First Drive of My Tesla-Converted VW Bus

[@billbayer5526]

Great job! That's a hell of a thing you've done. Lots of people talk about it. Fewer people start it. Fewer still actually make it to the end. Congratulations!

[@bernietime]

Thank you! That means a lot. This idea was floating around in my head for the last couple of years and I’m glad I finally went through with it

[@andreasreichwaldt3994]

Love this a lot! Amazing to see a transporter move so quietly.

[@bernietime]

I know right! To be honest, I do kind of miss the rumble of the old water box engine

[@anthonymartin5816]

Great job there I would also lower the motor a little. Love how you think and the videos are great very helpful thank you. As other do would love so see your wiring setup. Keep up the good work. Thank you for sharing.

[@Iskelderon]

Nice! An old school friend turned one of those into an RV for weekend trips, started as her trade school final project and has since become a second hobby for her.

[@bernietime]

That is awesome!

[@EasyFlows]

Great series! Keep up the good work!

[@philiprogers5772]

Great build but you haven't shown any of the wiring. I would love to see the conversion kit you used.

[@pan6593]

He needs his phone to switch gears - so, yes, very interesting!

[@bernietime]

I put this all together myself! Some components were purchased we purchased from mothers companies, like the ability to control the motor. But everything else I made and fabricated myself!

[@philiprogers5772]

@@bernietime very impressive. Some detail on the wiring would be very helpful for all of use who fancy our chances with a build like this.

[@albertschrocker9995]

Well done! Greetings from Germany.

[@markcollins2532]

Good work. Well done; you are justifiably proud. Synchronizing the two Tesla units will be a task, but not too much of an issue if you only use both units together on slippery ground.

[@jasonmanness7941]

you're making really good pace with this build!

[@robertdunsmore]

Excellent work on those driveshafts 👍

[@jimzucker]

dude, nice job on the shafts!

[@bernietime]

Thanks!!

[@eppot1]

nice greetings from Europe Sweden.

[@christopherbrown6697]

That left axle shaft angle is concerning, given the angle and substantially greater torque being applied. Porsche 944 CV joints are a bolt-on replacement with better angle and torque ratings than stock VW T3 units. The next step up, which would unfortunately require getting another set of shafts made, is to upgrade to Porsche 930 CV joints. This will require new stub axles with the larger bolt circle, but the increased angle of operation range and torque capacity may be worth it. My vanagon is TDI-swapped, making double the torque of the original waterboxer, so I upgraded to 930 CVs. Another nice thing is that 930 CVs have become a popular standard for automotive and even UTV upgrades, so joints and boots are easy to find.

[@bernietime]

Somebody gave me a pair of 930 shafts to use, but I was not able to source a pair of spindles fast enough. That’ll probably be a future upgrade if these angles end up, causing the joints to fail. Great insight!

[@christopherbrown6697]

@@bernietime Some suppliers modify OE outer stub axles on an exchange basis, and I'm pretty sure the stubs and hubs were the same for the 1968-1991 model years. I know for sure that the rear hubs currently on my TDI Vanagon came off of early-mid-70s bay window buses.

[@markusyngberg]

Nice man!

[@jamesclifford194]

subscribed! any idea on the range you'll get?

[@kevinlieb]

Great job!

[@sidehustlemagic]

Congrats!!

[@websturfer]

Congratulations! I did a 65 VW 21 window bus with a Hyper9 motor 2 years ago. I LOVE driving it. I'm looking for my next build ideal and really want to use a Tesla small or maybe large drive unit. Did you have to replace the inverter board in the drive unit with the Opensource or AEM boards? I'd love to know more about the components you are using. I'm in So Cal also and would love to connect and compare notes. Spencer

[@bernietime]

Thank you! No, I use one of the companies that tricks the motor into thinking it’s still inside of a Tesla. So no change of the inverter port itself. I’m down in San Diego. Send me a message on Instagram and let’s link up.

