Help an engineer out,, $1500 to go in the SAE fundraiser. Options

[slowTA]

Yeah, every few years you have to start from scratch again. I think you earn points for entering a new frame every year instead of using last year's. I would prefer to build the formula, but we have enough trouble raising enough money for the baja! Good luck.

[Ackattack]

I just saw this thread. Congrats on getting the donations to make things happen.

I was on the Mini Baja team when I was in college (Kansas State University). Did that for 2 years, and then helped put on the competition 2 years. It was a lot of fun and and met some pretty cool people.

Good luck with the build and at the competition

[slowTA]

It’s time for another update. I know it’s been a while since the last one so that should mean we were busy building and that we should be testing it now. Unfortunately that isn’t the case yet. There were some setbacks with machining time and availability of all my teammates. We got the build schedule down pretty well for now, Tuesday through Friday most of the day long. I can say that most of the time we spent in the shop recently was used to make parts that will be bolted to the frame when the sub systems are completed. A lot of time was spent staring at the frame deciding just how everything will be fitted together. You can do all the planning you want with CAD, but somethings have to be held in place while you’re sitting in the car.

The frame itself went up pretty quickly, I would say we had the majority of the main supports were built within 3 weeks during the semester. Remember we didn’t get our first load of steel until the end of January. Most teams, like the school’s other team, were building since September or October. They just brought the car out for testing last week!

After we were happy with how the frame was taking shape we moved onto making the suspension components. The front A arms were built utilizing a jig we made, tabs were machined, another jig was made to hold the arms and tabs onto the frame. Once the tabs were welded onto the frame we located the rack and pinion. The goal here was to make sure there was plenty of room for our brake and gas pedals as well as controlling bump steer. As the front end sits now the bump steer is hard to notice but the camber goes positive during compression. Not exactly a bad thing, we’ll just have to add a bunch of negative camber at ride height. Suspension travel is about 8”, this is limited by the ball joints and tie rod ends. Unfortunately the arms spread a little during welding so we have to fix that before we can finalize the suspension. The rear control arms are almost completed, hopefully by the end of the week we’ll have the rear tabs welded to the frame. The end of last week we set up the upper front shock hoop, it still needs a ton of bracing but we’re confident its in the right position.

The engine and driveline are being assembled this week as well. The motor and intermediate shaft have to be positioned within 1/32” so the belt of the CVT can do its job. This held us up some because we didn’t have all of the bearings on hand, then we didn’t have access to the shop to use the big caliper. Tomorrow the motor should be bolted down assuming there is no more bad news heading our way.

Our order of sheet metal is coming in this week to do the floor board, firewall, and motor guards. Hopefully some of the team can complete them this week as well while other get the motor and rear suspension together.

While all this is going on I made hotel reservations, rented the trailer, and talked my dad into letting the team use his Tahoe to tow the trailer. The school won’t let us use one of their passenger vans since the trip is more than 150 miles. However they do give out gas cards for all school functions. That means I now have to coordinate 2 more events. Installing the hitch and getting the brake controller installed. We can save money by installing the hitch ourselves, but we’ll save more time by having the brake controller installed by a trailer place. Imagine that, a Tahoe (with the tow/haul mode switch on the shifter) that doesn’t have a hitch installed from the factory!

Anyway, the competition is June 16th to the 19th in Troy Ohio. Since we’re leaving on the 14th that gives us exactly 2 weeks to skin the frame, finish the front and rear suspensions, mount the motor, steering wheel, electrical, mirrors, and do ‘some’ testing. Lets not forget we also have to paint the car somehow. My co-captain wants to have it powder coated, I can’t argue except for the time needed. We heard that it takes 3 days to get parts powder coated. This past summer I painted my engine compartment so I’m leaning towards painting it ourselves.

Thanks again for all of the donations. I’ll keep everyone informed of our progress and a final update after the competition.
http://www.vilipend.com/~frrax/album36

[Teutonic Speedra...]

That means I now have to coordinate 2 more events. Installing the hitch and getting the brake controller installed. We can save money by installing the hitch ourselves, but we’ll save more time by having the brake controller installed by a trailer place. Imagine that, a Tahoe (with the tow/haul mode switch on the shifter) that doesn’t have a hitch installed from the factory!

Chris-

What year is the Tahoe? If it's a 98 or newer, I'm pretty sure that it should be a plug and play for the brake controller. You can order it with a GM harness and plug it in right under the dash, no cutting, soldering, or anything. It's also very likely you can plug a 7 pin connector right into a harness that should be located near the rear bumper.

