Honda Insight w/Acura TSX engine - Ecomodding

[California98Civic]

Kewl!

[Ecky]

Started gutting the back. The DC-DC converter and motor controller will go as soon as I get a small power supply in. The rear of the car sits a good 3 inches higher already.

[samwichse]

Does the battery box add any significant rigidity to the back end? I feel like all those cover plates that basically go from wheel arch to wheel arch and tie to the box might be good to leave in... they can't weigh that much...

Maybe build a sub box that fits inside the stock battery bay and drill a grid of holes in the cover for the grill so you can still load stuff back there? Put the new 12v right where the DC-DC goes currently?

[Ecky]

The battery box weighs next to nothing, and also presumably adds next to nothing. I was actually pleasantly surprised just how lightweight it was; the whole thing was probably less than 2lbs, and would blow away in a light gust.

I plan to leave the crossbar that runs across the spare tire well since it's bolted quite close to the wheel wells and feels very solid. Going to lay down some foam and then a board over it, and it won't be inconvenient to cut out a groove for it in the foam.

There's also a crossbar which runs just behind the seats, which I plan to take out. This might be controversial, as it may contribute to crash safety in a hard side impact. I drove without it bolted in for a few days and didn't notice any chassis flex at the bar though, so I don't think removing it will negatively impact handling.

EDIT: Dimensionally, the rear cargo area is 48" long, 40" wide at the rear, and 52" wide at the front. At the back, the floor is 24" below the glass. At the front, it's 32" below the glass, but the floor there is also ~2.5" higher.

[Ecky]

Removed some tabs and bits from the back.

[MetroMPG]

Not going to attach any images locally?



When imgur goes away, we'll have another visually neutered project thread!


At least attach the occasional key photo. :P

[samwichse]

Originally Posted by Ecky

There's also a crossbar which runs just behind the seats, which I plan to take out. This might be controversial, as it may contribute to crash safety in a hard side impact. I drove without it bolted in for a few days and didn't notice any chassis flex at the bar though, so I don't think removing it will negatively impact handling.

I would leave the Tom Mix bar in. That's absolutely part the side impact protection. If you take it out you'll see it's a pretty solid piece and bolted in 4(?) bolts at each end. I don't think you would really gain anything by taking it out unless you're planning to sleep in the car...

[California98Civic]

It is always fun to see the stripping of these cars. It's like a thorough house cleaning.

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Not going to attach any images locally?

When imgur goes away, we'll have another visually neutered project thread!
...

That's a good point. I remember when "photobucket" or whatever suddenly ended photo embedding after years. I still find stuff all screwed up on this and other forums... photos just... gone. I think people do it for their own records and for higher resolution.

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by samwichse

I would leave the Tom Mix bar in. That's absolutely part the side impact protection. If you take it out you'll see it's a pretty solid piece and bolted in 4(?) bolts at each end. I don't think you would really gain anything by taking it out unless you're planning to sleep in the car...

I won't cut the bar mounts out, will keep the bar until I'm finished with everything, and see then how I feel about it.

The bar has 3 10mm bolts at each end.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by samwichse

I would leave the Tom Mix bar in. That's absolutely part the side impact protection. ....

Is that Tom Mix bar named for the early Western movie star? He died in a car wreck in 1940 in which a metal suitcase in his backseat of his Cord Phaeton struck him in the head and broke his neck.

Geez... better keep it.