[@HellenicVanagonTheSyncroHeresy]

Very nice and exceptional! Ahem, the only objection is that here, at The Syncro Heresy, we believe that the Teslas must be converted to Syncros! Any way, congratulations! The Syncro Heresy

[@bernietime]

Thank you very much! In the very near future, I will be putting a second front Tesla motor in this so it will truly be a syncro again!

[@pan6593]

Mad respect!

[@VintageWanderer]

Sweet. Something to think about in the future to maybe do on my 61 single cab.

[@bernietime]

That would be easier given the larger treasure chest area. How big is that area?

[@VintageWanderer]

@ it’s huge! And when you take out the gas tank it’s bigger. Basically from the back of the cab to the motor is all empty space and as wide as the truck.

[@mlg779]

I think the angle for the CV ales from the tires to the engine is too great. I am moving my motor right now because I had issues moving forward and I think it was the CV axles.

[@bernietime]

I’m worried about that too. If they break within a couple hundred miles, I’m going to lower the motor I think

[@dieselmac6964]

I want to do this to my vw mk1

[@uwekall6281]

Nice Build. Btw. 'DoKa' means double cabin (Doppelkabine)...

[@BlueJazzBoyNZ]

For better brakes fit an electric vacuum, pump and bottle, to drive the std master cylinder.

[@OldtimerRescue]

Congratulation 🎉🎉😊

[@eQualizeri]

Cool project! How many hours has the EV conversion taken so far? In what time span?

[@peanutbutterjellyjam2179]

Not bad!

[@Bach_12]

How did the tesla controls handle it? I would expect the drive controller to fail, due to not getting the right signals in and out. How much of the tesla is in the bus, besidds the motor an battery?

[@dochemmi2465]

Now you need a round light conversion. I have an 87 tintop and the square headlights are abysmal 😂

[@bernietime]

I would love to do a South Africa grill. Too bad they’re $1000!

[@dochemmi2465]

@bernietime yeah they are but the round light conversion for single round light style is only like 200

[@mwendell]

So it's not a Syncro anymore?

[@bernietime]

It will be soon! I have a video coming out soon where I install a second Tesla motor in the front

[@carholic-sz3qv]

@@bernietime how are you going to programm the awd capabilities!? wouldnt have been better to use the awd system of the VW just attached to the tesla motor?! or why not have bought a crashed awd tesla and used all its electronics for example!

[@donx03]

​@@bernietimelook 👀 forward to the synchro, lots of space in engine compartment for another treasure chest.

[@donsalladin2935]

‘If it’s airborne’ :)

[@flapper111uk]

Nice job. I see the tesla motor has 2 shafts out basically a transaxle ? Is itpossivble to run a motor with one shaft output so it could drive a van axle instead of the prop. ??

[@bernietime]

Yes! Nice catch. People do this for classic Land Rover conversions. I would’ve done this as well if I had the front differential in rear transaxle from the syncro. You also have to buy a limited lift differential or disassemble the motor and weld the spider gear. So both options are totally valid, but require perhaps equal levels of work?

[@edwardkaaij9385]

Very nice set of video’s. Can’t wait for the finished product. I’m curious about the range. Is it still a syncro?

[@bernietime]

It will be a syncro again soon! There will be a video coming out shortly where I install a front Tesla motor to make it all-wheel-drive

[@jakefischer8281]

I apologize for calling it blasphemy in your last video. Nice job and good on you for seeing it thru. However, it's no longer a syncro is it? 😉

[@bernietime]

All is forgiven 😎 not currently a syncro… However really soon I’m installing a 2nd front motor to make it 4WD

[@davidclark2133]

Where did you get the axle shafts made up? Ball park cost? Good job, cool build.

[@jimzucker]

i was thinking the same, who manifactures that?

[@davidclark2133]

@@jimzucker the ones I've seen others use is the entire assembly, This seems like it would be a lot more cost effective.

[@bernietime]

There’s a couple of companies out there that will make them if you send them a sample. For popular conversions, there’s even off the shelf solutions. I used Dutchman axles

[@davidclark2133]

@@bernietime Thanks, I found them online. the way you went about the axles seems to me to be the way to go.

