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  July 19, 2011 12:44 p.m. dean1484 SuperDork

  Has anyone done it? Since the thing is so light to begin with put a decent 4 banger in it and I bet you would end up with something of equivalent millage especially if it were highway use. My Google fu is lacking as I did not find anything.

  I was thinking 4age just to keep it in the famly.

  Now where to find a Prius body with a trashed drive-train. LOL

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  July 19, 2011 12:52 p.m. tuna55 SuperDork

  SHHHHH!!! I have been waiting to see one for challenge money.

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  July 19, 2011 12:53 p.m. integraguy SuperDork

  I've thought the same thing about the 1st gen. of the Insight. So far, the only "normally powered" Insight articles I've come across were on swapping in modded K-series engines.

  Considering how expensive it's supposed to be to replace the batteries in these older (actually, all hybrids), I would wonder where they have gone. The last high mileage Insight I saw for sale was being sold by the folks who used to service my Civics. But would still like to find a 1st gen. Prius (the one that looks like an even uglier Toyota Echo) and drop a GT-S 's 185hp engine in it....ultimate modern day sleeper?

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  July 19, 2011 12:56 p.m. RossD SuperDork

  I can't believe I almost went to CraigsList to look for a broken Prius.

  00100001

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  July 19, 2011 1:06 p.m. Teh E36 M3 HalfDork

  There was an article in "Home Power" magazine where a guy bought a 1st gen prius and refurbished the batteries- allegedly made it work pretty much like new again. Apparently they come in "sticks", and some fail before others, so you can mix and match good used ones to make it all work.

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  July 19, 2011 1:13 p.m. chaparral Reader

  A Prius battery pack is $400-600 at a junkyard; they go bad more slowly than the cars are wrecked.

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  July 19, 2011 1:30 p.m. RioRacer Dork

  what about a diesel motor, that should get some killer mpg's out of it?

  Cheap thrills at low speeds

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  July 19, 2011 1:36 p.m. daytonaer Reader

  The prius already has a "normal" engine. Its more or less identical to the 1.5 in the echo/yaris etc., with just a change in valve timing and compression. Look at the toyota 1nz engine family, pretty cool engines actually. Take out the hybrid side and its just a yaris?? The 1st gen prius looked very similar to the echo..

  As for the insight, IMO, that is a great candidate for an engine swap.

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  July 19, 2011 3:05 p.m. dculberson HalfDork

  Yeah, I thought they already sold it - the Yaris / Echo.

  The Prius isn't particularly light, pushing 3,000 pounds all in. The battery is about 118 pounds, not sure about the hybrid motor and controls. Compare that to around 1,850 pound curb weight on the 1st gen Insight, and you can see why the Prius has been passed over in the "re-motoring" game. The only reason the Prius gets good gas mileage is the tiny gas motor and the slippery shape. Putting a reasonably sized (from our perspective) gas motor in there wouldn't net you that great of mileage.

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  July 19, 2011 4:03 p.m. novaderrik Dork

  somewhere out in teh internets is a youtube video of a Prius drag car with a tube chassis and a blown big block Chevy..

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  July 19, 2011 9:11 p.m. Nitroracer SuperDork

  I have seen a diesel swapped insight on the web before. Maintained the electric assist and gets 80 mpg.

  http://99mpg.com/Projectcars/redlightracingworl

  http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/05/insight-1g-first-gen-honda-insight-with-diese...

  1968 Fairlane 500 / 1998 Camaro Z/28

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  July 19, 2011 11:45 p.m. mr2peak Reader

  I have only see a video with the noise of a V8. I still want a twinscrew v8 prius though

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  July 20, 2011 1:19 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork

  the Prius might not be light.. but it is a slippery shape. Somebody needs to take one to the saltflats

  Be careful of your words, for someone will agree with them. Be careful of your conduct, for someone will imitate it. -Leih Tsu

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  July 20, 2011 3:03 a.m. Hasbro Dork

  Prius/Bonneville Salt Flats:

  http://www.motortrend.com/auto_news/112_news041221_toyotaprius/index.html

  Add Lightness

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  July 20, 2011 7:28 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork

  nice.

  Be careful of your words, for someone will agree with them. Be careful of your conduct, for someone will imitate it. -Leih Tsu

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  July 20, 2011 11:46 a.m. Vigo Dork

  Lol, this thread is like a 'where were you?' to the people who never considered modding a hybrid before.

  There are several fast insights. Im turboing the stock motor in mine for ease/cheapness vs any swap that retains hybrid functionality.

  The 1g prius has been modded fairly extensively.. both supercharged and turbocharged, for example, but suffice it to say it is not as mod-friendly as the insight as far as our usual idea of performance goes.

  And yes, if you take the hybrid parts out of a 1g prius you have a toyota echo.. weeeeeeeee.

  The last high mileage Insight I saw for sale was being sold by the folks who used to service my Civics.

  I'll sell you mine with 314k on it for... $8k (i dont want to sell it. )

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