I always figured in 10 to 20 years there will be drop in electric conversions the same way we do LS & Hemi swaps today.

I wouldn't do it because I don't drive my cars much because if they get wrecked parts are harder to get. If it was easier to get repair parts for the body I would consider it.

I have an idea that I'd like to try - in regards to an EV - just to see if it's even possible.

I'd like to take a little Torqueflite, like a 904/998.... remove the torque converter and seal it up to run converterless but still able to drive the pump. Hook the electric motor directly to the trans as a one-piece drive unit. The reason? Well, let me explain:

With a transmission, you have the benefits of:

- A "Park" position
- A "Neutral" position
- Gear reduction when necessary
- A Reverse position so this lessens the complexity of a controller since the motor need only spin one direction.

I suppose a fellow could even install a full manual valve body and just drive the car in the "D" position with the trans starting off in 1:1 direct. Only using the other positions if absolutely necessary.

Now, with the hydraulic pump in the transmission, this also makes it much easier to run things like:

- Power Steering
- Hydroboost brakes
- If you run the fluid through the heater matrix, you get cheap cabin heat.
- Since there's no need for a converter, if you lift off the accelerator, then it'll switch to the trans driving the motor (since there's no torque converter) and NOW you can have regenerative braking.

So far, the only part of this that really needs to be solved is what to do when the vehicle is "at rest" at a stoplight.

#1 - What would the lag time be between the motor spinning back up for forward motion and the time for the pump internal to the transmission to have enough pressure to apply the forward band?
#2 - What would the minimum pressure be necessary to run the power steering, hydroboost brakes, apply the forward band and keep fluid circulation?

Because with #2, if you add an accessory pump to the system that only comes on when the vehicle is "at rest", you can keep power steering, brakes, heat AND reduce the lag time between motor spinning up and necessary pressure to apply forward band. Right?



Or am I just being an idiot?

GM used an electric pump in the 4L60E Hybrid to circulate fluid while at a stop. Maybe look into how they did it.