[@jeremysomeone]

The hippies would call it a Toka.

[@VolodymyrKostenko-q1m]

Very cool. I've been wanting to make an electric train out of a T3(25) for a long time. I've seen the Nissan Leaf take the motor and battery in a Nissan Leaf. Tesla makes it much more compact.

[@bernietime]

I can’t wait for Rivian motors to become affordable and easily findable! Those are even more compact!

[@adriaandirkrheder8155]

Is the 4x4 functional ? I have a 1991 Syncro Carravelle in Southafrica and is looking at doing this as well. Still saving cost is very high due to the rand dollar exchange rate

[@bernietime]

Not yet! It does not have any of the original syncro components left. In the very near future, I will be installing a second Tesla motor in the front to have all wheel drive that way I can truly call it a syncro again.

[@webmonkees]

I have a need for the means of Teslafying my 74 Super Beetle. Only got as far as removing engine, take apart. I had a 85, fixed the shifter before I even purchased it.. gaskets. sigh.

[@bernietime]

That would be super cool! I would love to do a beetle one day with a Tesla motor

[@donx03]

Bro messaged about the bracket CAD files, no response. Do you have a GitHub storage? Thanks for the work you do.

[@bernietime]

Weird I didn’t see your message. Berniebuilt on Instagram

[@jkliopp]

Question - where did you get the drive shafts made? I'm planning an EV conversion on a Vanagon using a motor and egear drive from a Coda. Also, was this a syncro (AWD)?

[@bernietime]

Dutchman axles! It was. And it will be again. I’m installing a second motor in the front soon

[@pl9372]

Sweet ride. You could change the name from V dub to T Dub

[@bernietime]

Lol that’s a great idea!

[@EasyFlows]

How much did you pay for the custom cv axles?

[@bernietime]

They were $700 🤢 But I am working on a cheaper method for the second motor I’m installing soon in the front of the Doka

[@EasyFlows]

@bernietime that's about what I expected! Sounds interesting, keep up the great work. Love watching your stuff!!

[@blackullah]

The question is, Is it four wheel drive?

[@bernietime]

It will be soon! Second motor install coming soon

[@SkaterStimm]

drum brakes stop just fine, they are actually just as strong as disc, they are just harder to maintain, it is a huge myth.

[@davidwilker4795]

And drum brakes work better as parking brakes as well.

[@SkaterStimm]

@@davidwilker4795 Yep and what added to this myth is most people have drum brakes with no brake booster. Brake Booster + drum = better than disc alone.

[@pan6593]

I disagree.

[@christopherbrown6697]

Volkswagen ID-series EVs, including the 6,000 pound ID Buzz, come with rear drum brakes as of the 2025 model year, so rear discs are definitely unnecessary. Regenerative braking will do most of the work at the motor-driven axle.

[@licencetoswill]

@@pan6593 they grip just as well but they dont dissipate heat like discs do. and yeah they get gungy inside.

[@rockshelter]

Not bad, BUT: If you put a vw wasserboxer engine in a tesla you will get my nod of approval and my attention

[@bernietime]

lol I think that’s a great idea!

[@PeterEmery]

Funny looking bus. Looks more like a dual-cab pickup to me...

[@pan6593]

Exactly what DoKa means!

[@moltogustoful]

Wrong video description. First drive but only 20secs of 12min of seeing the car driving...

[@kpdvw]

the Cyber Truck Version 2...what a sacrelige of a DOKA...!

[@bernietime]

Common this is definitely cooler than a cyber truck

[@stuguy2]

Attaching a 1970's automotive tech to a 2000's designed motor is just wasteful engineering. VW is 3600 lbs. Wasteful!

[@bernietime]

Bad take

[@4literv6]

The lightest sr nmc model 3s were almost that heavy! I think this is a crazy cool build! Brings back the true spirit of hot ridding and elktromods are the future no matter what anyone says otherwise.