Has anybody ever...

2jzprius · 07-21-2008, 09:18 PM

Swapped another motor and/or transmission into a Prius? I am starting a project where I am going to put a 2jz from a salvaged supra into my Prius. I am looking for others insight as to how hard this project will be.

justlurkin · 07-21-2008, 10:39 PM

If you want to swap a different gasoline engine into the Prius, its driveshaft will need to drive the carrier ring for the planetary gears in the Power Split Device. You will then need to figure out how to hook it up to the electronics that controls the Hybrid Synergy Drive to work with that different engine, and hack the HSD control software to work with that new engine too. I'm not sure if it's possible to use an Otto-cycle engine with the Hybrid Synergy Drive-- All of the HSD-powered cars use an Atkinson-cycle engine if I remember right (not sure?).

That's if you want to retain the full hybrid capabilities of the Prius-- ability to shut off or start up the gasoline engine on the fly, use of regenerative braking, etc.

If you don't care about hybrid capabilities at all, then basically you are just putting a Prius body shell onto a Supra chassis with a conventional engine and tranny.

galaxee · 07-21-2008, 10:45 PM

step 1: clear enough space for the engine and transmission. sorry, but i don't see that happening. have you seen the two engine compartments? night and day.

2jzprius · 07-21-2008, 10:48 PM

I don't plan on using any hybrid parts. I am going to just gut the car down, and install the Supra drivetrain. If the motor doesn't fit in the front, I can just put it in the rear of the car, and fabricate my way out of there. I plan to have everything done by the new year. As of right now, I am working on taking all of the parts off the supra.

Godiva · 07-21-2008, 11:18 PM

Why not just leave everything on the Supra and find a way to put the Prius body on the Supra frame. Seems a lot easier.

(This project also seems kinda stupid. I mean...what's the point?)

qbee42 · 07-21-2008, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2jzprius

I don't plan on using any hybrid parts. I am going to just gut the car down, and install the Supra drivetrain. If the motor doesn't fit in the front, I can just put it in the rear of the car, and fabricate my way out of there. I plan to have everything done by the new year. As of right now, I am working on taking all of the parts off the supra.

Why?

2jzprius · 07-21-2008, 11:25 PM

I want to make a sleeper which I can take to Bay Area street races. I'm sure I'll be laughed at when I first pull up, but then when I race for pink slips - I'll be the one laughing.

justlurkin · 07-22-2008, 12:18 AM

If you want to gut a Prius, you will have A LOT of fabrication to do, including:

- Building a steering and suspension system. The Supra's engine, tranny and rear-wheel-drive will demand a different kind of layout and suspension than the Prius's front-wheel-drive transaxle and steering. The center of gravity will also be altered since you will probably have to go to a mid-engine layout.

- Building a new throttle, brake and transmission control system. In the Prius, those three things are not mechanical but electronic ("drive-by-wire") because of the Hybrid Synergy Drive.

- Custom underframe to support the engine, transmission and suspension. All that gutting is going to compromise the stiffness of the Prius frameless unibody construction.

It would probably be a lot easier if you modified a Supra chassis to take Prius body panels instead.

Godiva · 07-22-2008, 12:25 AM

You're going to win pink slips in a Supra?

Ok. Now I know the point. And it is stupid.

Stefx · 07-22-2008, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2jzprius

I'm sure I'll be laughed at when I first pull up,

I think you're already being laughed at.

07-21-2008, 09:18 PM	#1
2jzprius Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Francisco, Ca Posts: 8 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Has anybody ever... Swapped another motor and/or transmission into a Prius? I am starting a project where I am going to put a 2jz from a salvaged supra into my Prius. I am looking for others insight as to how hard this project will be.

07-21-2008, 10:39 PM	#2
justlurkin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 107 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Has anybody ever... If you want to swap a different gasoline engine into the Prius, its driveshaft will need to drive the carrier ring for the planetary gears in the Power Split Device. You will then need to figure out how to hook it up to the electronics that controls the Hybrid Synergy Drive to work with that different engine, and hack the HSD control software to work with that new engine too. I'm not sure if it's possible to use an Otto-cycle engine with the Hybrid Synergy Drive-- All of the HSD-powered cars use an Atkinson-cycle engine if I remember right (not sure?). That's if you want to retain the full hybrid capabilities of the Prius-- ability to shut off or start up the gasoline engine on the fly, use of regenerative braking, etc. If you don't care about hybrid capabilities at all, then basically you are just putting a Prius body shell onto a Supra chassis with a conventional engine and tranny.

07-21-2008, 10:45 PM	#3
galaxee uphill battling Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 8,823 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 19	Re: Has anybody ever... step 1: clear enough space for the engine and transmission. sorry, but i don't see that happening. have you seen the two engine compartments? night and day.

07-21-2008, 10:48 PM	#4
2jzprius Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Francisco, Ca Posts: 8 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Has anybody ever... I don't plan on using any hybrid parts. I am going to just gut the car down, and install the Supra drivetrain. If the motor doesn't fit in the front, I can just put it in the rear of the car, and fabricate my way out of there. I plan to have everything done by the new year. As of right now, I am working on taking all of the parts off the supra.

07-21-2008, 11:18 PM	#5
Godiva AmeriKan Citizen Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 9,023 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #1 Nominated 3 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Re: Has anybody ever... Why not just leave everything on the Supra and find a way to put the Prius body on the Supra frame. Seems a lot easier. (This project also seems kinda stupid. I mean...what's the point?)

07-21-2008, 11:25 PM	#7
2jzprius Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Francisco, Ca Posts: 8 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Has anybody ever... I want to make a sleeper which I can take to Bay Area street races. I'm sure I'll be laughed at when I first pull up, but then when I race for pink slips - I'll be the one laughing.

07-22-2008, 12:18 AM	#8
justlurkin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 107 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Has anybody ever... If you want to gut a Prius, you will have A LOT of fabrication to do, including: - Building a steering and suspension system. The Supra's engine, tranny and rear-wheel-drive will demand a different kind of layout and suspension than the Prius's front-wheel-drive transaxle and steering. The center of gravity will also be altered since you will probably have to go to a mid-engine layout. - Building a new throttle, brake and transmission control system. In the Prius, those three things are not mechanical but electronic ("drive-by-wire") because of the Hybrid Synergy Drive. - Custom underframe to support the engine, transmission and suspension. All that gutting is going to compromise the stiffness of the Prius frameless unibody construction. It would probably be a lot easier if you modified a Supra chassis to take Prius body panels instead.

07-22-2008, 12:25 AM	#9
Godiva AmeriKan Citizen Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 9,023 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #1 Nominated 3 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Re: Has anybody ever... You're going to win pink slips in a Supra? Ok. Now I know the point. And it is stupid.