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232 Build Your Own Electric VehicleOutside HelpThis involves subcontracting out entire tasks to professionals who are more competentand faster at doing their specialty. Excellent candidates for outside help would be ininternal combustion engine removal and fabrication of electric motor mountingcomponents.Arrange for SpaceThis is the “where” part. Your work area can be owned or rented or borrowed, but it hasto be large enough, clean enough, heated or cooled enough, with light and appropriateelectrical service available to take care of your needs during the length of time yourconversion requires. Let’s run down the checklist of what you should look for.Ownership or RentalYou’ll need the space for 80 to 100 hours of work time or more—one to three months ofcalendar time and up. If you’re using your own two-car garage for the project, householdrules of companionship dictate you don’t tell your wife or husband, “I just need it for alittle while, honey—you don’t mind parking your Porsche in the street, do you?” Planahead. It’s going to take at least a couple of months.An alternative solution is to rent the space you need. This can be anything from aneighbor’s unused garage to an oversized public storage locker to space at a localgarage. At some point your conversion is going to look like a dinosaur with its bonesstrewn all about; at another it’s going to be very messy and greasy; at another youmight need to attach a winch to an overhead beam that can support the weight of theengine you are removing; and at most times you are going to have upwards of severalthousand dollars’ worth of components sitting around—consider all these needs.Another alternative is to do it as a two-step. If you have the internal combustionengine parts removed by a professional, then tow your chassis body to your work areafor the conversion, there is less need for a large work area and heavy ceiling joists, andit won’t get as dirty.SizeRealistically, an EV conversion will overflow the needs of any single-car garage orstorage locker. While it can be done, you will be cramped, so why not do it right tobegin with. Unless you opt for the two-step approach just mentioned, you need at leasta two-car garage or equivalent amount of space.Heating, Cooling, Lighting, and PowerSuit yourself here. You’re going to be working in this spot for several months. Why notdo it in comfort and convenience?Arrange for ToolsThis is the “what” part. What kind of tools are you going to need to do the job? If youhave to get into areas and tools that you are unfamiliar with, maybe you are best servedby subcontracting those tasks to an outside professional. A little forethought in this arealets you quickly sort out those tasks you want to farm out versus those you want to doyourself—all just by using the tools criteria.