The 64 Chevelle four door at 72 Volts weighs 3600 pounds.
A big forklift GE series motor(out of an 8000 lb Drexel forklift) with dual fields bussed for parallel operation coupled directly
to the original 2 speed Powerglide. The Powerglide has a manual valve body, roller bearing governor support, roller bearing
tail housing, no torque converter and a Hurst ratchet shifter. Two reverse frictions were removed to decrease rotating mass.
The first time out the high drum clutch hub shattered and was replaced with a lightened steel hub.
At this time, the Powerglide has a 1.82
low gear and the rear has a 3.36 gear. Also installing, Eldebroch adjustable control arms(to set my Pinion angle) with
spherical bushings on frame and Poly on housing, Jegs lower tubular control arms with spherical bushings on frame and steel
bushings on housing.
Tires are 235/75/R15 on rear and 205/75/R14 on front.(White
Walls for that Original look) Summit Drag shocks front and rear.
Control is accomplished by using the
automatic function of the Powerglide, a low voltage circuit(6V&12V), a high voltage circuit (Can be 24V,48V,72V or 96V)
and switching between the two with contactors controlled by the original gas pedal. Once on the high voltage circuit I can
switch to another higher voltage circuit with a small shifter by the Ratchet shifter.
The low voltage circuit consists of one Orbital
Blue & one golf cart 6V battery. When staging waiting for
the last yellow, I hold the brake and the Orbital supplys 800 amps to get the motor turning and ready for the High Voltage
Circuit switch.
The High and Higher Voltage circuits consists of six Horizon
12D2000's in series, tapped at 24V,48V,72V & 96V. The Chevelle launches with 1600 battery amps at 48V. I tried this
using just Orbitals and they seemed to gas a little when I applied the 1600 amps so I had to find a bigger battery or use
two strings of Orbitals so I went with the Horizon 12D2000. Not totally convinced of them yet, they have their problems, but
I am invested in them and am going to use them and see what they have.
Cabling is four 4/0 from front
to rear, gauges are two 1000 amp analogue amp meters in parallel and a Fluke Voltmeter. There is also a Field Weakening circuit
operated by a push button on the dash with its own ampmeter. Working on getting the interior completely original.
