book.
Something so elegant and beautiful here I almost cried. Seriously. Beyond impressed.
Thank you for your encouraging comment and thanks for watching!
I'm a model A owner. That is a fantastic engineering conversion. The green engine was a great idea.
I like how the conversion’s reversible, and non destructive :)
Painting the battery box the original Ford engine green is a very nice touch. Really appreciate the engineering that went behind this conversion. I have seen many chops and hacks into electric, but to engineer this into a totally reversible back to its original engine is an awesome feed of engineering.
As a classic car enthusiasm the engine is part of the fun. Even being stopped at a red light just listening to the engine in idle is a pleasure. While i drive a hybrid/auto geabox mon-fri, on weekends the plesure of a column stickshift and a petrol engine humming away on the road is unbeatable.
Awesome conversion! I would absolutely love to do an electric conversion on my Z car. I've been a gear head my whole life, bought an EV just to save $$$ on my commute. Now I don't think I'll ever own another ICE model again, ever. I'm 46 and have done all my own work. Everything from rebuilding a motor, transmission, engine swap, you name it. I love the simplicity of EVs. No more oil changes, brakes last longer, etc..
I d like to see other conversions of larger vehicles to be an EV and if down the road converted back.
Love this! Any chance you guys could sell any components, deigns or a part list?
Okay...as a Model A owner it is not for me, because I enjoy the maintenance and tinkering of the historic engineering. However, I am very impressed with how well you did this job, and the fact that you made it a reversible conversion. Brilliant choice to paint the motor box original Ford engine green. I always say, your car...enjoy it the way that is right for you.
That is a cool conversion and that cleverness for the charge port access❤
I still have a photo of my late fathers 29 Model A. This conversion is fantastic.
I see this conversion the same way I see rat rods: I wouldn't do it myself, but there's a unique beauty to it and I really admire the work, care, and thought that went into it, and if it makes the owners happy then sweet!
Agreed I see it as pointless for these early models they ran on anything that burns but there is a strange beauty to these.
Fun project guys. Brakes upgrade would attract a lot of interest as well. Well done !!
I LOVE this so much! Fantastic example of the Engineer's Creed K.I.S.S.! If I ever win the lottery I will be buying a pre-war era Rolls Royce Phantom II and having it converted to an EV just like this!
Nicely done reversible conversion! The green battery box, charge port, and bell housing adapter are quite nice! Which BMS and charger did you go with? Is your DC/DC converter 6V or 12V? Glad to see you’re keeping it reversible.
My ‘30 Model A Ford pickup is already a Frankentruck, I’m looking forward to a similar conversion this Fall. Thanks for the inspiration!
While not a fan of EV's, I do appreciate how it's a bolt in and removable conversion. One thing's for certain, no more cracked fenders and numb hands from an unbalanced Model A engine. As many other have mentioned, updating the brakes should be on the list for safety.
I love it, it's gonna remove all that nasty smell, you don't need to play with the fuel mixture and the timing, you don't have to warm up the car, downside you have no engine noise, you can play sound simulator.
Banned from the MAFCA? Now you know you’re on the right track. Banned? It’s a badge of honor!
Another everyday driver rises from the dust well done.
I have a 1930 Ford Model A. Gret job! But when I druve my Model A I like thinking about the past. Mine will stay original!
very good , keeps these relics on the road...
This is really cool. Converting IC cars to electric is about to become a big industry. I would love to have an EV Nash Metropolitan.
First, I'm happy to see the mostly positive feedback from people with open minds. There is one valid point for my specific support of this project. With the ICE, the car could not meet the needs of the owners as a car they could rely on. Whether it was a weak engine, noise, fueling issues, or something else, the switch to an EV made the car more useful to those owners. It became faster, more reliable, easier to maintain, and likely to last far longer than to refurbish the original engine. I do hope the owners like the modification enough to make the decision to modernize other parts, like the brakes and transmission, saving those original parts from further wear and tear, while making the car even more useful to themselves. It was also nice to see these modders show respect to the car they were working on. Far too many people leave nothing original, turning a classic into something else. (better maybe, but like this car, the quirks make the car.)
This is really neat conversion, thanks for sharing the video
ill tell ya now if more of these was converted to ev you would see a lot more on the roads and i would love that.cant beat the look of these old beautiful cars
Wonderful, and it looks easy... Would be nice to share a bit of design process.
We will do more sharing on the next one
Hey sorry, what is the song used from 0:49 on called? Sounds really nice.
no need to apologise boy but yes I would also love to know
I love it. Had an old Jeep for more than 20 years, then bought an EV. Love both, but fact at least for Germany is: Upkeep of IC-Vehicles is expensive, especially those with high fuel consumption and electric vehicles give you a smoth drive with way more power. I also can charge at home on a very stable grid.
Turning a classic into an EV gives you the best of both worlds.
Great video. This is exactly what I want to do to my model A. I can't wait for this stuff to come down in price and be accessible to the average hotrodder.
"Blowing minds instead of headgaskets", love that. :)
Very clean installation. Well done! Jay Leno should invite you to his garage / show.
