The Hybrid Convertible Project Prius v

Hmmm. Something looks a little familiar.



Bill the Engineer

 

Not expecting much if any progress this weekend. It's supposed to rain.

Surrey with a fringe, huh. Just be glad I'm not mounting a Microbus on this chassis!

Bill the Engineer

 

Next project would be the new garage on the side of the new retirement house we plan to build near the ocean before we retire in about 5 years.



Lower Slower Delaware...

Bill the Engineer

 

Columbus isn't a cow town anymore. Too many people moving here from other bigger cities are making rush hour resemble what I remembered from the Northeast Corridor.

Lower Delaware is a quiet shore area half way between two crazy places, Rehobeth, DE and Ocean City, MD. I grew up in Baltimore. My wife grew up in the New Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia. Baltimore Hundred in lower Delaware has a large group of retirees from both areas, making it feel like home, only slower and with an ocean nearby.

Bill the Retirement Planner

 

I'm not the first in my family to create something interesting. This was my late Dad back in 1967 with the "Little D" dragster he and his students made out of a VW Bug. The front tires were only 6 inches from the rear slicks. It popped wheelies really well! Dad was a vocational auto shop teacher at Dulaney Sr High School in Timonium, MD. The "Little D" won the grand prize for its class at the 1967 Baltimore Hot Rod and Custom Show at the Baltimore Civic Center.



Bill the Engineer

 

Upcoming weekend forecast to be partly sunny and in the low 70's (degF) both days. The top of the firewall and the front quarter window frames are gonna go first. After that it's time to start cutting on the Firebird body so that the fit of the jigsaw puzzle becomes a little clearer. Also need to investigate how much farther forward I can mount the traction battery without stressing the cables. Looks like it can move at least two feet without much trouble. Photos at the end of the weekend.



Bill the Engineer

 

Glorious day to work on the car (after the yard work of course.) The front quarter windows are gone, and the entire firewall area is trimmed down to where it needs to be to fit under the Firebrid's hood. I'm tired but happy!






If I get the chance tomorrow, those rear fender wells need to be trimmed back...

And yes, I still drove it back into the garage!

Bill the Engineer

 

Just as legal as any other street rod, which is basically what it will be. I'm just not dropping in a 2015 Camaro powertrain and sub-floor like most other people would do with a 1967 Firebird. I'm such a heretic!

Bill the Engineer

 

Yeah, things aren't like what they used to be. Regulations are tightening up as time goes by, and I can foresee a time in the future when it won't be legal to do this anymore. I understand that in some countries it is completely illegal to do what I am doing, even for someone like me with a degree in mechanical engineering and 35+ year of experience in machine design. Funny thing too, because there are hundreds of Transit Buses running around on the streets with my handiwork.

I need to do this project now while I still can!!!

Bill the Engineer (a real honest-to-goodness old-fashioned engineer.)