2002 KSS Battle Bots is now online, complete with rules, competition details, on-line entry form and registered teams!
Students are getting pretty excited about this competition, and a number of student teams from other schools have already signed up! This will be a blast!
Metal Art students have deviated from their original course outline, and are now working with steel in some "Foundation Skills" projects that will prepare them for their steel sports figure sculpture. This may take us to the end of the term, but I'm hoping to get into cuttlefish Pewter casting too.
A new batch of Automechanics students, and I'm changing the order in which some components are
taught. I don't think delving right into the engine is the best way to start - beginning with
wheels and tires, then working your way up to the engine starts with more familiar topics, while
providing a wider array of labs to be completed by the students.
General Technology has begun, and we're starting with bridges, and hopes to follow up with drag boats, as I have ordered more motors than I really needed to order for electronics. Propellers might be hard to get though....
Power Mechanics is being re-vamped. I am trying a different approach to start the course, then work through each stage of the engine they go through - this should keep things moving at a more productive pace, and provide more time at the end for the CO2 dragsters.
The Autocross Club may be axed due to unreasonable Government legislation regarding class sizes, etc.
The Sinister Sentra Project 
I've been trying to solve a "snapping" that I can hear and feel in the steering wheel. At first I thought it was the steering wheel rubbing part of the trim, but when I disassembled it, that was not the problem. A shot steering column bearing was my next idea, and after lots of thought and testing, it seemed logical. When I inspected the bearing closely, that was not the problem. The next idea is maybe the valve that applied the power assist inside the rack is the fault. I will have to check that out too. I'm hoping I find the problem at some point.
I changed the transmission oil. I used Motomaster Formula 1 75W90 GL5 gear lube. The transmission holds 3L of oil. There was a bit of metal shavings stuck to the transmission plug (it is magnetic) but apparantly that is common. The shift quality improved only slightly.
In an effort to gain some negative camber, I decided to use smaller bolts that secure the strut to the front hub. Nissan used two 12mm 8.8 bolts to do this. I ordered a full set of 7/16x2.5" Grade 8 UNF Zinc coated bolts to replace some (if not all) of them. The 7/16" bolts are 1mm smaller in diameter. I figure that one bolt would give me 0.5° more negative camber.
Since I only want another degree up front, two bolts should be fine. If it is not enough, I can always order some 10mm 10.9 bolts to drop some more. I will be setting this up mid March, and I will post the results next month.
Since camber changes will affect toe, and since toe destroys tires, I will get the toe set again too.
The first race I will attend in March 17th at Boundary Bay. I'm a bit nervous.