The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

Are there any other sherpa owners out there or am I alone in this vast universe? Mine is shedded, but driveable condition. Current project is my electric Sirion which has passed AS 200/3000 by the electrician and moving towards engineer certification. When that is registered then I will decide whether to retain the EK42 2 cylinder or convert it also. Is the 82 Sherpa enough of a rarity to keep it original or is it the common garden variety?

is anyone else thinking what I am thinking ?

retain the EK42 and hook it up in the back for a petrol driven generator to charge the batteries for the electric motor

Or retain the engine in its current position, mount motors on rear wheels and have a dual power/AWD Sherpa

All good ideas, and all discussed in http://www.diyelectric vehicles/ forums. In wheel drives generally beyond most diyers,external bolton wheel hub motors not popular, generator in car is usually a trailer housing a suitable geny and hooked on for long distance trips, same principle as Holden Volt. Pusher trailers use a front cut of fwd car in trailer form pushing the EV using the petrol power. A basic EV like my Sirion is the limit of my smarts. Just noticed that the Sherpa has a bad oil leak from the clutch cover. Rear crank seal or front g/box seal. A reason to extract the EK42 Twinpowerhouse for an autopsy.

poprock1 wrote: Is the 82 Sherpa enough of a rarity to keep it original or is it the common garden variety?

I don't think a Sherpa was rare when new, they were everywhere! However, natural attrition (i.e. rust and dead parts that are unobtainium) have certainly taken their toll!