The Firebrid Hybrid Convertible Project (Prius platform swap)

[Bill the Engineer]

Originally Posted by Xist

Would it be easier or more difficult to make a fiberglass plug of the Firebird, and then drop a fiberglass shell on a Prius chassis?

"You are a bad man, destroying a classic like that!"
"This classic--rust bucket? Still there, just cloned it."

It wouldn't be the car that my wife and I dated in that way, (minus the oil smoke, rear wheel hop and rattling over every bump.)

Not concerned about the haters. Like I said before, haters' gonna hate.

Bill the Engineer

[crashnzuk]

Exactly, it's your car, do what you like. I was thinking when I first saw the pics that the cut down Prius chassis probably had more structural stability than the firebird did when new 😄
Travis..

[Bill the Engineer]

Originally Posted by crashnzuk

Exactly, it's your car, do what you like. I was thinking when I first saw the pics that the cut down Prius chassis probably had more structural stability than the firebird did when new 😄
Travis..

That is correct. In fact, the Firebird design was so uncontrollable in its convertible form that Pontiac needed to add harmonic dampers to all four corners of the body to stop body twisting on the highway. They are something like 20lbs each. I still have them, but I doubt that I will need them. Time will tell.



Bill the Engineer

[eco_generator]

Originally Posted by Bill the Engineer

In fact, the Firebird design was so uncontrollable in its convertible form that Pontiac needed to add harmonic dampers to all four corners of the body to stop body twisting on the highway. They are something like 20lbs each.

Wow, what a different time. Bean counters figured out that adding 80-90 lbs in the furthest corners was the best "fix". Add inertia to every axis of movement, lol. Reduce the car's performance even further to mask a problem with the original modification... Genius!

[Xist]

Okay, but what if you like it so much, you want a second?

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by Bill the Engineer

... They are something like 20lbs each. I still have them, but I doubt that I will need them. Time will tell...

The Prius frame will be much better, I would think... you probably won't need them... and that is a lot of weight, distributed at corners that will affect it's cornering kinda negatively, no? I guess you'll experiment with removing them, maybe?

[Bill the Engineer]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

The Prius frame will be much better, I would think... you probably won't need them... and that is a lot of weight, distributed at corners that will affect it's cornering kinda negatively, no? I guess you'll experiment with removing them, maybe?

Already out and in the storage garage.

Bill the Engineer

[Bill the Engineer]

Originally Posted by Xist

Okay, but what if you like it so much, you want a second?

I will freely share the plans when I'm done.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Xist

Would it be easier or more difficult to make a fiberglass plug of the Firebird, and then drop a fiberglass shell on a Prius chassis?

I bet it would be easier, but anyway if I were going to do a similar project I'd eventually consider a custom-made chassis to avoid some clearance issues.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by Bill the Engineer

I will freely share the plans when I'm done.

Awesome generosity. It is one thing to have plans for the projects we have not completed, but a person enters another league when they produce the plans for the unique project they have actually finished! ☺