It's the only possibility the see those cars on the road again 🎉😊 keep up with good work 🍻
I like it. I also like that the modification is completely reversible. Now while the engine and cooling system are out, time to do a complete restore on those items.
Great job and great video! Can’t wait to see more…
More are coming!!
It's just crazy that some folks think gasoline is not going away! Apart from missing the cool combustion engine sounds, going electric just transforms the driving experience of any old classic car!
Well done, I love the concept of otherwise not altering the car.
This is a great idea making a model A more reliable so people can actually drive it and the public can see it is a wonderful thing.
Fun Fact: I have been daily driving my stock 1929 Ford Tudor for a year and a half now, and still haven't had any troubles. Also, I am doing this at the age of 19.
Brother you're living my dream! Paul Shinn got me hooked on model As a little over a year ago, and I've been looking for the right car ever since. Hopefully I'll find one here before too long! I'm 23 btw so the older folks need not worry about this hobby, the younger generation will keep these cars going for a long time yet
That thing will out last any electric car made
Good for you. I bought my Tudor (a '30) at 21 and drove it daily to college and then grad school. That was 55 years ago.
Cool! imagine racing unsuspecting people light to light!
Exactly. Thanks for watching
Fantastic job gents. The EV vs ICE question can be divisive. I’ve got one foot in each world and get lots of enjoyment out of both. I appreciate my modern, silent and quick MiniCooper EV and my old, rattle can, smoky, leaky Jeep.
The engineering is wonderful. Nice work.
I'm glad I found this video I have wanted to convert a Model A for a while now. Amazing build focused on simplicity and not changing the car so a future owner can convert it back if needed.
Thanks for watching. We definitely wanted to respect the original while making serve the owner better
It’s a very neat concept and looks like it was a success. Anxious to hear your thoughts after driving it a few years.
First and foremost I most appreciate your dedication to avoiding modifying anything permanently. That was the best news. The workmanship looks quite good too. It doesn't look like a hack job, which is also very good news. That said, I normally do not consider electric conversions that retain the transmission to be good, but, in this case, it avoided hacking up the drive train, and so it actually makes sense here. Just leave it in high gear, if it has an appropriate motor. You could swap in a lower axle ratio. No harm in that. My Model A pickup has 4.11 gears, and the old engine is rather screaming along at 65 mph. Would love to swap my gears for yours lol. To me, the BEST part of old vehicles IS the original or at least period correct drive train. THAT'S what makes them interesting, outside of just looking neat. So, I don't have a problem with the electrical conversion specifically, just non-period correct engine swaps in general. In my experience, Model As drive in today's traffic without issue, so all of that talk to the contrary was just unnecessary justification, and it is largely untrue. Never heard of one blowing a head gasket, but of course it's possible with any engine, so I don't doubt it could happen with one of these as well. Mine has been in the family since 1941, and of course I want to keep it as original as practical. It's not restored, it's just a cool old truck. Driving it is very much like stepping into a time machine. The sights, sounds, vibrations, the odors, all of it. Like stepping back in time.
I LOVE this video...I have always been a Model A fan and it is so refreshing to see something totally different done to it. I also appreciate how stock the car looks. I would love to convert a classic to electric. My dream car for a project like this would be a 1960's Ford Falcon Ranchero. Nice job. Thanks for posting this!!!
Unfortunate that the previous restoration sounded more cosmetic than mechanical. Even in gas form these cars are pretty tough and reliable.
That said, this is a neat conversion.
Also the brakes are terrible because they’re not adjusted, not because they’re mechanical. Should still be plenty able to lock up at speed on Model A tires and at that point more braking doesn’t help.
A big part of the charm of the Model A is it’s signature exhaust sound.
Insert fart noises
and the unreliability.....
lol
@@scottmeeker9971
A much smoother ride is obtained when the originals A’s wheels are replaced with 1932 wheels and the spare fits the fender well too.. I drove a 1931 Model A pickup with 1932 wheels in high school and College.
Awsome! I have a 1930 Model A speedster with a 32-34 model B motor. I've been considering a shift to electric. the motor mount is very clean. I have a Borg Warner overdrive that helps with dirvability. Thanks for sharing your build.
We could help you with that. Call Flash Drive Motors at 512-670-8276 to talk to us about parts and details! Thanks for watching!
@@dissrepair I'll call when I can. Thanks again!
Please don't. These cars should be kept STOCK, or nearly so. Modifying them is destroying history.
@@michaelbenardo5695 I understand. My car was made into a speedster some many years ago. It has upgraded brakes, 16" wheels, and an upgraded engine ( Ford model B). The reason I'm interested in this conversion is there's little modifications needed and the motor could be reinstalled. However a model B trans is different than a model A.
Thank you for your quest to retain history. I completely understand.
The perfect conversion. Ford would have loved to build similar, if they'd been possible/practical back then. Even his wife drove a Detroit Model 47 and temporarily looked at building electric cars around 1914. Of those who were down on the conversion, I'd bet a lot of them have hacked up some old cars in their time. You just did a sensible swap, 100% reversible.
