The Hybrid Convertible Project Prius v

Sadly, neither is skipping over Winter in Ohio...

Bill the Engineer

Three photos approximately 12 months apart covering the last 2 years.



I'm looking forward to next year!

Bill the Engineer

 

I really miss working in the garage, but at least I'm still planning and scheming...

[

Bill the Engineer

 

LOL. No!

 

Of course I am always thinking about safety when I am working on the design of the Firebrid. I am a degreed machine design engineer with 37 years of experience, half of which has been with vehicle components. I breathe safety.

Think about what I was starting with. I had a 1967 Firebird convertible with a compromised rust-holed underbody. The car when it was new was so bad structurally that GM had to add sprung weights to all 4 corners to eliminate body flexing that at highway speeds would send the car off of the road. Considering I found one of the engine sub-frame anchor points rusted through and a broken spring leaf on the rear, the car as I had it would have been dangerous to drive...period!

The car was not designed by GM with a full frame, so in an front end accident the dashboard could end up in your lap. There were no crumple zones designed into the car like with the Prius v chassis I am using. I am mounting the chromed steel Firebird front bumper to the original Prius v mounting points using Z-shaped brackets that I purposely designed to fold up in as front impact even before the crumple zone parts of the chassis take any damage. I feel sorry for any modern car that tangles with that chrome monster of a bumper.

I am still deciding if I want to use the Firebird steering wheel on the Prius v steering column. If not, then the driver's airbag could return. It is not possible to put one on the passenger side. Airbags weren't even invented yet when the Firebird was built.

On the sides, the Firebird 4-layer rocker panels are being welded to the tops of the full Prius v rocker panels, making them even stronger. Yes, I have no side airbags, but then with the top down there is nothing to mount them on. The safety issues with a convertible in a roll-over situation are well known but unavoidable. I do not plan to install a roll bar. It's not a race car.

In the rear, safety is greatly enhanced since the old Firebird gas tank sat next to the rear bumper. I am using the Prius v configuration which is much safer. Plenty of crumple zone back there now.

I could go on about other safety and suspension improvements, but that would be for another time. In any case, the car will be MUCH safer than the original Firebird even when it was new. It will never be up to modern standards, but it is not a modern car.

Yes, I am constantly thinking about safety.

Bill the Engineer

 

Having more time to plan and scheme in the cold weather can pay off. All the comments about the length of the nose extension kept gnawing at me, since deep down inside I also thought it was too long. After some gymnastics on the CAD system, I have come up with a way to shorten the nose extension from 10.5" down to 4.5", while still using modified versions of the brackets that I already have made. That's as short as I can make it since other things start crunching together if it gets any shorter.

Existing on left, modified on right.


As it will be installed for the 4.5" extension.
[

Now I REALLY can't wait for Spring to arrive!!!

Bill the Engineer

 

Seriously! This greeted me outside today.



Bill the Engineer

 

Just playing with pixels to see what the shortened version will look like.

As-is today:


Proposed shortened version:


C'mon April...

Bill the Engineer