[karmann eclectric]

The Karmann Eclectric may not be completely wrapped up yet, but what's that to stop me from noodling on the next project?
My 1987 F-250 pickup has a 6.9 liter diesel, and besides only getting about 15 mpg, it's rather lacking in the acceleration and torque departments. I'm considering adding an electric boost, more for fun than anything else, but acceleration, torque, and the ability to hypermile won't hurt.
So here's the basic plan.
2WD 1987 F250 with a 6.9 L IDI engine into T-19 four speed manual 4x4 tranny with a 6.32 granny first gear and 1.00 fourth feeding a 3.55 rear end. I can add an electric motor to several locations, but am leaning towards either the PTO or the transfer case. That's right, it's a 2WD truck with a 4WD tranny. Adding the motor to the PTO means that the motor speed would top out at 2500 rpm, it would have to be unmeshed only at a stop or nearly so, but the PTO gear can handle 120 lbs of input torque. Downside is, the motor would often be run at fairly low RPM, and shifting without disconnecting the commutator's inertia could be tough on the synchros.
Other option would be to input through the transfer case, which offers another stepdown in the gearing, but would preclude the full conversion to 4x4... I've got a 6.7" ADC and 400 amp 72V Curtis sitting on the shelf for version 1.0 of this project, but of course, that ain't gonna make 120 foot-lbs... Batteries: 72V of BB600 nicads. Comments please.

[gottdi]

Run veggie oil and put a turbo and slightly larger injectors on that diesel. It will come alive like you have never seen before and you may even see better mileage even before you install that motor. No need for an electric one either. Turbos run off the exhaust. Don't expect much from the small electric motor but it will help. Make sure the mounts and the joints are allowed to move with out throwing the whole drive line off balance. This way the motor will live in it's new home.

Pete