vashonz

I learned to use Solid Edge in college, really liked it, once I started working they used Solid Works, at first I hated it, after a while I got used to it. We also used AutoCAD, I never liked it, everything seemed very difficult, I used this mostly to update blueprints for the different parts we had.

Not to burst your bubble, but I'm pretty sure the LS1 is not DOHC. The only DOHC Chevy V8 I can think of off the top of my head is the LT5. Otherwise it sounds cool.

Best bang for your buck is probably megasquirt. Second to that I think is SDS. It does not have all the features of some of the EMS systems, but for a beginner (like me) because it is less complex I will supposedly get the engine to a higher state of tune. One of the biggest factors for me choosing SDS was it was cheap, easy to understand and install, and does not require soldering or troubleshooting electronic assemblies (I are mechanic).

I saw one of these a couple years ago at Laguna Seca during the Monterey Historics. They did a couple laps in this car. What I remember was that they spun out at least 3 or 4 times. Its a cool car, but if they can't put down all that power it seems kind of useless, although that might have been before they refined the TCS

A friend tried to import a turbo diesel passat from when she was in germany. From what I heard she never got it out of customs and ended up shipping it back to germany.

I would be concerned with corrosion of the exhaust tube due to water retention, especially with all the salt they use on the roads in NY. The aluminum tape should keep the exhaust wrap from fraying, but might cause increased corrosion. I have no idea about how the tape would effect heat retention. I think ceramic coating would be a better idea.

I learned how to TIG weld today. We had the classroom stuff yesterday. Today they gave us the demo then let us try it. It is alot easier than MIG or stick. Initially I had some problems with sticking the electrode while scratching to strike an arc, but eventually figured it out. HF start is nice. By the end of the day I had some pretty consistent beads using 309 rod on stainless plate. The hardest part was keeping the interpass temp below 500 F. My experience with MIG welding was trying to build some saw tables at work. I could never get the feed rate and current correct and usually ended up either burning holes in the .120 wall tube or making a pile of weld.

L28et will be cheaper and easier (it bolts in), no fabricating engine mounts, worrying about plumbing it, ect. VG30ET would be neat because its not as common, but will require more $$$$, more fabrication, more headache.

Doug at Fairlady motors (253-565-9823) has a dyno, I know he has done TEC3 and other systems, so I'm sure he can figure the SDS out.

I'm pretty sure that GTAW would probably be better for bodywork and finish welding, just because of the control you have over the heat. I know that at weld school we have to keep the NiCu under 350 degrees while welding. MIG is probably used more often because its fast and easy. What I like about the GTAW machines we use is that you can do SMAW by just changing out the cup for a stinger and flipping a few switches. SMAW is nice because its fast, while still having control over the weld.

You might try looking in the classifieds. (not the newspaper, but the hybridz ones, in the "complete engines" section)

A couple years ago I downloaded this game http://www.racer.nl/ and it looked great, seemed like it had good physics, but was nearly unplayable because it really needs an analog input(wheel) instead of just the keyboard(digital). Using the mouse it was ok, but not fun.

So basically all you're looking for is a 4 cylinder engine that revs to 11000, makes 650 hp, has low end torque, and is naturally aspirated? Oh, and is less expensive than an RB26. My suggestion would be to read a little, then read alot more. From what I've read this engine does not exist. Do a search, see what other people have done. Why 500-650hp? Is that a number you pulled out of thin air? Do you have anything to compare that to?

Why do you want it to rev to 11000rpm? Just because? For enough $ you can make any engine rev that high. I think the only engines that will rev to near that are from motorcycles (my '05 R1 redlines at ~12500), almost all sport bikes have ITBs and 6 speed sequential transmissions. The biggest hurdle will be adding reverse to the bike engine, there are companies that make reverse boxes. ITBs and forced induction can work together. There was a discussion on here recently talking about lagless turbos and ITBs. Also every turbo R1 I have ever read about uses the stock throttle plates.

I have a '91 Pathfinder SE, it works pretty well, I have not encountered the reverse gear issure at all. I think in NY that if the car is more than 10 years old the odometer reading is not recorded anymore. The 4x4 works pretty well, I had to drive a friend to the airport in RI on Friday and there was alot of snow. It never got stuck, the only thing I had some trouble with was once the roads cleared I had to pull into a parking lot to switch it back to 2wd (I don't think its shift on the fly).

On my stock 280zxt pump there was a small strainer on the suction of the pump, actually located inside the nipple. You don't need the dampner, just get rid of it.

A big thing is to check out the area the college is in, try to spend some time there. I went to a killer engineering college in michigan, but really hated the city (Flint) ended up not returning after my first simester. Mostly it was that engineering is boring, but a part of it is that Flint sucks.

There is a program called LENGINE.EXE that I have on my computer. I don't remember where I found it. I'm sure someone can email it to you (my email is broken right now). If you have AIM contact me, I'll send it that way.

Just a heads up that more shorter tubes (up and down) will have less pressure drop than the same core area that has fewer longer tubes (side to side).

I have no idea about the GM vans. However. My dad has been looking at the Dodge sprinter van for his business. They're supposed to be good, mercedes turbo diesel inline 6, gets good mileage, makes decent power. I think its pretty much a mercedes with dodge badges.

That's pretty cool. Here's the site of a guy who built one from scratch, he has a decent description of how he machined each component. http://www.weberprecision.com/

Have you tried Fairlady motors, (http://www.fairladymotors.com). Doug really knows Z cars, I think he went to japan last week, but might be back now. EDIT: BTW he's in Tacoma, so its relatively local. He is usually pretty busy with projects there.

Are you thinking of somthing like a Lotus Exige or Ferrari F40? http://www.rsportscars.com/foto/2005geneva/lotus_exige_04.JPG http://www.atspeedimages.com/2004_ferrari_challenge_searspoint/ferrari_f40/ferrari_f40_engine_2.jpg I think they both use louvers in the rear window to get the heat out or the engine bay.

That was Fairlady motors. Doug is a good guy, he has done a bit of work on my car, and some on my sisters old Z. I went by there last week, he was working on some pretty neat stuff, mostly later stuff now (moving away from z cars, but there was a turbo SBF S30 that looked nice.

http://www.rinkya.com I just do a search for "fairlady" and look at the pictures. I have never ordered anything through them. I mentioned this on another forum and some people got pissed. Apparently it works well enough that they didn't want others to find out about it.