Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Hybrids
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 02-14-2016, 01:10 PM   #21 (permalink)
Spaced out...
 
spacemanspif's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dirty Jersey
Posts: 748

The New Focus - '07 Ford Focus ZX5
90 day: 32.44 mpg (US)
Thanks: 142
Thanked 205 Times in 149 Posts
How does the Prius V do in terms of MPG? While the firebird sheet metal might make for substantial weight reduction, aero might cancel the weight losses. I'm too much of a purist to accept a front wheel drive 1st gen F-body rolling on Prius wheels. I'm all about doing your own thing and would love to see more of a Tesla approach to the car or a giant electric motor strapped to 6spd and the engine bay filled with batteries though.

__________________
-Mike

2007 Ford Focus ZX5 - 91k - SGII, pending upper and lower grill bocks - auto trans
1987 Monte Carlo SS - 5.3/4L80E swap - 13.67 @ 106
2007 Ford Focus Estate - 230k - 33mpg - Retired 4/2018
1995 Saturn SL2 - 256K miles - 44mpg - Retired 9/2014

Cost to Operate Spreadsheet for "The New Focus"

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 02-14-2016, 01:58 PM   #22 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Bill the Engineer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Lower Slower Delaware
Posts: 462
Thanks: 430
Thanked 866 Times in 348 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by pgfpro View Post
WOW!!!

I'm also very interested in how you are going to make the floor pan more rigid?

IMO I would build a tube chassis floor bars and also add pillar foam to the rockers. I would also take some measurements from a stock Prius at the doors aperture (front to rear) and then make some temporary upper bolt in bars to set them to spec.

Very cool project!!!
Glad you like it! Good questions. Kind-of jumping ahead in the story...

First some diagrams:





I have made strategic measured cuts in the Firebird floorpan so that it keys into the Prius V floorpan like a jugsaw puzzle. The transmission tunnel and driver's seat supports will have numerous areas where the two car floorpans are welded together. The Prius V floorpan is unmolested and retains its full strength. The Firebird structure will just add to it. It is easy to see where the white areas protrude into the Firebird's sheetmetal. I am doing a similar thing between the two firewalls and in the rear of the car.






Bill the Engineer

Last edited by Bill the Engineer; 04-11-2018 at 10:34 PM..
  Reply With Quote
The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to Bill the Engineer For This Useful Post:
aerohead (06-19-2020), BamZipPow (03-04-2016), eco_generator (03-07-2016), HHOTDI (03-03-2016), mcrews (02-14-2016), MetroMPG (02-14-2016), pgfpro (02-14-2016), Xist (02-14-2016)
Old 02-14-2016, 02:00 PM   #23 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Bill the Engineer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Lower Slower Delaware
Posts: 462
Thanks: 430
Thanked 866 Times in 348 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by spacemanspif View Post
How does the Prius V do in terms of MPG? While the firebird sheet metal might make for substantial weight reduction, aero might cancel the weight losses. I'm too much of a purist to accept a front wheel drive 1st gen F-body rolling on Prius wheels. I'm all about doing your own thing and would love to see more of a Tesla approach to the car or a giant electric motor strapped to 6spd and the engine bay filled with batteries though.
To each their own...

Bill the Engineer
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Bill the Engineer For This Useful Post:
mcrews (02-14-2016), Nevyn (03-03-2016)
Old 02-14-2016, 03:40 PM   #24 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Bill the Engineer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Lower Slower Delaware
Posts: 462
Thanks: 430
Thanked 866 Times in 348 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Tele man View Post
...but, the GM Firebird drive-train does NOT employ "power recovery" regeneration capabilities (wink,wink)!
Do you mean this one? The hunk of rusted iron that hadn't run in years?



BTW, I kept the wheels and tires. I should be able to use them with bolt pattern adapter rings. If not, they make replica Rally-II wheels now that fit over disk brake set-ups and use more modern tires.

Bill the Engineer.

Last edited by Bill the Engineer; 04-11-2018 at 10:36 PM..
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2016, 05:18 PM   #25 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Bill the Engineer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Lower Slower Delaware
Posts: 462
Thanks: 430
Thanked 866 Times in 348 Posts
Continuing my story, even though I've jumped ahead a bit answering questions...

I had made the decision to use a Prius V as the basis of the conversion of my Firebird to a hybrid.

My friend Steve at AutoBeYours.com was very helpful in my efforts to bid on Prius V's in the salvage auctions, although I never seemed to win. Then one day he told me about a client of his who had a roll-over 2014 Prius V with only 4,500 miles on it. The front of the roof was crushed and the right front suspension damaged. Steve had repaired the suspension and temporarily installed a new windshield, but the roof turned out to be more damage than the client was willing to fix.



