The Firebrid Hybrid Convertible Project (Prius platform swap)

[Bill the Engineer]

A bit hard to see this weekend's progress, but it is progress none the less.

The Firebird radiator core support is down lower where it belongs, and now it covers the bottom of the Prius V cooler nicely. It is also shifted a little further back, and the bumper was adjusted a bit further back to match. These parts will be the first to be sand blasted in the spring prior to painting them.





Onward to next weekend.

Bill the Engineer

[mcrews]

bill....you are THE MAN!!!

I KNEW YOU COULD MAKE IT WORK!!!

[Bill the Engineer]

The morning sunshine on the Firebrid this morning.



I took a vacation day today (Friday) and spent most of the day working on the car. The cut-out for the right a/c vent is made, and the opening for the speedometer has been raised to clear the left a/c duct. Sadly my 30+ year old scroll saw broke while working on the left a/c vent cut-out. Replacement parts are not available, so I'll be making a purchase of a new one soon.



Then I got out the air cut-off tool and started to work on the right front fender. Things will work out nicely when I purchase the extra front fenders in the spring to splice into these. Right now it reminds me of a slide trombone.





All things considered, it was a very good day.



Bill the Engineer

[Bill the Engineer]

Today I got the left side caught up with the right side.



Bill the Engineer

[elhigh]

^^That just reinforces the Transformers-ness of this rig.

[toccoa]

First off, love this thread!

What's been bugging me is, why did you need to lengthen the fenders? The idea bugged me from the start (for aesthetics), but I thought it must be a space issue. However, I think I am missing something, because it still looks hollow between the Firebird grille and the Prius Core Support. So what is it?

I realize the deed is done, but I just have to know.

[Bill the Engineer]

Originally Posted by toccoa

First off, love this thread!

What's been bugging me is, why did you need to lengthen the fenders? The idea bugged me from the start (for aesthetics), but I thought it must be a space issue. However, I think I am missing something, because it still looks hollow between the Firebird grille and the Prius Core Support. So what is it?

I realize the deed is done, but I just have to know.

Partly I needed to keep things simple by using the existing Firebird core support to hold the front of the fenders and the hood latch mechanism in place. That would be impossible with the original fenders. It was also partly due to an interference between numerous Firebird and Prius parts if I didn't extend the fenders. I mentioned these in earlier threads. Prius things would have been poking out the bottom, and the Firebird headlights and grill would not have fit around the Prius framing around the cooling cores.

That being said, all the Firebird parts are bolted on, so if I decide later that I don't like the look, I can still change it again.

Bill the Engineer

[toccoa]

Originally Posted by Bill the Engineer

Partly I needed to keep things simple by using the existing Firebird core support to hold the front of the fenders and the hood latch mechanism in place. That would be impossible with the original fenders. It was also partly due to an interference between numerous Firebird and Prius parts if I didn't extend the fenders. I mentioned these in earlier threads. Prius things would have been poking out the bottom, and the Firebird headlights and grill would not have fit around the Prius framing around the cooling cores.

That being said, all the Firebird parts are bolted on, so if I decide later that I don't like the look, I can still change it again.

Bill the Engineer

Thanks for the reply. I think I do remember you writing about keeping it simple. Although, that was before you created those awesome brackets.

I didn't think about the bottom. That would be a challenge to hide and certainly not simple. Like you said though, you can always revisit that later (Firebrid v1.1).

Keep up the good work. I truly enjoy seeing this all come together.

[Bill the Engineer]

Focused on the steering column mount today. After some brainstorming with leftover parts in my hands, I figured out how to put a bend in an extra Firebird steering column support rod so it could be used to support the bottom end of the Prius steering column assembly. It only took one bend in the rod and a new hole in the brake pedal support to attach it. I also upgraded to nylok nuts to ensure everything would stay in place through many years of future driving.





The column is now solid as a rock in the car.

Onward to tomorrow!

Bill the Engineer

[elhigh]

I'm loving this build.

It makes me think back to the GM "Skateboard" concept of a BEV chassis with all the drivetrain and operation bits built into a unit that could have a completely new, different body dropped on in a relatively straightforward operation. In a weekend, you could conceivably pull the old body and put on a new one.

A few standardized central pieces to get the power and overall length close, and bolt-on sponsons to tweak the wheelbase and track to perfection, and you could repower any classic iron with all new running gear.

You wouldn't have the advantage of decades' worth of advancement in the crash protection department, but you could have a couple hundred miles' of gas-free range and vintage good looks that just aren't available anymore. There are downsides, but I think the upsides outweigh them.