Thanks, we liked that it doesn’t permanently change the car. But he can now use it
@@dissrepair Odd fact: V8=cool, EV=ruined. 😁 It should be more pleasant to drive and store, just climb in and drive. He might notice his car and garage loses its distinctive "musk" smell after a few months; 70% burned oil, 20% from fuel, common with pre-60's cars.
We’ll, it has good visibility. Nice job with the trans adapter, but the Model A flywheel housing isn’t cast into the block, it’s a bolt-on part, and you can buy one for about $40.
Another advantage of the Model A is that third gear is not a gear, but a direct coupling of the input and output shafts, so it’s totally quiet.
I could imagine a 1925 model T pickup. It would be much improved engineering over the original drive train.
Nice job!!
I love the fact that the conversion is not overtly complex. People forget that some early cars were electric but battery tech at the time meant they were not good for long range. I see wedding cars and even avertisers benefiting from something like this!
I'm a model A guy and an EV guy so this is very cool. I've thought about doing this same conversion. I may be contacting you in the future for info.
Great way to see a classic stick around and actually get used more often. With the Regen braking they could probably fell like it will actually stop instead of 'push and pray' brakes.
Fantastic. You know, my generation probably longs for muscle cars but really I can see how say a Modal A for cruising around would be just as much fun and having electric would really be cool.
Love it. This sends a good message to people and even make them think.
Model A guy here. Never been a purist, to each their own. I Love it. Would like to get a step file for the adapter plate. Any interest in selling the design?
Well done. Thanks for the video. I like everything about it except the tech part. I'm a geezer and just the term "firmware" make me incontinent, lol. Looks like you guys had lots of fun. Very respectful of the car. The charging port is awesome!
Thanks for watching. Your comment on firmware made us chuckle!!
Pretty cool way to preserve a beautiful car and make it usable for its intended purpose at the same time. Great job!
Way better a conversion than those "Hot Rod" Abominations.
I like it..because the family that owns it can now enjoy driving it.
Great job lads. 😀 "like a tesla only cooler" Yep. Fantastic idea and the charging port is genius and elegant with it. A lovely car with family history that can now be actually used reliably(and put back to original if ever required). 👍
Love the conversion. I only wish to have seen more of the building and work through of ideas to get it finished.
That's really cool - and it's a shame this doesn't have more views!
Agreed! Please share! Thanks for watching
What the girl says about the car (12:53) is all true and the one and only best description ever. It's like all the coolest ev cars, only way cooler. 👍😁
I agree, she had a great comment.
Agree that the green was an excellent choice. At first glance reminds me of a steam engine. I’m sure some folks at auto shows would fall for it.
It’s a really well done build, but I personally wouldn’t do it. Part of the charm of the Model A is it’s mechanicalness. I just drove my 1930 Fordor on a 2600 mile trip with my son and zero mechanical issues. We did 500 miles on day. I don’t think you’d be able to do that with this-the converted vintage cars typically have very limited range. If the owner converted simply because of overheating issues, they should just fix the overheating issues. I drove mine in some brutal weather, horrible Chicago traffic, and parades, don’t have overheating issues. The only time my car has gotten very hot was when I was pushing it too hard in the colorado mountains. I simply took it a little easier on it and the temps were within a safe range.
I keep hearing about converting their old cars to electric for reliability reasons. Realistically, those old cars -VWs, model As, Porsches, etc , are super reliable when they are done right.
Let’s remember that Tesla’s do not exactly have a great record for reliability- so converting to electric isn’t a guarantee.
Again, it’s a nice build. I would not do it personally , but I can’t say I hate this one either
Nice workmanship and engineering. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should though. Like retro-mods of 50s and 60s cars, many were retromodded even when they drove well and kept up with highway speeds and handling. The charm is then gone, gone is the unique sound of the Model A and the sometimes cumbersome driving but charming experience and down to earth history.
Awesome build, as usual! Can't wait to aee what's next! ⚡️⚡️⚡️
Love the concept. Classic ev.
Keep the toling!
This is exactly what I have been talking about doing for 2 years
If I had to own and drive an EV. I would take the Model E over a top of the line Tesla every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Excellent job guys. Who said EV's couldn't have real style.
I have a nice "31 Tudor. I know you saved the C&C program for the bell housing. So how much to convert?
I think that it's great that this conversion was done in a way which completely respected the original design and made no changes that couldn't be reversed. But given the new motor's capability, I don't believe that unless the software is changed to limit its performance, limit top speed, AND unless the brakes are improved, the car is unsafe to drive in traffic on today's public roads.
Very cool. I work with a bunch of EV guys in Portland OR and this would be perfect here. I have a 27 T roadster that I made a custom chassis for to make a traditional hot rod but it doesn't have an engine in it yet. May be the best way to go. Also, the 3 wheeler on my avatar I built but the motor needs work so that may be a good candidate too.
The hidden charging port is fantastic!
As a Model A roadster owner that is cool
Cars are for driving, not sitting in a garage . That car looks amazing and its now a reliable daily driver, what could be better :)
Couldn't agree more!
HECK YEA... More please....
Absolutely!! Thanks for watching
That's amazing. I like the electric cars from the sixties the best.