prius conversion - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

blalah69 · 02-19-2006, 05:53 AM

hey, im new to the import scene, and i have a v6 98 camry, i drive 2 hours a way to work everyday and ive already racked up 220,000 miles. i pay fortune for gas and am thinking about swapping a more fuel effiecent motor into the cam. i was thinking of a prius motor, the technology is amazing... do you guys think this will work? maybe i could turbo to get a lil xtra power from it while still conserving gas. any info is appreciated thanks!

Phat Devil · 02-19-2006, 06:32 AM

Ummmmm, it would be impossible i would say. Coz you need to take EVERYTHING from the prius ie generators from the brakes, batteries... the money you spend on that will be more that you will save in fuel for the rest of your car's life =P well maybe not coz cam's are unbreakable

drmotorhead · 02-19-2006, 07:07 AM

If you want to get better mileage or save resources, there are better ways than a Prius drivetrain.
There is also a serious debate on whether or not the Prius saves any resources at all. It costs more to produce, the government gives a tax credit to buyers, and rumor has it that even while selling it for thousands more than a comparable Corolla, they still break eve or even lose money.

In the real world of driving, hybrids don't match the carefully controlled test numbers of the EPA mileage cycle. They perform the worst on the highway loop, when there is no opportunity for regeneration of the batteries through braking.

The batteries themselves are also basically a self contained toxic waste dump that will have to be disposed of someday. That cost is almost never taken into consideration by buyers or the companies that make hybrids.

Another unknown is how long the batteries will last under real world use. Some expect that they will act like most batteries and slowly wear out. That would make the mileage get worse and worse until you are finally running just on gas. Check on the replacement costs for that fancy battery.

I think once the whole life cycle of a hybrid is known, hybrids will not be very popular.

The real solution right now is one that most people will not accept: light weight cars that are smaller but space efficient, using small gas or turbo diesel engines.

The real gas saving champions were built in the 80's and early 90's: Geo Metro and Honda CRX(HV? I forget the honda name for it). They got at or over 50 mpg and look how they did not sell.

Yeah, I know. Way more info than anyone wants, but the Sunday paper is not here yet and I am bored.

BlackCamSe · 02-19-2006, 08:20 AM

I would wate until the 2007 camrys come out and take there hibrid motor and put it into yours. It is a 2AZ-FE with the hibrid. IT tops out at 192 horsepower

terrastrife · 02-19-2006, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blalah69

maybe i could turbo to get a lil xtra power from it while still conserving gas.

best quote ever.
(more air = more power. more air = more fuel, no more math required.)

swap to a 4 cylinder if you want to conserve gas.

or even a smaller car. things like the yaris use one third to one quarter the petrol a v6 camry does.

edit: also please remember hybrids are a waste of money right now unless youre an enviro person. how many of you here can drive without revving past lets say... 2500rpm on your current motor? if you cant, youll be spending most your time running off the petrol motor so it doesnt really matter. if ALL you ever do is city crawl, then its possible, but it would end up being cheaper to buy a 1.3 petrol....unless you keep the car for 50 years to make up for the inital purchase cost....

(1.3 yaris does about 3-4 liters/per 100km combined city/highway)

JMSinMD · 02-19-2006, 10:04 AM

1) If anyone on the forum had the ability to do this they wouldn't be asking.

2) If anyone on this forum had the money to do it they'd realize it's not cost efficient

3) If you like the size of the Camry but need better fuel efficiency wait until 2007 and get the Camry Hybrid.

Jon.

blalah69 · 02-20-2006, 01:31 AM

for all the non believers
the parts will be here next week pics to follow.....

05Cam-Weasel · 02-20-2006, 02:42 AM

i don't think it is quite possible i'm with everyone else just wait till the 2007 camry hybrid rather than wasting all that money trying to do something that has never been done and just trying to prove us wrong...don't be stupid

wesley

604-Mico · 02-20-2006, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blalah69

for all the non believers
the parts will be here next week pics to follow.....

YEA DO IT!
I want to see how much money you waste just to prove us wrong

LOL

First posted yesterday if its feasible to do the project and then the next day you suddenly have these "parts" coming in the next week.

I dont know about the other members in this forum but I actually want to see pics of these "parts" you have coming

Luckynumber5 · 02-20-2006, 03:33 AM

And the consensus is... its a bad ideaa

JetspeedCamry · 02-20-2006, 03:44 AM

You would spend years (and im not exaggerating) making a Prius hybrid drivetrain work in a car like the Camry. It takes hundreds of horus of engineering and craftsmanship to get something this technologically advanced, in a roadworthy and fully working state. And turbo the prius motor for more power while having efficency?? WTF dude. Why do people think you can just slap a turbo on anything and make it go fast. "Yeah man, got my ride on today...slapped a turbo on it...it flyyys". I mean, get over the whole teenager, highschool attitude of "pssst" "turbo" etc etc BS.
And in the space of 1 day, you have parts coming?? LOL, "yeah man, were getting overnight parts from Japan" (quote from F&F for the latent minded).

I smell BS.

blalah69 · 02-20-2006, 06:31 AM

bullsh*t? you are just jealous, why must you all doubt my mechanical ability when none of you even know me? i had a feeling i would get this type of feedback... i cant wait to see the replies when it is all said and done....

leasaunce · 02-20-2006, 06:57 AM

swap for a 4cyc car. or CATCH public transport

Toyota YARIS they're very fuel economic

JetspeedCamry · 02-20-2006, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blalah69

bullsh*t? you are just jealous, why must you all doubt my mechanical ability when none of you even know me? i had a feeling i would get this type of feedback... i cant wait to see the replies when it is all said and done....

LOL...Jealous?? of a Prius "upgrade"?? haha...i don't think so mate...ill stick with my V6 Cam anyday

This thread should be locked until you can SHOW us what your doing. Saying is one thing, doing is another.

RAV4EVR · 02-20-2006, 08:15 AM

Let the guy do it and if we don't hear back from him in a year, his picture will have a "LOSER" sticky on his forhead and if he proves to us a year down the road that he has spent 50,000 dollars transforming his old Camry to a hybrid.............. Well... that is his money.... right? So let the guy show us his abilities, it is not our money......... He asked us for our "friendly" opinion and we gave it to him but if that makes us his enemies........... LET HIM show us his talent with his bank account ..........