Having a small electric car can help with daily chores, but putting a turbodiesel in it? Sounds rad. The team at Grind Hard Plumbing Co. got creative and tried to diesel-swap the tiny electric car.
Here is exactly how it went down when they ditched the batteries. Originally known as the most affordable EV on the market, the Chang Li failed multiple off-road tests. Swapping the motor seemed like the logical next step.
The Turbodiesel Electric Car Teardown
To start the transformation, the crew ripped out the factory electric motor and the front differential. With the empty engine bay ready for new hardware, the team unboxed a cheap 420 cc single-cylinder diesel engine that they ordered off the Internet.
This 10-hp block desperately needed forced induction to spin the tires. Because the motor lacked a carburetor, mounting a small turbocharger made perfect sense. The builders then 3D-printed a custom intake adapter out of carbon-fiber nylon to connect the metal piping.
Mechanical Assembly
To piece the puzzle together, the team relied on serious custom fabrication. They routed power to the rear wheels by connecting the front-mounted block to an extended driveshaft using a snowmobile clutch.
Down below, a dedicated reservoir and pump system kept the turbo bearings lubricated with fresh oil.
Upon firing the ignition for the first run, black smoke filled the garage. While staring at the teardown electric car, Edwin Olding comments, “Every other time we’ve done this, our fuel and air have been mixed and pressurized together, which always causes issues.”
Breakdowns On The Trail
Out on the dirt track, mechanical flaws revealed themselves almost immediately. Under heavy throttle on a steep incline, the primary clutch engaged aggressively against a weak secondary spring.
The rubber belt pulled completely inside out and quickly burned up within seconds of the launch. Oil falling from the exhaust directly onto the clutch assembly only made the slipping worse.
Ethan Schlussler inspected the vehicle and comments, “Well, that was the most underwhelming automotive experience of my entire life.”
Final Thoughts
Building something like this looks fun as long as you have the right resources and you know what you’re doing in the garage.
Future upgrades to the continuously variable transmission (CVT) tuning and braking system will be necessary before the turbodiesel-swapped formely electric car takes another crack at the trails.
A ridiculous build like this proves that wrenching on a cheap car never truly ends.
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