S3 E33. 3 cylinder Kubota D722 diesel powered Honda Insight project has begun

Season 3 Episode 33. The mighty 3 cylinder Kubota D722 diesel engine is back! This time Jimbo has installed it in the salvaged Honda Insight. In this episode Jimbo give a project update on the basics of this unusual engine swap. Before long this Honda will be back on the road. Tune in and check out the progress!

If you need expert service or advice on your 1st generation Honda Insight contact Scott Kulbeck at

Hi Ya folks! Beware of a GIVEAWAY SCAM. This channel is NOT doing a Giveaway and we are NOT asking for personal information. If you get a message asking for info, please ignore it.
Jimbo

The walls in our new studio are bare, if you want to send swag please send it to:
Robot Cantina
207 S. Sedgwick Ave
P.O. Box 28
Haven KS, 67543

[briankuhn]

The supercharger just put this project over the top! If this gets twin charged, it may be my new favorite car on YouTube.

[Fightfire]

I’ve been waiting for this project from the day you first introduced the Kubota…. A match made in hyper-mileage heaven!

[budyeddi]

I wouldn't mind seeing *both* the SC and turbo together on the little 3cyl diesel 📈

[Markworth]

I don't know how many people actually did it, but it was a popular concept to strip an Insight like this and turn it into a crazy K-powered death trap, because you could get the chassis down to like 1700lbs or something. Even lighter than the 1G DSM. This Insight isn't ruined. It just hasn't achieved its final form.

[jeffagosti]

Regarding the half shaft modification, you might consider using a milling machine to cut a half lap joint in each shaft. Then machine a thick sleeve with a light press fit over the half lap joint, followed with a weld at either end of the sleeve.

[ferrumignis]

The turbo from a Smart 800cc CDi engine would likely be close to perfect, and they are cheap (at least in Europe). Unfortunately the turbine housing is integrated into the exhaust manifold, so you'd have to cut that off and mount a suitable flange. (unless by some miracle the port spacing was the same so you could make a flange adapter).

[JoshTolbertUrbana]

Don't let the haters get to you. That Insight lives on cause you guys saved it from the junkyard.

[boostedlawnmower]

Many modern diesels use a compound turbo system where they have a high pressure compressor and a low pressure compressor. The low pressure compressor (bigger turbo) intakes ambient air, densifies it to its optional pressure ratio, and discharges it to the intake of the high pressure compressor (small turbo). The high pressure compressor now intakes denser air as opposed to ambient air like in a single turbo setup. The intaked denser air would be compounded into an even denser “air”while the compressor works at the same efficiency. The theory is 2 compressors in series, each densifying the intaked air to their most efficient pressure ratio.

I believe that by using the supercharger as a primary compressor and using a turbo (that flows25/33% more than the supercharger) as a secondary compressor, you would really have a peppy efficient 600cc twin charged diesel.

By sizing the pulley on the supercharger you would control the superchargers pressure ratio to an efficient point. Let’s say a pressure ratio of 2:1 for example.

Atmospheric pressure at sea level is 1 bar.

2:1 pressure ratio = absolute discharge (2bar) / absolute inlet (1bar)

Gauge psi = absolute discharge - absolute inlet = 1bar on the gauge while the supercharger works at a pressure ratio of 2

Now again how can we increase density of the air and maintaining the same efficiency?

We can use a bigger displacement supercharger to do so but it’s response rate will be slower.

We can instead increase the volume of air that moves through the supercharger by actually turbocharging the supercharger.

Now, our supercharger will see denser air through its intake as opposed to just atmospheric air

Let’s say our turbocharger has an optimal pressure ratio of 2:1

Our turbocharger has raised the atmospheric pressure of the intake on the supercharger to 2 bar

2 bar atmospheric

2:1 pressure ratio = absolute discharge (4bar) / absolute inlet (2bar)

Gauge psi = 4bar - 2bar = 2bar on the gauge while the supercharger works at a pressure ratio of 2

Now your efficiency will be close to that of a 600cc kubota diesel supercharged at ”15psi” yet the power will be that of a supercharged 600cc kubota at “30 psi”

Now in a system like this a air / water intercooler setup between the engine and the supercharger would offer the densest air

[alawabidingcitzen]

12:08 nothing like that theme song onna Sunday morning i swear it sounds like a Sunday morning jingle leave me feeling good for the rest of the day. Huge thanks ❤jimbo.

[t.j.obremski]

I would love to see the VW Diesel go into a Pontiac fiero. Such an awesome and quirky car for such an awesome and quirky channel!

[discretion]

This is hands down one of the best swaps ive ever seen. Im a huge fan of Kuboata diesels and this is a really exceptional build !

[makinbacn]

Ignore rude comments. You do you. Cause its workin...👍

[thomasknobbe]

We wondered what had happened to the VW diesel. You are a busy man! Looking forward to the carb mods on the Renault, and don't worry about the complainers. People who do that tend to be the last people who would actually do the work to restore a car. Vroom, vroom!

[LeafyVines]

You and “I do cars” on YouTube are legit the best Channels on here. Thanks a lot for your content. I really enjoy seeing the notification that you guys posted!

[gustiwidyanta]

Okay that shifter install was brilliant, i appricieate the fabrication that went into it!

[csmith]

That was a really slick way to adapt the Saturn shifter housing. I'm always impressed with your creative solutions and ingenuity.

[awesome]

Volvo uses a supercharger and turbo combo on several 4-stroke diesel models. The result is a lot of power in a small package that has a significantly high rev limit for a diesel of its size. I have gripes about the design, but I can't argue with the fact that they make a lot of power.

[gabrieldorta]

Hopefully you'll go the extra mile (pun intended) and dual charge the insight, it'd surely make for an interesting power plant

[junktionfet]

I'm stoked to see this new Insight project get underway!

[hyattbusbey]

I'm so excited to see the Kubota in the Honda. I have dreamed of a TDI swapped Insight, but now I know that's putting 10lbs of poo in a 5lbs bag. Good to know. I'm putting a 4cyl TDI into an S-Klasse, no no worries about size.

Thanks for all you do Jimbo. Love the content.