So here goes, look in the picture below ’72-early 73 brakes are unique in the fact they have 4 holes on each shoe. So it turns out the anchor pin should be in the top hole (green arrow) not the one it currently attached to (red circle). Later model (and earlier by the way) shows have 2 holes and a slot. Mystery solved, e-brake holds perfectly…
Fitted the replacement backing plates and new e-brake cables.
E-brake proper 6 clicks now… but not holding… hummm….
Decoded my VIN – turns our pre 72/12 (which is actually mid way through 73) VW changed the design of rear brake shoes. Guess what I have 73-79 shoes, the reason the e-brake is not holding is the lever is up tight against the hub and not engaging the pads fully on the drums… quick order to bus depot and we’ll see if that finally solves this mystery!.
EV Rally at Gresham Motorsport Park. (organised by http://www.evmaster.com)
Drove up 3/20 and parked in the pits for a recharge (log entry in the Battery log)
Drove some kids up and down the track in the bus… not sure if they were impressed by the electric power or the ‘hippie bus’ – most of them we saying to their friends, “look at me I’m a hippie”… good fun round anyway!
First car show, at Route66 Restorations in Swuanee.
Updated Battery log
Put cover on starter hole – keep that Clutch from getting dirt in it.
Mounted starter relay under dash.
Mounted HID packs with Velcro and refitted kick panels.
Cleaned the glass, put stickers on… “Warp powered…” nice!
Moved +12v connection so the aux gauge reads when the key turned to RUN, and not after latching to START as before.
Breaker bar is now in – so I can get on with rear brakes.
Placed order with digikey for the BMS components.
Fitted HID lamps both sides
Found an interesting BMS project, that might help me with the ADC interfacing. The module I brought as 12 ADC channels, but the limitations on input impedance means a simple resistor network would require some beefy resistors and waste a bunch of power…
Here is one project with a interesting solution to ADC issue: http://home.earthlink.net/~evtkw/evbattmon.html
This project references another: http://genki.home.ionet.net/BattMon/BattMonArticle.html
My aim is use the web enabled PIC processor, and interface the batteries via opto-isolators so that I can direct read the voltage via a web page.
The web port of the PIC will connected to a wireless router (have an old one kicking around) that my blackberry can connect to. So I can view the battery status on my phone / PC / etc.