Neil's Aventador build (Page 8/74)
Neils88 JUL 05, 06:24 PM

quote
Originally posted by Darth Z:

Wow man, that' s quite a project ya got there. I don' t think I would ever go that far on a car that was already in decent condition. Good look to you! Though, I doubt you'll need it. You sure seem to know what you're doing!



Thanks!
Neils88 JUL 05, 06:33 PM
No progress over the weekend, unfortunately, but at least I did get the windshield. I'm using the windshield from a 2000 Infiniti I30. It's a little shorter than the stock Aventador windshield, but otherwise virtually identical. It only cost me $130 (delivered) versus $5,000 for the Aventador windshield!!! Now that I have the windshield, I'll be able to finalize the windshield framing.
Neils88 JUL 06, 09:58 PM
Had some time to fit the windshield today. It fits well except I'll need to adjust the curvature on the top and the bottom. The gap is almost 3" between the windshield and the structural support at the top, so it'll take some significant adjustment. Having said that, the fiberglass is bang on once the curvature has been adjusted.
Neils88 JUL 07, 09:19 PM
Ever have one of those days where you really don't achieve anything...

I removed the front roof support brace with the intention of putting in the proper curvature (measured at 1.75" deflection at the center, not 3" as I incorrectly mentioned earlier). I made 8 cuts and made even bends along the length. Once I had the curvature exactly matched to the windshield, I tacked each cut to secure them and confirmed the curvature one more time. I then slowly and carefully welded each cut, alternating back and forth to make sure I didn't get any undesirable warpage. Once I finished the welding, I went ahead and used the grinder to dress the welds (I need it to fit tightly against the roof panel). Then I stepped back to look at what a wonderful job I had done....then I noticed something. The roof support was completely flat. Huh? I had tacked it and checked the curvature, but somewhere along the line there was enough thermal expansion...somewhere...to throw the curvature completely off, to the point where it is now completely flat. 3 hours wasted.
Neils88 JUL 08, 10:17 PM
Spent a few hours tonight re-working the curvature of the front roof support. I found the best way to get this curvature right ended up being somewhat counter intuitive. I started by making the same 8 cuts that I had before. I then put the curvature into the support, but made sure I had about 3 1/2" of curvature (aiming to finish with a 1 7/8" curvature). I then welded the two outer cuts completely. As expected this started to bring down the overall curvature of the support. I repeated this with the next two cuts from the outside and kept working my way to the center. After each weld was complete, I allowed the support to cool somewhat and checked the progress of the curvature as it got closer to the desired position. When I got to the last two welds I made some adjustments and ensured the curvature was slightly greater than the desired end result. As expected, the final welds pulled some of the curvature out with the end result being an exact match to the windshield...a compound curved support. Not sure why that one was so much harder than all the others I've had to do up to now. Hopefully I can get it put back into the roof frame tomorrow.
E.Furgal JUL 09, 03:35 AM
I don't know if this be a hijack or not but With 12 volt motors being the norm in many cars for waterpumps, I've wondered what a g.m. power steering pump with divorced tank, and an electric motor spinning it, would work like, as you could tie vehicle speed and the motors speed together to have high power steering at low speeds and less or almost non at higher speeds..
could be put anywhere..
Neils88 JUL 09, 05:06 PM

quote
Originally posted by E.Furgal:

I don't know if this be a hijack or not but With 12 volt motors being the norm in many cars for waterpumps, I've wondered what a g.m. power steering pump with divorced tank, and an electric motor spinning it, would work like, as you could tie vehicle speed and the motors speed together to have high power steering at low speeds and less or almost non at higher speeds..
could be put anywhere..



I think that's the system that is used by an MR2 and a number of other cars. Electro-hydraulic system. A normal engine mounted pump uses about 8 hp (many loses), whereas a 1 hp electric motor can be used for the same result and easily made vehicle speed sensitive. Of course I'm adapting the steering column mounted power steering system, which skips the hydraulic part altogether. I just need to design a controller that will function with the two torque sensors as input.
Neils88 JUL 09, 10:10 PM
Reinstalled the front roof support. It puts the exact right curvature to follow the windshield shape. I didn't take a pic with the windshield in, but I did check it and am very happy with the result. The dash is now sufficiently low, but will still need to come forward about 4". I have a tool case that is the same height as the Fiero seat base, so useful for letting me sit in the car and get a feel for the visibility. It is much better now that the front support has the right curvature. I might actually be able to see the road now...traffic lights...not so much...


87_special JUL 09, 10:51 PM
Great work on this car so far. You've got skills for fab work! Which is good judging by the complexity of this rebody. Is this kit made for a different vehicle or Fiero specific?
Also, it may be the angle but, the steering wheel seems way too far center. How are you going to drive like that?

------------------

1987 SE / Fastback - 3500 Turdbowd / Alcoholic / '92 5-speed swap

No bandwagon here...

Neils88 JUL 09, 11:43 PM

quote
Originally posted by 87_special:

Great work on this car so far. You've got skills for fab work! Which is good judging by the complexity of this rebody. Is this kit made for a different vehicle or Fiero specific?
Also, it may be the angle but, the steering wheel seems way too far center. How are you going to drive like that?




Thanks.

Actually the kit is simply fiberglass panels that match the Aventador almost exactly. The person who manufactured the kit makes the molds with a CNC mill and a 3d model that is based on scans of the real car. Since the panels are basically identical to the Aventador panels, it's up to the person building the car to make them fit. You could use a tube frame chassis, a Fiero, or any other mid engine donor car. I chose to use the Fiero since it is constructed using a spaceframe, which makes fabrication a little easier in my opinion. But since the panels match the Aventador, there obviously has to be a lot of fitting and additional framework to get the kit to fit onto the Fiero. The steering wheel is in the exact same location as it is on the Fiero and lines up with the Fiero drivers seat. The center console is currently not lined up properly (and it's a little too big in my opinion, I'll be cutting it down to size when I tackle the interior) so it makes the steering wheel appear more towards the center that it really is. Also, the Aventador is wider than the Fiero, so obviously the Fiero steering wheel will be closer to the center console that it would be in the real Aventador. When you sit inside you actually don't notice it at all, and hopefully once I'm done it'll not look so out of place.