Summer is fast approaching, and the school year draws to it's blessed close. This year has been an interesting one. Took a different job, bought a house, started building a car... Tiring year. Not everything is set up to my satisfaction, and although it will get there over time, I can't do everything all at once and expect to make it through the school year without being brought down from a bell tower in a jacket that does up in the back.
Plans for next year include re-organizing the autoshop to make better use of space, make it easier to clean and easier to maintain. Re-organize the electronics shop to make the lab more secure as well as keep a better eye on the miscreant behaviour of the responsibly inept. Also refine both the drafting and electronics curriculum - I'd like to put assignments into PDF format - saves paper and prep time immensely. This of course assumes students have access to computers. While I am tempted to post assignments here on my website, I really don't have the room.
The Senior Metalwork class I had was quite fun. We all made midget gokarts powered by heavily modified starter motors. The kids got into it at the start, but as their enthusiasm waned, I charged up my little rocket and let them take it for a spin. Now they are all going great guns to get the karts finished!! This is a tough project to document into an assignment - so much of the car is designed by the kids to fit their specific purpose and size. I'm working on a document for future though. I won't be teaching metal next year.
Mechanics went well. We've begun preparing an old Accord for mid engine, and we will likely put a V6 into the GLC. The Impala should see the roof chopped and a tilt nose front end built.
Job postings came out, and I was able to secure my job indefinately. Now a continuing contract, permanent position teacher at GESS. Sure seemed to have taken a long time to get to this point, but every school district is run differently.
Went to a wedding recently. Not the sort of wedding I was expecting, but the couple seems happy. First song to play on the CD at the reception: "Heartache Tonight" by The Eagles.
Went to another wedding at the ritzy Glenmeadows Golf and Country Club in Calgary. I shudder to think how much the food cost.
Have another wedding to go to this summer - an old friend is walking the aisle; nice to see.
Things I have found recently:
Engine leveller plans - Excellent when pulling motors!
Automotive Engineering Suspension FAQ
Suspension links for solid axles - Check out the Mumford link!
I realize that much if this will be way over the heads of my students, but I enjoy it, and it's good to share.
Ran the second AutocrossRacer.com event and took third in Modified.
I also am running the CACC Regional Championship at Boundary Bay. I took first place at both the first and second events, but there is not much competition in F/SS this year. Cool, however, to see a TRD Toyota Echo competing! (I'm frightened to think how well it will stay upright with some sticky R tires, though....).
Ran into some problems with the Sentra.
I was hearing a clunk in the front suspension. It became worse and worse until not only was it clunking, but it was also upsetting the steering position after a turn. Turn right and now the steering wheel stays "right" as you drive straight. Quick tug on the wheel and you hear a "clunk" and feel the car settle to straight ahead again.
Testing led me to believe the ball joint was at fault, the same "jobber" one I had replaced last fall. So, I bought a new Nissan ball joint, complete with lower control arm ($125, my cost), burned out the rubber bushing and took it home to install. Popped the ball joint and checked it - no play. But the control arm was loose in the frame. Ha. So I tightened it up, but the problem didn't go away.
So maybe the ball joint really was bad, but it was only showing up when it was loaded unusually. So I put the Nissan arm in. No change.
So I checked the strut to hub mounts, since I am using 10mm bolts instead of the factory 12mm bolts. I cleaned the mounting points of the control arms. I lubed them, I dried them. I checked the rack, I checked all the tie rods. And no matter how I imagined everything working (if this slips, this would toe out, if that slips, this would toe in), The car shouldn't be doing what it was doing.
So I checked the rear control arms and found that they were loose too. Figures. Still don't know how that would put a clunk at the front of the car.
During one of my trips to run at the coast, I went through my old stomping grounds - the Scott Road auto wreckers. Found a grill emblem (that didn't fit my grill!!), as well as a factory tach cluster!! (After searching three wreckers and over two dozen Sentras). I pulled my cluster out, and following the paths on both clusters was able to re-wire all four plugs to have the new cluster operate in my Sentra. Odd that Nissan would choose not to have consistant plug-ins for their clusters.
The new cluster works great! I swapped the speedometers so that I could keep my correct mileage and legality. So, I uninstalled my spiffy aftermarket tachometer and listed it up for sale.
I recently went through all five steps of Mother's California Gold system to beautify my rock-chipped paint.
- Wash car
- Dry car with chamois
- Use clay bar to remove impurities
- Wax car with stage 1 - removing oxidization
- Wax car with stage 2 - swirl remover and polisher
- Wax car with stage 3 - carnauba wax
- Stage 4 - physiotherapy for ruined arms and shoulders
Not sure if it was worth it, but it's very shiny (except for all the rock chips). The clay bar is probably a good idea before waxing - it made quite a difference.
Finalized the location and dimension of the transmission tunnel. Finished welding. Tacked the axle trailing arm mounts to the frame. Hauled the Corolla shell to the recyclers in 3 parts. Dropped ball joint design off at machine shop that lacks customer service skills (sigh).