Are there hybrid engines for sale?
Created May 15, 2006, at 10:15 pm by Anonymous
I am buying a late model car, but want to replace the engine with a hybrid. Is this possible and does anybody know of any company that specializes in this? Thanks
skinnybonezjonez
advertisement
Free Email Newsletter Sign-up
All the latest news in a free and engaging bundle. Totally free!
That's not as easy as it sounds.
For a hybrid to be a hybrid, you must have that big battery to give the electrical portion of it.
In addition, you probably need to do something with the brakes, as hybrids use regenerative braking to recharge their batteries, so they don't have to be plugged in.
While "engine swapping" is possible and has been done in some cars (like putting a Camry engine on a Corvette frame), I not sure whether that's possible with a hybrid, or if it is, it may be extremely difficult.
I'm looking for the same thing, it can't be that hard to do. Just need tofind some one that sells the parts, if you do find some one e-mail me at
I want a hybrid engine as well. I'm going to put 1 in a used 91 Corvette with a zillion miles on it. Should be interesting to say the least : )
Has anyone sucesfully made the transition from late model to hybrid? I am looking to do the same and could use some guidance.
Seems like the best way to find out how to hybridize an older vehicle would be to visit with Dr. Andy Frank's crew at the University of California, Davis Campus.
is it possible to get one of those engines large enough and strong enough to power a vehicle like a bus or a UPS truck?
Wierd postings....there's no such thing as a hybrid engine. If you want to hybridize an old car, you`ll need to totally gut every aspect of the powertrain system, fuel system and most of the electrical system. Then you`ll need to find an existing hybrid system which includes the engine, gearbox, power controller module, inverters, battery, new fuel system, new powertrain control module, new cooling system, new electrical system and a few other things. Then you`ll have to spend many months working to try and get it running, thats assuming you have some means to get into the manufactureres controller software to make some radical control system alterations and functional changes. The best thing to do would be to find a crashed Prius or Saturn Vue Hybrid and then do a major transplant of the total system into your vehicle. Even then, it`ll take you months to try and get the electrical / control system working.
Hybridizing an old car may not be a good idea. Better to get an old Mercedes Diesel and throw MacDonalds frying oil into it.
I have a 1991 Chevy Lumina and would love to put a plug-in hybrid engine in my car. I realize this task is just about impossible but if anyone has done anything similar to this ,knows anyone who has , knows of someone who could help me out, or knows someone who owns a company that does something similar to this PLEASE write to me!
-thanks :)
As far as I know, the Malibu/Aura and Tahoe hybrids from GM house all the additional hybrid components except for the battery pack and possibly the controller in the transmission housing. Since it's basically just a hybrid transmission mated to a standard internal combustion engine, it would probably be just slightly more difficult than a traditional transmission swap. Of course, the difficulty will vary from vehicle to vehicle. Finding the hybrid components to purchase might be the hardest part. The easiest way could be finding a wrecked hybrid donor car to take the parts from.
I have a 1991 Toyota Camry. It has over 235,000 miles on it. I have put over half of that on it myself. It is a very comfortable car and I have always enjoyed driving it. I know I will need to get a different vehicle within the next year. My problem is that I do not want to spend a lot of money that I do not have so I will have to finance one. I do not want to do that either.
I was thinking this past week that I need to recycle my car. I know I could drop another engine in it and put new brakes on it along with suspicion. If I did this it would probably get in the mid 30s for gas milage. I would like to do the recycling but put an engine in that does not run on gas. Not sure if I want to do a diesel engine either. If a lot of people do the McDonald cooking oil route then we will all be fighting for it and the price could get huge.
Any one have suggestions? I am all ears.
David,
You may want to consider 2 things: If you sell your car, what is the most NADA value you can get for it. And the second is, will you be honestly happy with something other than what you already have?
1.) Should you decide to go ahead with the first suggestion, and find something to fit a frugal gourmet budget, might I suggest checking your local tow yard auctions. Its free to get listings either as a paper list, or on the company's website if they have one. Just remember that whatever you get at the auction; set aside $100 for title registration, any money for possibly towing home or DIY, cost of manditory mechanical parts, and then of course the possibility of if a hybrid engine and transmission will work.
2.) If you love your car, save your money for fixing it up your way. Ask a local mechanic shop if they have done work on hybrids before, and if they could do a conversion for your car. Get quotes from different REPUTABLE shops, then decide from that. Be sure to ask about "regenative braking" as a way to power your prize car.
In either case, don't tell strangers what you have for a setup. In this economy where people steal small bits of platinum out of engines, your car could be gutted like a fish the ten minutes you step away from it.
BTW, I am currently working on a sleeper hybrid for a 1980's full size chevy pickup ($150, hawaiian blue). Engine & tranny are removed, and looking to slip what I talked about under the hood. Parts are from LMC trucks, still looking to see if the new Tahoe hybrid setup would work and where to buy. Like I said, no one need know about what it has.
Post a new comment