Project IRX: CRX-Insight Renaissance Experiment - Page 15 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Christ · 09-01-2009, 06:22 PM

Ben, you didn't happen to note the OEM angle of the engine in it's native engine bay, did you? You might be able to take up those extra 2" by leaning it back a bit... I wouldn't go anymore than like 10*, but it may be enough to clear the hood.

You can also vent the rear of your hood for the extra clearance, or *gasp* get a "turbo bump" to weld/glass in.

I'm not sure where to get specs on the complete engine, the only specs I've ever worried about is deck height, and I've never seen anything on the Insight engine.

SVOboy · 09-01-2009, 07:02 PM

Based on the bolts of the engine mounts I think it's at the right angle now.

I think if I lower the engine a bit and move it back a bit I may have more head room, but then I don't know if the plastic engine cover will fit on anyway. Perhaps I'll just get a CF hood with a bump in it and hope someone doesn't steal my car the next day

Christ · 09-01-2009, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SVOboy

Based on the bolts of the engine mounts I think it's at the right angle now.

I think if I lower the engine a bit and move it back a bit I may have more head room, but then I don't know if the plastic engine cover will fit on anyway. Perhaps I'll just get a CF hood with a bump in it and hope someone doesn't steal my car the next day

Paint the CF hood, it will look "normal".

Your primary concern in mounting a new engine/transaxle in an older engine bay is making sure that (under suspension load) the axles are going to be straight +/- a few degrees.

SVOboy · 09-01-2009, 08:07 PM

Well, my radiator maintenance has been less than successful. It leaks around the top. I was pretty sure I really wailed on it, but I'll try again tomorrow. Also, I've got one of the axles torn apart for maintenance but I need to buy a tool for that damn circlips.

Anyway, feeling lazy, so work will resume tomorrow. Hopefully I can fix the axle and get them tossed on the car for alignment's sake

hamsterpower · 09-01-2009, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SVOboy

Measured, they will be.

Something like this is what I'll need for the rear mount:

For a while I thought the K kit might work for my E series motor, but looking at the driver's side mount has convinced me this is not true.

It looks to me that this kit might at least give you a head start. Comparing these with the pictures on page 14, it might work.

The piece on the left looks like it goes on the cross beam to move the mount to the left.
The piece in the middle back is the rear mount from the trans to the one above.
The piece in the middle front fits with the front right to relocate the passenger side. after cutting off the original chassis mount.
The last piece might be a center front mount.
My guess is a stock insight mount might work for the driver side and that everything moves slightly to the driver side.

Then again I could be completely wrong.

Great work so far!!!!

Christ · 09-01-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SVOboy

Well, my radiator maintenance has been less than successful. It leaks around the top. I was pretty sure I really wailed on it, but I'll try again tomorrow. Also, I've got one of the axles torn apart for maintenance but I need to buy a tool for that damn circlips.

Anyway, feeling lazy, so work will resume tomorrow. Hopefully I can fix the axle and get them tossed on the car for alignment's sake

Hey - did you do a spline/length measurement on the trans side of the Insight axles and compare them to the DX axles?

All 2nd/4th gen axles are the same length, just different spline assemblies at the CV joints... So if the HF's axles would fit into the transaxle of the Insight, then the DX's axles will as well. Just a thought, but this could be a little simpler than we're trying to make it. We didn't already cover this, did we?