Project IRX: CRX-Insight Renaissance Experiment

[SVOboy]

Aha, I just looked at that same page. I guess that's just the fuse box. Perhaps I'll just mess around and try to start the car on as little as possible and then go from there

[RobertSmalls]

That's a fancy name for a fusebox, and it seems to fit better when there's more relays than fuses, plus relays and fuses that power other fuses.

And actually, the only Insight fuses you need are under-dash #4, 6, 7, 9, 14, 18, 24, and underhood 18. Not bad at all. You'll be done with the wiring in no time. ;-)

[SVOboy]

I assumed the ECU would only plug into the engine harness, but o no...

We'll just see how it goes as it goes, I suppose.

Rhyme time for 200, Alex!

[Christ]

When doing swaps, it's usually easier to use the harness of your transplant vehicle, splicing into it when necessary.

That would mean using all the harness from the DX (which apparently was already wired for MPFI) and just swapping in whatever you need from the Insight's harness.

In this case, though, I'd tell you to use the Insight's harness, engine and dash, but not chassis. You'll just be splicing your chassis's harness into the Insight's other parts.

I guess what I'm saying is that since the Insight's wiring is going to be so much more in depth and different than the CRX's, it's going to just be less of a headache to use the majority of the Insight's harness and splice in whatever CRX parts you need for the engine/ECU and dash/cluster/etc.

You are using the Insight's cluster, right?

[SVOboy]

Yes. I'm planning to use the dash and engine harness already, but there's something called the floor harness and the engine bay harness that hook into both of those, and it's the engine bay harness that has all the annoying junk like lights and fuse box.

I might just check to see if the plugs are the same for the lights. If so, I'll go for the insight junk. If not, CRX

More troublesome than I expected. Only the IMA wiring is truly separate

[Christ]

I can almost guarantee they're not the same... you're going from non-OBD to OBD-2, all the engine's plugs and everything else were changed at least once, and twice in several cases, from one era to the other.

If you can find out what parts of the Insight's harness go to each thing, you can always just splice the ends from the CRX harness into it, but the only things you're actually going to need CRX parts for are the lights, and you're probably going to end up having to leave out certain parts, like the DRL (if the Insight has it) or install things that work for it in your CRX.

Yes, it's a pain - but it's worth it.

[SVOboy]

No no, not the engine plugs, the lights!

Most of the engine plugs are the same anyway. They were when I swapped from obd0 to obd1, and they seem to be now, as well. Which makes sense, I suppose. Evidently they're using the same hubs for 20+ years, might as well use the same plug design

[Tygen1]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

I was planning to to the mockup with foam board since that's easier to mess with, but yeah, that'll be the first step. Hopefully I can get the engine in place tomorrow for that.

Twere I to get a welder I would get this one, since I've heard good things from Tim: Amazon.com: Hobart 500487 Handler 125 115-Volt 30-to-125 Amp Arc Single-Phase Wire Welding Package: Home Improvement

A welder is always a good investment, and learning to weld is an even better investment. All of my welding gear is portable. I'll bring it all, but I am not going to be able to help out until next week. I've got a roof to put on the coup and a buisness trip coming up, so I'll have to squeeze this in there. Otherwise, I don't think it will be crazy hard to make mounts. I'm sure we'll have to make them scratch. So work on getting the motor placed properly, at the right hieght and offset. I wouldn't mess with the foam board much, just get that crazy harness figured out, I'm sure it will take longer than the motor mounts.

[Wonderboy]

Wow, thanks Tygen1 - Ben's not the only person here who wants to see this project come to fruition. I think it's awesome that you're willing to help out.

[SVOboy]

I haven't popped the axles in yet, but already I'm sensing a few issues, particularly related to the height of the engine, which seems to be able two inches taller than mine.

Does anyone know where to get specs for things like engine height?

Also, pictures!