Neil's Aventador build (Page 22/74)
Dubuc SLC NOV 10, 10:01 AM
Please check your PM
Neils88 NOV 10, 07:17 PM

quote
Originally posted by Dubuc SLC:

Please check your PM



Welcome to PFF! PM returned.
Neils88 NOV 10, 07:21 PM
Went to the "Kenny-U-Pull" today. Picked up a couple of trunk hinges from an Impala. These are perfect for the rear hatch, plus as an added bonus, they have a turnbuckle that enables the hinge opening angle to be adjusted slightly.



(On an unrelated note....there was an 84 Fiero at the Kenny-U-Pull. First one I've seen there . Sadly there wasn't a single usable part on it...even the frame was completely rusted away . I'm not sure what was holding the panels on... Never seen a car in such bad shape that wasn't in a major crash. Subtract one Fiero from the availability pool)

[This message has been edited by Neils88 (edited 11-10-2015).]

GlennGdman NOV 11, 07:03 AM
Nice find, love the adjust ability on those. What year impala did you grab those from and do you think the piston will have enough force to hold open the engine cover with glass? It is going to be pretty heavy.
Neils88 NOV 11, 01:44 PM

quote
Originally posted by GlennGdman:

Nice find, love the adjust ability on those. What year impala did you grab those from and do you think the piston will have enough force to hold open the engine cover with glass? It is going to be pretty heavy.



They are from a 2000-2003 Impala. Originally I had pulled some hinges off a Mazda 3, which were very similar. I switched over to the Impala hinges once I found these since they were adjustable and the shock was much higher force. I doubt that the shocks will be capable of supporting the full Aventador hatch once it's completed, but I could be surprised. If they aren't strong enough, I will replace them with some short heavy duty shocks. Of course I could use them in conjunction with some additional shocks, though I doubt that would look as good.

[This message has been edited by Neils88 (edited 11-22-2015).]

Neils88 NOV 11, 06:43 PM
I made some adjustments to the rear bumper framing on the driver's side, where it connects to the fender. I also began the work of fitting the rear hatch. This involved thinning out the edge, to bring it closer to what would be seen with a metal panel. I'm out of metal so I'll have to go pick some up on the weekend (of course my work schedule doesn't mesh with their business hours.) With that, I'll be able to build the support framing that will give the hatch its strength, and build the hinge framework.

I also decided to start the installation of the gas-filling system. I was worried that it would be a really tight fit next to the side glass. But once I put the fender in place and measured it out, it actually fits more or less in the exact position it does on the Fiero. Unfortunately I had already cut the gas fill pipe in anticipation of it moving forward...anyone have a spare? I'll probably just connect the two halves with hoses and make sure they are both well grounded. Best not to weld the two parts together since I'll end up with corrosion in the fuel system. The pictures below show the lower fuel fill housing in position. That piece will sit below the rear fender and be bonded to it (fender not shown in the pics). I still have to carefully cut an opening in the fender for the gas-door, which will be flush with the fender once it's attached with a hinge.







...and yes...I am putting the gas-fill-door on the wrong side of the car so that it doesn't match the OEM position of the Aventador. This is an example of exercising my right to "poetic license" as I mentioned at the beginning of the build.

[This message has been edited by Neils88 (edited 11-22-2015).]

snyderman NOV 11, 10:55 PM
I am more than amazed at your talent, enthusiasm and dedication to your project. To be able to design, fabricate, weld, design all new electronics, use Excel, documents and photograph every mod you make PLUS hold down a job as a Mechanical Engineer is unreal. If you had your own you tube channel, I think your show would be more popular than anything that we find on our local Ottawa stations. Keep up the fantastic work!
Neils88 NOV 12, 07:23 PM

quote
Originally posted by snyderman:

I am more than amazed at your talent, enthusiasm and dedication to your project. To be able to design, fabricate, weld, design all new electronics, use Excel, documents and photograph every mod you make PLUS hold down a job as a Mechanical Engineer is unreal. If you had your own you tube channel, I think your show would be more popular than anything that we find on our local Ottawa stations. Keep up the fantastic work!



Thank you so much for your kind words. That's an interesting idea about a YouTube channel. Probably a little out of my league though...
Neils88 NOV 14, 08:01 PM
I have a small issue with the gas door. If I keep it aligned as I did it in the last few pictures, then the curvature of the door doesn't match the curvature of the fender. However, if I turn it and align it so the curvature matches (which also would then match the OEM orientation of the real Aventador)...then it looks terrible. The lines just don't make sense, i.e. they aren't parallel with any relevant features as you would expect. I decided to sit on this problem for a bit and move on for now...I decided not to cut the opening in the fender until I can be sure of which way to go. I'll come back to it once I run out of fun things to work on.

So, for now I moved on to the rear hatch framing. Once I get the framing done I'll be able to get the hinges and latch set up. The hatch framing is quite significant, so I've got an inner part (as seen in the pic below) and then also an outer part that will be used to connect to the hinges and the latch.
Neils88 NOV 15, 07:51 PM
A little bit more work done on the rear hatch framing...