Firebrid: The Prius v Powered Hybrid Convertible

Ran out of time to put them back on this weekend. I'll do it next weekend and take another photo before I cover it over for the winter. Maybe the hood this time too, since I already have most of the cables back under the firewall already.

Bill the Engineer

 

Does anyone have any experience with a device like this attached to the gas pedal?

SmartPedal | SmartPedal

The concept sounds good, but the price is daunting.

Bill the Engineer

 

I have sent him a message through the site and mentioned this thread. I don't know if the Firebrid would be a valid Prius v test, since it is so different from a "normal" Prius v. I might not have it on the road in time to be a beta tester anyway.

That being said, I am considering it for my 2010 Gen-III Prius too, since "my mileage varies" when compared to my wife and daughter, and the device could only help. (Leadfoot is still driving that old Firebird with the V8 in my mind I guess.)

Bill the Engineer

 

I'm going to go for it.

Bill the Engineer

 

It's that time of year. However, Prodegyplace requested to see things put back together before the car was covered over (which I had planned to do anyway...) It also makes storing the car easier since parts aren't lying about in the garage.

First a photo showing what the double thick rocker panels look like. They are plenty strong enough to support the car.


Next, photos of the cables that are now inside the dash rather than lying on top of the engine. Quite a rats nest on the car floor! However, it's nice to see the engine again!



Then the Fenders, Cowl Cover, and Hood went back on.. Everything is sitting there nicely.



The gap isn't too bad behind the hood. Next year it will get filled by the back edge of the spare hood I bought.


It's looking pretty inspiring at this point.




So now the garage is ready for my wife's Gen-III to park inside again for the winter.


So, sweet dreams Firebrid. See you in the Spring!


Bill the Engineer

 

This afternoon it is 32F (0C) outside, cloudy and windy. Inside the garage isn't much better.

C'mon Springtime!!!

Bill the Engineer

 

The interior of the car was complete, but with surface mildew and mouse damage to the cushioning.



I will be using the original seat framing (except for the rear seat bottom) with new cushioning and skins. The rear seat bottom will be elevated to about the height of the armrests in the photo due to the new location of the traction battery under it. The rear seat bottom cushion will be much thinner to keep the height as low as possible, basically just a piece of thick foam covered over with the skin like was in the rear seat of my old Sunbird Hatchback. The appearance will be kept dead stock except for the updated dash and console components.

The first thing I will be doing is checking the alignment of the body on the chassis, then welding the two together. I am really looking forward to getting to the point where I can reassemble the electrical components so I can fire it up again. My goal by this time next year is to have it moving under its own power in and out of the garage.

Bill the Engineer

 

I just saw this stylish roll bar on a photo of a '69 Firebird retro-mod. I would really like to know where they bought it. It would allow me to have shoulder belts in the Firebrid. Even my wife likes the idea when I showed it to her, so I will be revising my plans to include something like this.



Bill the Engineer