Hello everyone! My name is Laurence.I'm 20 years old, taking a CNC Machinist Course, been lurking the boards for a couple weeks, and decided to introduce myself!

I've ordered Chassis Engineering by Herb Adams and Automotive Chassis by Tim Gilles. , that I'm waiting to arive.

I found my way here through Mr. Graber and his website.

Started sketching some drawings, just basics like tail end, side views, etc. If i can get a good one done, I'll scan it and post it to let you guys see what I dream of.

Anways, I don't want to ramble, so HI EVERY BODY!

Hi

welcome to the board

quote:

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Originally posted by little.one.der
I've ordered Chassis Engineering by Herb Adams and Automotive Chassis by Tim Gilles. , that I'm waiting to arive.

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cool, how are you doing? CNC course any good. Building a CNC milling machine is on my list of projects. check out centroids website if you havn't already they have a good video on there

Hi Laurence... and welcome to our small community. Most of my working life I have been involved with CNC machining in some description from programing the comonents to programming the machine code. Nowadays I spend most of my time travelling to advise most people how to use them to their best. I get involved with Aerospace, Automotive and virtually everyother form of manufacture where metal cutting is involved.

From what i understand the future over their is in Aerospace... if you need any advice on this or anything else feel free to ask.

All the very best and enjoy your build!

hehe,

lured another one back to the lair guys!

Welcome Laurence! most of the hard questions have been asked several times already so don't be afraid to use the search function. Although I do admit it's not as convenient as simply asking... But I figured I'd mention it since there is a wealth of good info just sitting out there waiting to be read over again.

Feel free to post up stuff to your photo space so we can see what you're doing.

BTW - what do you have in the works?

Graber

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0768006570/002-1220036-8881620?v=glance


welcome

Glad to see another Canuk, these guys don't recognize Herb, but us old Trans Am types do, lots of good info on this site if you can understand some of the language we both share.

Here's the list of good design books I've compiled, <shamless plug>
http://www.kimini.com/Reference/index.html

Hellfire, I'm jealous times 100! I'm only 1st year so far, and I've got three years to go until I get my "Red Seal" which is basically my "Journeyman's" certificate. I absolutely love the programing aspect. All the G-Code, mmm, mmm, mmm, good! I think Aerospace is on top of my list of things I want to do, then a close second is automotive (I would love to work on a race team or something R & D), then third would be medical instruments. I live on the west side of Canada, and the ONLY thing around here machinist involved is the Oil Industry, of which I have no urge to work in. (But there is one company in a close city, that builds high performance race kart engines, which would be kinda cool). I figure being a machinist, I could build almost whatever parts I needed for the eproject. What are CNC job prospects like over there. How hard would it be to get a job?

Yeah steve, for the past three-four days, I went to the last pages of the Mid-Engine forum and just read every thread or so, and it answered like a handful of questions I used to have. It's really great! I think I'm on the fourth or fifth last page. The only downside is that some of the links for pictures are dead, but I think I get the just of it.

Regarding my project, I wouldn't call it a "project" just yet. There are just a bunch of ideas right now...
Mid Engine/RWD
0-60 <5 seconds
300 mph top speed (ideally)
17" Wheels
100 - 105 in Wheelbase
70 in Width
As Light As Possible
Don't quite know about the donor yet because it'll be whatever is in the best condition at the junk yard.
Hp isn't a big issue so long as I can get the quick 0-60 and close to the top speed.
Engine isn't a huge issue but I think a Busa or Blade engine would be cool, or else a small 4 cylinder that's easy to work on. (4AGE or something similar - I actually have a wrecked RWD Toyota Corolla that the engine blew up on me )

Scanned some chicken scratch drawings... (click the titles)
Side Shot
One Rear Idea
Another Rear

Welcome to the mad house.....

quote:

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Originally posted by little.one.der

300 mph top speed (ideally)

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Fair enough. I guess that was a "newbie" assumption.

What about 0-60 times? Are they feasible?

*thinking back, 300 mph is QUITE too fast*

300mph, hmmm.......
well my last kit did well over 200mph with a 1974 re-fresh junkyard engine....... 300mph would be one hell of an achievement, though I recon you'd have to build it purelly to do these speeds.

But hey, there is no reason not to dream!

BTW I'm new too

quote:

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well my last kit did well over 200mph with a 1974 re-fresh junkyard engine

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Nope Mph....

Might have been missleading you a bit with the word "refresh"... only the block was origninal to get round emisions every other component was new inc heads crank etc.
Made 526bhp on the dyno

It was geared (and could definatelly pull it) for 212mph

Holy smokin! What kind of engine did you have?

*Currently reading Chasssis Engineering by Herb Adams*

thats a good book, I recently read it. However it left me more worried about designing my car's geometry than before i read it.
The problem is knowing what geometry to aim for rather than knowing how to calculate it.

The engine was an american V8.... but even better bargains are out there. I paid £10.51 for one of my BMW V12's and apart from a replacement cam it would be more that up to the job of running my planned twin turbos and smashing my last cars power output.

Slightly OT,

Regarding the BMW V12, what did you use for an engine computer? The factory unit or aftermarket? If aftermarket, what brand was it? Reason I ask is BMW controls not only valve timing but valve lift, and I'm curious what aftermarket ECUs could handle that.

I have got a Motec M800, however whilst the BMW ecu system is almost unusable on the V12 (1990ish ones) it doesn't have the VANOS that other BMW's do (has normal hydraulic lifters etc)..... in fact its pretty much two 2.5litre (M20) engines and even has separate ECU's running each bank.

I forgot to ask the obvious, what year is your BMW V12?

And you're saying the one you have doesn't have all the fancy engine control, correct?

The ones I have use a very complex and almost unusable BMW electronic system.... not because the engine requires it, but because its intergrated within the cars control systems so if you don't have the sensors wired up it goes into limp home mode.... eg thinks you left the door open etc....
It also uses 3ecus just for the engine

the engine itself is mearly an 2valve OHC unit.

Andygtt, I sent you a private message since this is going off topic.

The thought of a V12 makes me throw up right now. I just got home from the gas pums and they want 119.9 (cents) for one litre of gas! I can't emagine how much gasoline a V12 comsumes...

Four banger is good enough for me

Depends what you put all these engines in. A 4-cylinder in a truck will get very poor mileage.

We should all be buying motorcycles

Cost of gas here in southern California is, at the moment, 3.17/gal. Our infrastructure does not lend itself well to mass transit. I found it would take me 3 hours to take the bus to work, each way, and it's only 17 miles from home...