Neil's Aventador build (Page 25/77)
Neils88 DEC 03, 08:32 PM
I have continued the work on the fender-vent framing. Admittedly, it is quite complex. Each panel will be mechanically fastened to the support frame. I've also removed the final vent (first pic shows it attached, and the second pic shows it removed). This is the smaller inner vent that is used for the engine air intake. As can be seen in the second pic, there really is only about half the vent panel actually there. This will have to be corrected. The vent framing is almost complete, though I will require an additional upper support beam for the engine air intake vent. I'll work on that after I repair the vent itself.

I'm going to move on to setting up the main vent grill support next. My friend Glenn has sent me a number of detailed pictures taken of the grill set-up from his 1:8 scale Pocher model. The detail on his model is amazing...way better than my little 1:24 scale model. I also need to finish securing the radiator and supporting it sufficiently for when it is full of water. The securing mechanism will need to allow easy (somewhat) removal and installation of the radiator.







[This message has been edited by Neils88 (edited 12-01-2024).]

Neils88 DEC 04, 08:25 PM
I put together a frame that will support the radiator around its full perimeter. The radiator will be soft mounted on a rubber gasket and bolted at both ends to the frame. The supporting frame will be bolted at four points - two brackets on the bottom edge, and then two additional upper brackets, one connecting the outside edge of the frame to the fender frame (shown in 3rd pic) and the final one connecting the upper inside edge to a point next to the vacuum canister. Each bracket is bolted in place (or at least will be after I drill the holes ) and the whole unit comes out in one piece.





[This message has been edited by Neils88 (edited 12-01-2024).]

GlennGdman DEC 05, 06:41 AM
Neil,

With all the steel you have used I think you have added a few pounds to that Fiero frame...HA I like how you made the radiator frame support come out as one unit. Just make sure you can get to the radiator hoses otherwise that point will be mute..
Neils88 DEC 05, 06:22 PM
Yes...I did worry about what the net weight would be. Surprisingly, the large rocker framing structures look heavy, but they really aren't bad. I've stripped a fair bit of Fiero metal off and have it stored in a large bin. I almost can't lift it! So hopefully I'll break even. I'll definitely have to take it to the scale once it's finished. Maybe I'll take bets at that time...

I spent a lot of time determining the best hose run and making sure the ports were properly accessible. I had to make a few trade-offs in positioning, but I think the end result is pretty good. The radiator fan will also be part of the removable unit. I'll have to take care designing the air conveyor and the wheel well cover so as not to impede on the removal. I will also have to run two long transverse coolant pipes along the firewall since I'll be running the radiators in parallel. This of course adds a little extra complexity to the system, but I should tons of cooling capacity.
Neils88 DEC 05, 07:55 PM
I'm going to concentrate on getting the passenger side caught up to the driver's side. I started today by correcting the angle of the structural post and constructing the radiator base support. Everything will just be an exact mirror image of the driver's side framing. If there are any slight deviations in the passenger side panels, I'll adjust them to exactly match the driver's side panels to that everything is properly balanced visually.

[This message has been edited by Neils88 (edited 12-01-2024).]

Neils88 DEC 07, 09:04 PM
I cut the active vent from the rear passenger side fender. After checking it closely against the driver's side vent, I noticed that there is a definitely shape discrepancy between the two vents (about a 1/2" off at the worst point, tapering down to where it should be. I will endeavor to make sure they are as closely matched as possible. This will take a little work...not so much to match them, but to deal with the vent openings after. I spent a little extra time this evening just getting the fender properly aligned so that I can next build the support frame (which should end up accurately duplicating the driver's side fender support frame).

[This message has been edited by Neils88 (edited 12-01-2024).]

Neils88 DEC 19, 08:19 PM
I've been sick for almost two weeks now (flu), and as you can tell by the lack of posts I haven't gone near my garage. The downside is that I've had lots of time just sitting on the couch...which has given me lots of time to spend lots of money ordering parts online Though I'm still not feeling 100%, I finally made it into the garage today for a couple of hours.

Today's work, carried on with the passenger side fender framing. I got the active vent frame complete...consisting of a couple of compound-curve beams tied together. Tomorrow I'll see how much more framing I can get done. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel....

[This message has been edited by Neils88 (edited 12-01-2024).]

GlennGdman DEC 20, 06:15 AM

quote
Originally posted by Neils88:

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel




Hope that the light is not a train coming
Neils88 DEC 20, 07:10 PM

quote
Originally posted by GlennGdman:


Hope that the light is not a train coming



Neils88 DEC 20, 07:31 PM
I finished the rear passenger side fender framing today.



I'll need to separate the next two vent panels currently attached to the fiberglass fender panel, then I can finish the vent panel framing. This will take a lot of care to ensure that I exactly match the dimensions and lines of the driver's side. There are a number of small panels and it will be noticeable if the two sides don't match exactly.

[This message has been edited by Neils88 (edited 12-01-2024).]