Project IRX: CRX-Insight Renaissance Experiment
 

I'll try to keep this first post updated with recent information, and leave all the anecdotal stuff to later posts, so let me know if I'm not staying up to date or am straying off topic with it.

Goal: To get the full insight hybrid-electric system into my CRX in working order AND to have it get better mileage than my currect Civic VX d15z1 swap.

Progress:

08/24/09 - I have all or almost all of the parts in the garage, but haven't started gutting my car yet. The Insight manuals are either here or on order and I have most of what I need to complete the swap.

Costs:

Direct costs:
- Swap: $750

Secondary costs:
- New jack: $145

Current Issues:

- New project title? I find the current one a little lacking.

Holy crap!!! That's going to be awesome.:thumbup:

This story is a little bit belated, but it has to do with the first part of the swap, which deals with actually picking up the junk I would need for the swap.

It started with a 573 mile trip out to Toledo, OH. I filled up once on the way there, at something like 64 mpg. Wasn't the best but I don't think I'd been paying particular attention and I also broke my mpguino during the trip, which disabled lean-burn and one of the injectors.

Anyway, I got to Fabio's place at about 9 pm, then we got straight to work ripping apart the car, right through the night until we took a break at about 5am, during which I napped in my car for 2 hours. Waking up we did more work until about 10 pm that night, when I took off with all the junk in my car (except the exhaust which I stupidly forgot).

The way home was slightly less smooth. After having several "I'm still driving and not getting anywhere" nightmares on the side of the road, one of my new Insight wheels ended up breaking right off exit 185 on I80 in PA. Luckily, it was right by the exit since the next one was 8 miles up and the last one 14 miles back.

The little amish town I was stuck in had a gas station and a cafe, but nothing else. After chilling out there for about 6 years and eating really good pizza and sweet potato fries, wonderboy rescued me: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...help-9776.html

After that I filled up a sweet 75.5 mpg: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...-mpg-9819.html and finished my way home. Finally home at 4am, I slept in preparation for heading out to amec at 11 am the next day.

Good times. I think we're up to date now!

I hope so.

The plan is to complete the two in two steps. First will be ICE only, then when it's physically in and running, I'll go ahead and throw the IMA system in the back.

Call it "Honda CRZ"! Oh wait...

Zing!

Maybe I'll call it the Insight II :p

Wouldn't it be "Insight III"? I thought there was already an Insight II... this newer gen, I mean.

Maybe Insight Ii (1.5 :P)

So what are you doing w/ the Z1 once you're done swapping? I might be interested in making a deal w/ you, since I'm probably going to buy a DX tomorrow that's all rusty and in need of... well... me! :D

I'm just going to pretend like the actual Insight II doesn't exist.

I'd gladly deal with you on the vx, sir

Project CR-I... what you'll do if it doesn't work out. :) (Just kidding, and best of luck. It's a very forward thinking swap that you're working on, and if I can be of any assistance, feel free to call or txt/email/PM. I'll see what I can do.)

Oooo.. you gonna leave the HF trans with it?