Crazy ? for Auto Trans Experts

Hello the group,
I have a 92 Metro with 80k miles and a great body/frame, but it has not been driven for five years because of a variety of ailments hitting at the same time. I am noodling the idea of doing an electric conversion project, but the car has an automatic transmission, which is not optimal. I am moving and the car and my manuals are at the other house or I would be looking these things up on my own. One of the old ailments was that it would blow a fuse randomly when the trans shifted.

The problem with the transmission is that the torque converter and pumps use power or are not necessary. Please keep in mind that I have a large lathe and a milling machine. Having said that, I am seeking input from those who have taken apart a Metro automatic transmission with the following questions.

1. How feasible would it be to convert the transmission to only allow manual shifting without adding an electric hydraulic pump?

2. Could the torque converter be bypassed so I can use use a direct drive to the transmission? If I did, do you think the internal pump would work?

3. If these options do not look good, would it be feasible to run a direct drive from the motor to the differential to bypass the transmission?

I know these are strange questions, but I don't have my manual available. There are companies that make simple differentials, but they cost almost as much as the conversion.

Thank you in advance for any responses.

Hi Mojave,

I can't help you but I notice from the Tranny Leak thread

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=720950

that Hot_SD rebuilt an auto so perhaps he can help you. Might want to shoot him a pm if you don't get an answer.

My "new" Geo was originally going to be made into an electric car. The company the previous owner worked for was Solectria. Good luck with your project.

Unplugging the shift solenoids leaves you with an automatic that must be manually shifted. Seems like a huge waste to go to the effort to convert the car to electric and waste one third of that efficiency through an automatic transmission. Swapping out the auto for a manual is a much simpler job than converting to electric.

yea, I had to replace those solenoids last summer, so mine would shift. Fortunately, I had some from my old tranny. They are very simple to replace and not too expensive.

Converting the Metro to an electric may not be really cost effective as one would hope, but it should prove interesting. Keep us posted on how it turns out.:biggrin:

Thank you for the information and your thoughts. I also have a Mitsibushi pickup that does not run, because I can't seem to get rid of any cars I replace. It will make a better electric conversion than the Metro with the automatic, but I am still pondering.

I may just take the Metro and bring the engine and transmission back to life once I get everything moved into my new house. The information you have provided has moved me back to the idea of converting the Metro into a hybrid. I will share my thoughts on that for your opinions.

It would be pretty cheap to add a golf cart motor to the existing ICE with a power/regen lever attached to the console. This would be a 48 volt system that would add about eight to ten horsepower that would boost acceleration and breaking. Electric motors are rated for continuous horsepower so the peak horsepower addition would be closer to thirty. Push the lever forward and the system would provide electric power boost for onramps and getting to speed from a stop light. Pull the lever back and get regenerative breaking that rechages the battery.

This car has only averaged about 35 mpg and I would like to get it closer to 50 mpg while maintaining good acceleration.

I estimate the total cost of the conversion to be less than $2000 so I might go with this option. I was about to do it a couple of years ago, but bought a Honda Hybrid instead and it is the only car that I have never regretted buying with its 52mpg average with an automatic transmission.