-Dennis

[slowTA]

It's a 2000 and I just found the connector behind the rear bumper, it has 7 wires going into it but doesn't look like the standard 7 pin connector. It's been a while since I've done any trailering stuff. However, I don't see where the other end is under the dashboard. I do see a 'relay box' that has a few open connector ports, and the label inside the cover says something about a trailer plug. I want to assume that's where the adapter would go to the brake controller, is that a safe assumption?

If it really is that easy then I think I'll start kicking myself now, I would have included the controller in the order with the hitch! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif)

Now I'm confused, after finding this page I think the truck had a hitch on it once but the previous owner took it off. I think it's time to make another post in the towing forum.
http://www.etrailer.com/faq/cbc.asp

[Teutonic Speedra...]

I'm not 100% sure, but there should be an adapter that goes directly from the brake controller to something under your dash. I just installed a new one in my truck on Friday and I know it was an option if my truck had been newer (97). I just installed a Tekonsha Prodigy and since I had previously had one in, it was as simple as putting a new eyelet on the ground and splicing the other 3 wires together.

Just found this on their site.....guess this is only if it came from the factory with the tow option.

"O.E.M. Style Wire Harness for GM models equipped with trailer tow option."

http://www.tekonsha.com/tbsabrakeconwireharn.html

Oh, and I got the Prodigy model on ebay for $93 shipped.....much cheaper than anywhere else on the internet and it was NIB.

Good luck!

[slowTA]

I'm going to need some decals from Unbalanced Engineering and Mopar Place to put on the car as sponsorship decals. I tried printing them but the images I have are just too small.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

[slowTA]

I had a great write up ready to go about our experiences this year, but it takes up 3 pages in word and I doubt anyone would want to read a post that long.

The short version of the good news is that the team had fun and learned a ton. Everyone on the team learned their way around a lathe and a few of us even became fairly handy with a MIG. The last few weeks consisted of long days and we even left a full day later then what I wanted. We still made it to the competition on time.

The bad news is we broke the transmission four times, couldn't compete in any of the events, and finished 116th out of 118 that showed up. 141 teams registered, so I guess I should be happy that we have something to show for our efforts.

http://www.vilipend.com/~frrax/album36
http://minibaja.saedayton.org/teams/ptsummary.htm

There is rumor of a rule change for the frame that makes this year's car illegal. We're going to work on a transmission that holds up, bought or built, and test it in this car. Then possibly make a new frame if we can't modify this one.

[trackbird]

Sorry to hear of your transmission troubles. That's a real bummer. The good news is that you weren't DFL. There's always a bright side.

:drive:

[slowTA]

Thanks Kevin. After we fixed the transmission for the third time we were just waiting to see what would break next, unfortunately it was the transmission again. I thought the team spirit was still Ok but half the team left on Saturday night. I guess I don't blame them, Sunday (the endurance) was only fun for those teams that had something to do.

I guess what hurts most is that we didn't finish the endurance last year (broke a shock mount), all I wanted was to do better this year. I wasn't sure if I was going to be on the team next year but it's my last chance to finish one. So now I have to be on the team. :drive: (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif)

[trackbird]

Well, we will gladly help out again next year if we can.

[Teutonic Speedra...]

Why are there (2) NJIT's on the list?

40. NJIT Newark - Brick City Racing (#66)? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[trackbird]

Why are there (2) NJIT's on the list?

40. NJIT Newark - Brick City Racing (#66)? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Slow TA was on the second team (which they were not sure would have funding to participate). We took donations here on frrax to assist with their goals and to help insure that the second team made the event as well. Chris may have a better explanation, but that's it in a nutshell.

[Teutonic Speedra...]

All along I never realized they were starting up a 2nd team. Thought they were just getting the 1st one funded.

[trackbird]

I feel kind of funny about asking this, but I’m desperate. I’m the captain of one of my school’s SAE Mini Baja teams and it looks like I wont have my team unless we raise some money real fast. I go to the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and raising money is like pulling teeth. Most of the larger companies only give donations to charitable causes that help out the community in some way. Unfortunately, the engineering community doesn’t count in their eyes, can’t say I blame them really.

Our faculty advisor will not let us build or even order parts unless we raise $2,000 by the end of the year. Right now we are looking pretty good for getting half of that, but we’re still scratching our heads over the other half. Once we raise the 2 grand he will give us access to another 2 grand we will get from the school. If we can’t do so, whatever money we raise, as well as the money from the school, will go to our other team. I’m under the impression he wants to support one team instead of two.

It was buried in the original post....

[slowTA]

This was actually my team's second year in existance, but the captain from last year didn't leave any of his contact info around. Most of the sponsors were for parts anyway and we still had those parts from last year. Our advisor wouldn't let us list parts we already had before we could start building. That's why this car turned into such a rush job, it looks like we won't even be able to use it next year. I have some contact information for another large sponsor I'm looking into for next year.