How Reliable is a K20 Swapped Honda Insight?

It's been around 2 years since the K-sight was built and it has been driven lots since - around 20,000km!
How reliable has this build been?
What are some of the pros and cons of this swap?
Watch to find out!
Follow us on IG:
/ jdmodsgarage

[@04dram04]

The insight is the most underrated platform to build on. THe lightest and more aero dynamic car you can start with

[@sigmaprojects]

yea it's kind of surprising, the shells can sometimes just go for $400. The suspension and steering kind of sucks though, but can be fixed a lot with mods though.

[@AustinPerdue]

Fixing your gauge cluster is pretty easy. I have a Modifry coolant converter and a Dakota Digital VSS + tach converter if you'd like them.

[@redbaronrefining5322]

That’s exactly what I did when I swapped a full b20 w/ auto into an EM2 civic for a customers wife. Wanted it to run and drive like stock, and had to convert a couple signals with modifrys converters. Easy peasy.

[@joelhodder5788]

great video man, I'm in the process of building a very similar insight but with a k24/20 franken motor. I was drawn to the insight for the same reason as you that I can drive it all winter and not have to worry about it rusting here in nova scotia.

[@hondamanvtec2894]

Not joking This muat be the coolest honda street car buikd ever A real sleeper

[@ty-le5lv]

Brilliant. This is a kid to watch on the future.

[@GaryL3803]

I had a L15 engine and tranny swapped into my 2001 Insight. Drove it 30k miles with many autocross and track days. The L15 setup was ideal for performance as it didn't put too much weight on the nose and was bullet proof. Just recently upgraded to a 2024 Civic Type R and have fond memories of the L-sight (kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYazlYKKjLKfb7c).

[@jamesrwight401]

Nice build. I'm trying to find a Gen 1 Insight in Ontario, but they're very hard to find.

[@watahyahknow]

you might be able to get the gauges in the dash to work , they change the speedsettings all the time like when they intall bigger diameter tires on pickuptrucks so it should be possible altered electronicly on the ecu with a laptop , might otherwize be able to change the pulses by running it through an arduino perhabs converting it to the amount of pulses needed to run treu im a little supprized no one has done this conversion to go dragracing in the fwd class as these cars are pretty light and aerodynamic compared to the average crx or civics they use , dont even need carbon fiber to make it lighter

[@mr.z3853]

Cool build

[@edwarddawes949]

That is way way cool…. Wow.

[@3dscott]

The video that I needed to see. Fantastic! I’m buying a 2000 red 5 speed bone stock insight for $1500 on CL clean title, single owner. They’re having issues with the ima system so that’s why they’re selling it. I’m looking forward to putting my own k20 in. Thanks for this video! Please keep us up to date on it. Only thing I didn’t quite understand was the brake conversion process, you said you needed a 90’s brake module or something to make for the drums to work? Either way just an epic clean build.

[@jdmodsgarage]

Thanks for the great feedback! I just put this car back on the road to drive for the winter, it still runs great! I would buy a red insight for $1500 all day long. I made a whole series on the build, go on our channel and watch the Playlist if you'd like :). Good luck with your build!

[@jdmodsgarage]

But yes, you need a proportioning valve from a 90s civic or integra if you delete the abs like I did. Keeping the abs you should be fine!

[@Wingnut353]

FYI there is also the LiBCM coming out that will allow lithium conversion and there are mods to increase current to the IMA system aby about 42% I think its so you get more like 14HP from it instead of 10 or so and lots more low end torque... which makes it not fast but more drivable. the k20 swap is cooll but if you are going to do that... at lest do it to one that the engine is shot on because the IMA battery is an easy fix. Of course people can do what they want its a free country aha! Also you can go with a stock sized battery but there is also the option to put ina much larger IMA battery with as much as 8x more capacity not being a real issue at all for the stock system as well as sustained increased power output being a non issue.

[@flooflush1542]

aluminum is the worst materiel for winter it do not rust but it makes hole the same way as metal it falls into white powder i work in a body shop and aluminium is not made for our winter and salt

[@jaybird5040]

What was the mpg after ?

[@crxk20r59]

Great review! 👍

[@osumbuckeyenut]

I hope you have upgraded to a higher cranking amperage battery since that video. That was an awful weak start

[@Wingnut353]

Well... it was probably cold as heck.

[@BrendleYT]

im thinking about doing this to my 2010 insight

[@RadarLeon]

Good luck, tell us how that turns out. Though the main reason the Gen 1 insights are desirable is due to the aluminium body 2000-2006. Secondly the aerodynamics of that car are superb. The Gen 2 & 3 are steel body and frame, and not as good in the aerodynamics department.

[@varelastheo]

Great description

[@czarli]

Would you take on a job swapping a k20? Into a insight? My Tran’s just blew

[@n1eg695]

What axle combo are you using?

[@TXGRunner]

RX-7 update? Video of it driving, color in sunlight, painted front bumper?

[@jdmodsgarage]

Unfortunately life got super busy and we did not have time to film a completed FD rx7 video before it was sold :(. There are lots of photos on our Instagram but no video sadly

[@TXGRunner]

@@jdmodsgarage that’s a bummer...that color is amazing, especially on that car. I enjoyed the series, thanks.

[@DaBossk]

sick!!!! I want one so bad! Hey buddy how hard would you say the wiring was? Is it pretty much plug n play?

[@jdmodsgarage]

I bought the CJs wiring harness so yeah it was literally plug and play

[@DaBossk]

@@jdmodsgarage wow that's awesome! Do you think your k-sight was faster than your turbo ep3?

[@malik6896ify]

Does the hybrid battery not work with the new engine?

[@Wingnut353]

IMA system is integrated into he flywheel of the stock engine... anyway if the engine on an insight has failed this would be a great way to keep that snazzy aluminum body on the road. If it is just the IMA battery failed that's a normal maintenance item and not that hard to replace and there are even upgrade kits coming out.

[@poketrainersquad9772]

Living in the snow I doubt it😂😂🤣🤣 I think the car might need some gloves as well.