Mod Squad Garage

08/23/2026

Making some engine compartment aluminum panels and fitting EV components for Kyle the Lightning Bug. EV West

08/15/2026

A friend dropped off this luggage rack for Kyle. Think it’s a keeper.

07/27/2026

Time to swap the direct drive Hyper 9 motor adapter to a clutch adapter system in Kyle the Lightning Bug. This will allow us to use the factory VW transaxle 2nd and 3rd gear for acceleration or cruising. We are told we can just leave it in 3rd gear all the time if we are just toodling about. EV West provided the adapter plate, hub and aluminum flywheel. Had to heat up the new motor hub to 600 degrees for a press fit install on the motor keyed input shaft. Lightweight 5 bolt Porsche style flywheel and a so called stage 2 Kennedy clutch finishes it off. EV West

07/20/2026

Kyle the Lightning Bug EV Summer School. Recently I had the opportunity to attend an intense 3 day EV system swap build school at EV West’s Electric Vehicle Learning Center (EV-LC) in San Marcos, CA just north of San Diego. The school was a hands on training for the NetGain Hyper 9 EV system being installed in our 67 VW Beetle, Kyle. So much information was covered including AC motor and inverter controller operation, DC-DC converter functions, high voltage safety and charging, CAN Bus programing and diagnostics, and battery management (BMS) safety and functions. At the end we assembled and configured a running EV Hyoer 9 system with Tesla S batteries on a cart. So much good information for our build.

07/19/2026

Installed a roll bar in this super clean 50th anniversary mustang. The tempered steel chassis ate drill bits like candy. Finished it off with a nice rear seat delete.

07/11/2026

Kyle the Lightning Bug headliner installation.

07/03/2026

Kyle the Lightning Bug EV batteries along with EV components arrive from EV West. They have extensive experience converting classic VWs to electric in a manner that bolts in and preserves the car without fabrication so it can be converted back to original. We already have the Netgain Hyper 9 100hp electric motor and controller/inverter. EV West provided a transmission adapter to retain the factory VW transaxle and 4 speed, an on board EV battery charger, dc to dc 12v charger is the EV alternator, contactor controller box and parts, a battery master control unit, a custom battery monitor gauge that replaces the fuel gauge, and 25.6kW battery packs that includes five Tesla S battery modules. Three in the rear box behind the rear seat and two modules in a box in the front where the fuel tank was located. Depending how it’s driven it will get anywhere from 70 to 100 miles of range. Plenty for our needs.

06/24/2026

06/23/2026

Detailed Kyle the Lightning Bug’s frunk with rattle can Cobalt Blue Rustoleum paint that is nearly a perfect match. Installed the American Autowire VW fuse box and connected all the 12V wiring. .autowire

06/20/2026