Since I did not care about the roof damage and other sheetmetal wrinkles, Steve mentioned me to his client. We arranged a visit to the shop in Indiana for me to inspect the car. As expected, it was perfect for my project. It had been sitting in auction lots for almost a year, but with the suspension repaired it still drove line a new car. We came to a three way agreement where I would buy the car from the client, and then Steve bought any of the body and interior parts that I didn't need for the project. We stripped the parts from the car at the shop...



... and loaded the running car shell onto a trailer for the trip home.



Once we arrived at my house I DROVE the car into the cul-de-sak across the street using a metal folding chair as the driver's seat.



The driver of the trailer bought the old Firebire front end and rear suspension from me and loaded it up for the trip back to Indiana.



Once he had left, I drove the Prius V shell into the garage and parked it next to the Firebird's body.




Next chapter: I buy a Sawz-all...

Bill the Engineer

Last edited by Bill the Engineer; 04-11-2018 at 10:45 PM..
  Reply With Quote
The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to Bill the Engineer For This Useful Post:
BamZipPow (03-04-2016), Daox (02-14-2016), Daschicken (03-14-2016), eco_generator (03-07-2016), HHOTDI (03-03-2016), mcrews (02-14-2016), mloveland78 (03-03-2016), Xist (02-14-2016)
Old 02-14-2016, 05:49 PM   #26 (permalink)
Master Novice
 
elhigh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SE USA - East Tennessee
Posts: 2,314

Josie - '87 Toyota Pickup
90 day: 29.5 mpg (US)

Felicia - '09 Toyota Prius Base
90 day: 49.47 mpg (US)
Thanks: 427
Thanked 616 Times in 450 Posts
This is my new favorite thread of all time.

Seeing the V's chassis utterly devoid of interior pinnings puts me in mind of a homebrew pickup truck, like these guys make.
__________________




Lead or follow. Either is fine.
  Reply With Quote
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to elhigh For This Useful Post:
Bill the Engineer (02-14-2016), Doc Joe (05-17-2016), eco_generator (03-07-2016), mcrews (02-14-2016)
Old 02-14-2016, 07:57 PM   #27 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
mcrews's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,523

The Q Sold - '02 Infiniti Q45 Sport
90 day: 23.08 mpg (US)

blackie - '14 nissan altima sv
Thanks: 2,203
Thanked 663 Times in 478 Posts
[B]To moderators........we need a bigger thanks button!!!!!!!!
__________________
MetroMPG: "Get the MPG gauge - it turns driving into a fuel & money saving game."

ECO MODS PERFORMED:
First: ScangaugeII
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...eii-23306.html

Second: Grille Block
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...e-10912-2.html

Third: Full underbelly pan
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...q45-11402.html

Fourth: rear skirts and 30.4mpg on trip!
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post247938
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to mcrews For This Useful Post:
Bill the Engineer (02-14-2016), Xist (02-14-2016)
Old 02-14-2016, 08:52 PM   #28 (permalink)
Not Doug
 
Xist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Show Low, AZ
Posts: 12,240

Chorizo - '00 Honda Civic HX, baby! :D
90 day: 35.35 mpg (US)

Mid-Life Crisis Fighter - '99 Honda Accord LX
90 day: 34.2 mpg (US)

Gramps - '04 Toyota Camry LE
90 day: 35.39 mpg (US)

Don't hit me bro - '05 Toyota Camry LE
90 day: 30.49 mpg (US)
Thanks: 7,254
Thanked 2,233 Times in 1,723 Posts


Elhigh, I would then want to see an aero topper on that Jetta pickup!
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Xist For This Useful Post:
Bill the Engineer (02-14-2016), mcrews (02-14-2016)
Old 02-14-2016, 09:22 PM   #29 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,534

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 57.73 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,082
Thanked 6,979 Times in 3,614 Posts
This thread is too much fun.
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to MetroMPG For This Useful Post:
Bill the Engineer (02-14-2016), mcrews (02-14-2016)
Old 02-15-2016, 08:29 PM   #30 (permalink)
Master Novice
 
elhigh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SE USA - East Tennessee
Posts: 2,314

Josie - '87 Toyota Pickup
90 day: 29.5 mpg (US)

Felicia - '09 Toyota Prius Base
90 day: 49.47 mpg (US)
Thanks: 427
Thanked 616 Times in 450 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xist View Post


Elhigh, I would then want to see an aero topper on that Jetta pickup!
I should get off my butt and make one for my truck. It's been dragging around the same cap for 28 - make that 29! - years now, maybe I could fab up something both lighter and sleeker.

__________________




Lead or follow. Either is fine.
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to elhigh For This Useful Post:
mcrews (02-18-2016), Xist (02-16-2016)
Reply  Post New Thread


Tags
convertible, firebird, firebrid, hybrid





Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com