Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of Westside EV’s products and services?
Westside EV exists to make electric vehicle conversions and custom EV builds practical, predictable, and approachable, without sacrificing performance or safety.
EV projects often fail not because of a lack of parts, but because of:
Poor integration between components
Unknown condition of used parts
Missing documentation or support
Underestimated complexity and safety risks
Our products and services are designed to remove those barriers. Whether you’re a DIY builder, professional fabricator, or shop expanding into EVs, we focus on solutions that actually work together, backed by real-world experience.
We don’t just sell parts, we help builders succeed.
Who are your products for?
Westside EV products are designed for:
DIY EV conversion builders
Professional fabrication shops
Motorsports and performance EV projects
Educational and R&D applications
Customers who value reliability, safety, and support
If you want to spend your time building and driving, not troubleshooting undocumented components, our products are for you.
What services do you offer?
Westside EV provides hands-on technical services to support EV conversions, custom builds, and performance-focused electric drivetrains. Our services are geared toward builders and shops who need practical, real-world solutions, not theoretical advice.
Core services include:
Complete motor rebuilds
Motor upgrades and modifications
Coolant bypass installation on Tesla Model S/X vehicles with Large Drive Units
OEM and conversion motor replacement
Reverse-drive oil pump modifications
Aftermarket inverter board installation and motor testing
Initial setup and configuration for aftermarket control systems
Custom halfshafts and driveshafts
Integration and troubleshooting services
3D modeling and printing
General project assistance
Services we don’t provide:
Body work
General OEM electric vehicle servicing (e.g., HVAC, suspension, brakes, interior issues, squeaks, etc.)
Full end-to-end EV conversions
If a project requires services outside our scope, we’re happy to refer you to trusted shops that specialize in those areas
Why should I buy a Ready-to-Run motor from Westside EV?
A Westside EV Ready-to-Run motor is not just a motor, it’s a tested, integrated drivetrain solution.
When you buy a Ready-to-Run system, you get:
A motor that has been inspected, validated, and configured
Known-good sensors, connectors, and interfaces
Clear documentation and expectations
Compatibility with modern VCU and controllers
Support from people who actually work with these systems
This dramatically reduces:
Debug time
Wiring mistakes
Unexpected failures
Project delays and cost overruns
For many customers, the Ready-to-Run option saves months of work and thousands of dollars, even if the upfront cost is higher.
Can’t I just buy a motor directly from Tesla for my project?
In practice, no. Tesla does not sell motors directly to the public for project vehicles or conversions.
To purchase a motor directly from Tesla, you generally must:
Be an approved Tesla service or body shop
Provide a valid, non-salvaged Tesla VIN
Supply an exchange core (your old motor)
Without a qualifying core, the price increases by thousands of dollars, often approaching or exceeding the cost of a fully validated aftermarket solution.
Additionally, Tesla motors purchased this way are:
Supplied strictly as OEM replacements
Locked into factory configurations
Intended only to restore a Tesla vehicle to stock condition
Tesla does not offer:
Limited-slip differential upgrades
Bearing or durability upgrades
Reverse-drive or orientation modifications
Custom output configurations for conversions
For builders working on non-Tesla vehicles, custom projects, or performance applications, Tesla’s direct replacement program simply isn’t designed or accessible for that use case.
Can’t I just buy a Tesla motor from a junkyard for much cheaper?
You can, but this is where many EV projects encounter their biggest setbacks.
A junkyard or salvage motor often comes with:
Unknown internal wear or damage
No guarantee that the resolver, encoder, or temperature sensors are functional
Damaged or cut connectors and wiring
Missing hardware, coolant fittings, or seals
No documentation or technical support
What initially looks like a bargain can quickly turn into:
Weeks or months of troubleshooting
Unexpected replacement parts
Risk of inverter damage
Reduced reliability or premature failure
In many cases, builders end up spending more than they expected, both in money and time, just to reach a baseline level of reliability.
How Westside EV is different
Westside EV motors are sourced, inspected, and prepared specifically for conversion and custom applications, not OEM warranty replacement.
That means:
Known-good motors with verified sensors and interfaces
Clear expectations about condition and compatibility
Bench tested to ensure smooth operation
Options Tesla doesn’t offer, such as:
Limited-slip differentials
Upgraded bearings
Reverse-drive and custom orientation solutions
Support from people who understand EV conversions, not just factory replacements
1 year/20,000-mile warranty on all Ready-to-Run motors, and 2-year/60,000-mile warranty with FERSA bearing upgrade.
We focus on reducing uncertainty so your project moves forward rather than stalls.
Do you support DIY builders, or only professional shops?
We proudly support both.
We believe informed DIY builders are a critical part of the EV ecosystem. Many of our products are designed specifically to:
Reduce the learning curve
Improve safety
Make advanced EV technology accessible
That said, our solutions are also robust enough for professional and commercial use.
Do you offer technical support?
Yes, within reason and scope.
We provide:
Initial setup and configuration of products and systems purchased from Westside EV
Product-specific guidance
Best practices based on real-world experience
Clear documentation where possible
We can’t design your entire vehicle for free, but we can help you avoid common mistakes and point you in the right direction.
Are your products safe?
EV systems involve high voltage, high current, and serious energy storage. Safety is non-negotiable.
Our products are designed with:
Proper insulation and connector choices
Known thermal and electrical limits
Compatibility with industry-standard safety practices
However, the final safety of a build depends on the installer. We strongly encourage proper training, the use of protective equipment, and respect for the risks involved in EV work.
Do you test your products?
Yes, testing is central to what we do.
Whenever possible, components are:
Bench-tested
Inspected for wear or damage and refurbished if needed
Verified for electrical and mechanical integrity
We focus on known-good configurations, not experimental guesswork.
Are your products street legal?
Legality depends on:
Your local laws and regulations
How the vehicle is registered and used
The overall build, not just individual components
We recommend checking local regulations before starting any conversion project. We’re happy to share general guidance, but compliance ultimately falls on the builder.
Why choose Westside EV instead of piecing everything together myself?
Because your time, safety, and peace of mind matter.
Westside EV bridges the gap between:
Raw salvage components
Fully custom, one-off engineering
We provide proven building blocks that let you focus on the fun part: building and driving, without reinventing the wheel.
What’s Westside EV’s philosophy?
We believe:
EV conversions should be approachable, not mysterious
Builders deserve honest information, not hype
Good engineering saves money in the long run
Safety and reliability matter more than specs on paper
Our goal is to help grow the EV community by making high-quality solutions accessible and understandable.