Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Diff Carrier CAD

I have a CAD model of the diff carrier assembly, including all the engine mount inserts. I'm pretty certain it matches what is on the car - I got this model from Sean when I was designing the rear slip angle sensor mounts before the US, and it needed to be accurate for that design.

I can pass it on to Nando when I see him next, but if Guz needs it urgently I could FTP the files and someone drop it to them. The files are 06 or 07 SolidWorks version.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Wednesday Night

Not much done last night but a good ol jLo bbq smash was enjoyed.

Nando has graciously offered to fix up the diff carriers and engine mount inserts that have been flogged out. He also spotted a crack in the LH carrier which has come about as a result of the lifting bar/ali sheet bracing not doing its job. Pete's suggested we use wishbone glue to bond the carriers and this bracing together when they're fixed, any objections? I think the diff can be inserted without these bits being separated again

To do the fix, Nando needs some dimensions off the diff carrier model. Does anyone have the 06 model checked out and can send me the correct file?

There's still a few usual suspects missing from this blog, don't forget to pass on the details to anyone who might be interested.


Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Monday, March 30, 2009

Meeting this Wednesday

From Stuart Saare:

Yes, the Kinetic system can be cleaned, bled and installed all the way up to the final steel line -> rear valve unit connection across the rear cowling, but it sounds like this will have to be done before the engine goes in. But after that, yes the only issue is spilling fluid onto the engine/diff whilst connecting the rear valve units but it is relatively easy to do, and can be done cleanly.

I agree that it is still a good idea to meet on Wednesday, I can't make it till probably 8.30 though. If I'm sure there are plenty of jobs that can be done even without the engine being installed this week, it sounds like we may still be missing rear upright internal parts.

Re: engine in schedule

From Jonathon Lowe, 30/03/09:

"I think best to assemble engine with the plenum fixed. It’s too difficult otherwise. I’m happy to wait till Kinetics is all good.

Still yet to pop the question to Silvia but I think John will be fine with it.

I recommend Wednesday happening still, just to touch base and discover any other issues there are.

Did someone want to pick up silver tape to fix some of the heat shield areas?

I’ll be at Codexa from 6pm."

Revising the schedule

From Morgan McDermont, 30/03/09:

"As far as I remember, 06's plenum cant be removed once the engine is in. It's trapped. However you might be able to dislodge it enough to get the steel pipes through the chassis. I assume it is just enough to poke them out under the valve units and do the nuts up?

If the pipes were cleaned, sealed and installed before the engine, could the rear valve units be fitted later on? Is the main issue the spillage/mess?

I think i would vote for postponing the engine-in until the Kinetics are sorted properly. Between Codexa and the GuzV2 workshop (Jono: how'd this go?) there is probably space/time. This would give us extra time to make sure the rest of the jobs list is done properly ready for reassembly."

Bad news about Kinetics

From Stuart Saare, 30/03/09:

"I have bad news regarding Kinetics. I spent the weekend cleaning the disgusting filthy state of the Kinetic equipment thanks to 08 f-tards, and once everything was cleaned and sorted I was able to get a better look at the parts I had collected. The biggest issue is the valve housings - because 08 and 07 used either 06's or 06 spares, we are short of housings. I found two in the lab during our scrimmaging but it turns out one of them is useless, the other could have dodgy dimensions which I will need to measure once I get some new calipers. Best case is we need one new housing but I suspect we need two, which could take a couple weeks. Those 08 [team members] really messed [things] up.

The internals from 06's rears are incomplete - have found some of the parts but some internals will need to be made, and probably the existing ones calibrated because the matching pairs are now mixed together.

Also the damper gland nut tool is MIA, so I couldn't open the dampers up to clean them - will need a new tool made. In the process of cleaning everything I found some chopped/worn seals that will need replacing.

It is possible that I could bleed from the front to the end of the steel lines, and put that in the car before the engine goes in, then leave some plugged lines until new housings and internals are made and assembled. However, I don't have time to bleed that part of the system until next weekend, and Kinetics being the fiddly thing it is, I'd budget the whole of next weekend to get it done. The steel lines have to go in before the engine does, I think - but maybe they could be fitted around the engine, and then complete the rear valve unit connection with the engine in place and just cop whatever fluid gets spewed about.

I don't know how we are going timeframe-wise for continuing to work out of Codexa. I'd say it'll take 3 weeks to get Kinetic sorted, assuming all sorts of things. So I guess the options are to delay engine-in, or go ahead with changing the Kinetic system plumbing to an 07/08-style system. I avoided changing the plumbing because it could cost over $200 for some new hoses and fittings, and the original stuff works perfectly if you aren't planning on regularly opening the system. If we go ahead with changing the plumbing, the car can be completely reassembled without Kinetics, then after the 3 weeks I expect it to take to get the system ready, it should just bolt straight on.

IMO, the plan is thus: proceed with engine in ASAP. Once engine is in, I will test if I can shoehorn the steel lines around the engine (can the engine go in without the plenum, then install plenum once engine is in chassis?). If so, existing hardware is kept, system can be half-bled off car, installed, then do the final connection and bleed on car. If the steel lines can't fit around the engine, then fork out for new plumbing, complete the system externally, and attach once done in a few weeks.

Anyone have suggestions or feel strongly either way?"