Orange4boy's Rescue and Revival of a 2003 Prius

[talonts]

Originally Posted by bwilson4web

I used to drive a manual and was happy to push in the clutch when I wanted to roll w/o having to hold the accelerator.

Why not install a foot switch for your left foot that engages N when pressed, and pops back to D when released? Maybe an old highbeam switch with the detent removed.

I don't do electronics, so I have no idea of the difficulty in doing so, but it seems to me it should be possible.

[drbuzz]

Great thread, keep it guys and gals.
Buzz

[orange4boy]

Coasting in neutral in the warm up stage while the engine runs constantly dramatically reduces fuel consumption. It helps if you have some hills at the start of your commute.

It's also easier than getting "no arrows" for a newb. I think its harder to get no arrows on a Gen 1 but I'll defer to bob on that one.

[orange4boy]

Highway trip update..

Got the Prius to warp stealth quite a bit during the trip home! Lots of fun there. Combined with a little semi drafting for that high MPG near death experience was a blast.

Got 4.2 /100Km "between the hills" but the Upper levels highway pushed the average back to 4.5 pretty quick. Darned topography.

Of course now I'm chomping at the bit to do the aero mods.

Picked up some Ikea stainless platters to make into screw on moonies. Have to wait till next week to install them though.

[MetroMPG]

Moonies will pass the aesthetics supervisor's evaluation?

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FYI, at Marcus' request, split the discussion of modding the Prius 12v side into a new thread: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...12v-11300.html

Let me know if you see any "orphan" posts I missed or moved that I shouldn't have.

[orange4boy]

Moonies will pass the aesthetics supervisor's evaluation?

Affirmative. In fact they were specified by the LASS* early on along with wheel skirts. I'm hoping to include some rear wheel boat tails but they will have to look stock.

Under body and invisible mods are pre-approved as long as they are passive. (No switchie things)

No hoo-ha's allowed on the dash, though I think I can get away with a Scanguage.

(*Lovely Aesthetic Supervisor Sweetie)

[orange4boy]

Uber-moonie sneak preview...

[Christ]

Did you do the spun-wheel method for making those? They look great!

[orange4boy]

They are just Ikea candle platters. Heh. Ikea hack. They are 18" and heavier gauge than the $60 stainless pop on's that I have on the van. I will post mount them with 3 or 4 flat head socket screws tapped into the alloys through thick wall tube. They will need a bit of standoff so they don't rub on the rubber during cornering.

I like that they look like I'm running wide 45's on 18" rims but I'm really on 175-65-14s. they also have a smoother transition than moonies because they cover the part of the tire that curves back into the rim.

I just realized that if I made them into spinners with bottom weights, I could tuft test the wheels. Hmmmmm...

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by orange4boy

. . . they cover the part of the tire that curves back into the rim. . . .

Cover but don't touch? How much gap?

How is balancing handled?

A materials question, is there galvanic action between the steel platter and the alloy wheels? As a quick 'sanity' check, you might consider a test with a salt solution soaked wash rag and the cover and wheel. Use a VOM and see how much potential is generated.

Generally speaking, two metals in a salt solution become a battery and one will 'sacrifice' itself. If the sacrificial part is the cover, good. If it is the alloy wheel, not so good.

Bob Wilson