Page 1 My Insight
Page 2 Concept Car
Page 3 My Mods.
My Mods, More mods and pics comming soon.
Why I Mod? I modify my Insight with the intent to create a newer, kewler, faster, and better Insight. I have already got a number of thumbs up from many "Motor Heads" who I have been able to "keep up with" on the road. They know it's a hybrid, and they respect the fact that I am willing to run down the road at well over 60 right along side their super custom muscle machine. I intend to some day in the very near future blow the doors off any one of those "muscle cars", and still achive 70MPG and ultra low emissions. But how could you do such a thing you ask? Read on and I'll tell you...
Modification 1 "New Rubber"
The First thing I did was put new rubber on it. I replaced the oem Brigstone 165/65/R14 with some new Pirelli 195/55/VR14. The new Pirelli's have a very aggressive uni-directional tread pattern, they are wider and shorter. These new tires really make the car stick in the corners very nicely, Although I did take a 5 mpg hit for the better grip.
Modification 2 "Cruise Control Baby"
I installed a Rostra Cruise Control with a wireless steering wheel controller. It looks like a factory option, but unfortunately cruise is not an option on the Honda Insight. It works great and keeps my heel from blistering on those long 2000 mile road trips.
Modification 3 "Trick the Computer, Governor"
While installing the Cruise I had to tap into the VSS (speed sensor) wire at the ECU (engine computer). So I decided to build a little circuit that would disable the speed governor. It uses a digital counter to divide the input pulse from the VSS in half and pass the new signal on to the ECU. Essentially it tricks the ECU into believing that the car is going half the speed it actually is. Works pretty well, The top speed used to be 113, but I have been able to go faster since installing this mod.
Modification 4. "More Buttons Please"
I got a RacerBoy Shift Knob, with four programmable buttons! I have connected one up to a pair of cheap neon lights mounted in the rear window. Another of the buttons is connected to my Governor Circuit, and will be used to activate other performance enhancements in the future. The last two buttons are not connected to anything yet. I plan to use the last two for Manual Assist and Manual Regen.
Modification 5. "Isolated Break System"
I have installed an electric vacuum pump inline between the manifold and the break booster. This will allow the ICE to remain shut off, or in idle-stop mode, even when breaking excessively. As the vacuum is depleted a vacuum switch activates the pump, bringing the pressure back up to normal. This is the first step towards my EV conversion.
Modification 6. "Accessory Batteries"
Nixed the isolater and have instead installed two Hawker GP13 batteries up front to replace the stock accessory battery. I have also installed a third Hawker in the trunk which the amp and inverter draw from. Actually the three batteries are not isolated, so they all act as a single 39ah battery. This setup lets me run my computer for a few hours without running the ICE.
Modification 7. "Super ShoeBox Sub"
I have installed my John Wayland Super ShoeBox Sub Enclosure, with it's 8" 300W RMS Isobaric Sub. Sounded great durring the installation when we tested it out. It's powered by a Profile 75*4 with one pair bridged to 150, So it's running at about half power till I get the right amp.
Modification 8. "OBD-II Scantool"
Well I got my universal OBD-II adapter and some scantool software, Auterra, for my palm based cell phone. Works great, Now I can monitor a number of the vehicles paramiters to help me test out my modifications. It's also handy for resetting those error codes that I sometimes tend to invoke as I work on it.
Modification 9. "New Rubber Again..."
Well I have ordered a full set of Goodyear Proxima's. This is the tire that is used on the GM EV1, so I'm hoping to get back to some low roll resistant tires and bring my lifetime mileage back up to something respectable. I'll be keeping the Pirellis and hope to get some new oem rims for them so I can change back over should I ever find myself on a track.
Modification ?. ""
To Do...
Blower and/or Nos (performance for the ICE)
EV Conversion, More Power from the IMA.
Wish List...
HID - (High Intensity Discharge)(Xenon)
