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PostPosted: January 14, 2018, 3:28 pm 
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KB58 wrote:
. . . . so the "530" is more like 420 hp if you're going to compare.


I don't think I'll be comparing anything I end up with to either 420 HP or 530 HP, but thanks for the thought. :mrgreen: And, thanks for the additional ECU info too.

I did stop by Paradise Machine Shop over your way last week. I'm going to have them do the 2nd engine I have, which will give me a 4.3L V6 with somewhere between 275 and 300 HP. As much as I'd like to have a nice 400+ HP, turbocharged engine, I've decided it just would not be manageable for a street cruiser like mine will be.

In the future, when I swap that 2nd engine in, I'll need a new ECU system, as the stock one I have for the '94 3.8L V6 won't be appropriate for it. So, I try to keep and eye on what's out there.

Cheers,

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Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886


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PostPosted: January 22, 2019, 10:10 pm 
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Joined: April 23, 2006, 8:26 pm
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Wow, a year since the last update -

To be honest, ever since the engine blew up (and no root cause determined), I've been gun-shy to head back out on track. That, and turning 60, along with all the things that seem to start happening around then, have caused my mind to wonder where my interests might head.

My brother nearly got me to sign up for the Virginia City (NV) hill climb, but it got cancelled by the city as being of questionable worth. They claim though that it's a go this year, so to force some motivation upon myself, I'll sign up when that opens.

In other news, after building two cars and a bunch of other stuff, I finally bought a mill. I don't even have it in the garage yet and I'm already wishing I had it 20 years ago. Part of the reason to get that is to broaden out my abilities to keep myself busy, if and when retirement ever happens. Diverse interests include a koi pond, the support equipment, gardening, amateur radio, and probably the first use of the mill, making various parts for a 16" telescope. I have an old Grizzly lathe and haven't decided what its fate is. On the one hand it would be nice to have one new or newer, but then there's the pull to just clean up and paint this one. There are a few issues with it but unfortunately, being out of "production" means that there aren't any spare parts available, so who knows.

Anyway, back to Midlana, I need to drive her more, as ethanol shouldn't sit in the tank for so long due to its tendency to absorb water. The car's performance is so over the top, I don't know why I bother; I can't test her limits anywhere except the track.

Oh, there was a development last year, I sold the dog box straight-cut gear transmission and put in a semi-helical gear set with lower ratios. This was done because 5th and 6th on the old tranny weren't able to handle the torque of the turbo, so it was only a matter of time before I blew that up on-track. The new transmission is stronger, with gear-limited top speed of 160mph. At the same time, an OS Giken LSD was installed, supposedly good for 1-2 seconds per lap. And it got new tires. So the car is certainly ready to go, now it's up to me!

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Midlana book: Build this mid-engine Locost!, http://midlana.com/stuff/book/
Kimini book: Designing mid-engine cars using FWD drivetrains
Both available from https://www.lulu.com/


Last edited by KB58 on January 25, 2019, 1:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: January 23, 2019, 8:04 am 
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I prefer the tiny under powered car that I can exercise 90% of its ability on the road in a legal manner. Such underdogs are much harder to find these days.

Time is precious. I can't wait to retire. Happy 60th! :cheers:

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PostPosted: January 23, 2019, 8:14 am 
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Kurt - for some machine work inspiration check out (on Youtube)

OxToolCo - Silly projects built to aerospace specs. Kind of professorial. A wealth of knowledge

ABom79 - large machine work, very efficient

This Old Tony - really good hobbiest, videos are GREAT. CNC and manual.

They make great machining videos demonstrating many different skills and techniques. I have had a lathe and milling machine for 15 years but learned a ton watching these guys.

Also - Kent White (Tinman) offers metal shaping classes in California. My friend Ben Starr recently had a class too. In the Sacramento area, i believe. Metal shaping is a lot of fun. Its good for engineering brains to learn this - very different thought process!


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PostPosted: January 24, 2019, 2:04 am 
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What type of brakes do you have to slow down that 420 HP?

Did you upgrade the brakes now that you are making so much HP?


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PostPosted: January 24, 2019, 2:22 am 
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It's the big brake kit intended for LS-powered Miatas. Another advantage of a mid-engine layout is that the rear weight bias works in your favor under braking. Up until 1G deceleration, the rear brakes actually do more of the work. As an aside, the brake kit uses the same size rotors front and rear.

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Midlana book: Build this mid-engine Locost!, http://midlana.com/stuff/book/
Kimini book: Designing mid-engine cars using FWD drivetrains
Both available from https://www.lulu.com/


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PostPosted: January 24, 2019, 11:46 pm 
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What kind of mill did you get? How about a photo?

I've discovered tiny mini-mill is painfully slow on steel and probably better suited for aluminum & other softer metals. Bridgeports and similar are too big for my available space since they're definitely not portable (i.e., suitable for a wheeled cart).

Cheers,

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Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886


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PostPosted: January 25, 2019, 1:09 pm 
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https://www.precisionmatthews.com/shop/pm-935ts-tv/

Sorry for the big pic - just cut and pasted the picture link:
Image

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Midlana book: Build this mid-engine Locost!, http://midlana.com/stuff/book/
Kimini book: Designing mid-engine cars using FWD drivetrains
Both available from https://www.lulu.com/


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PostPosted: January 26, 2019, 9:13 am 
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IF you didn't get the DRO (Digital Read Out), i highly recommend it. The chinese ones on eBay work great and are only about $300. Most guys used a 2 axis for the table then a quill mounted one for the vertical axis. Mitutoyo makes a nice one. The Kurt vises are really nice - they are flat, square and push the work down when tightened


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PostPosted: January 26, 2019, 10:17 am 
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Very impressive, Kurt. They say it isn't full size, but it sure looks full size to me.

Have fun!

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Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886


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PostPosted: January 26, 2019, 3:12 pm 
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Yes I agree on on the DRO, that's on the way, and after talking to the machinists at work, so to are X and Z power feeds.

And given my name, I had to order a Kurt vise, just because.

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Midlana book: Build this mid-engine Locost!, http://midlana.com/stuff/book/
Kimini book: Designing mid-engine cars using FWD drivetrains
Both available from https://www.lulu.com/


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PostPosted: January 26, 2019, 3:14 pm 
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Lonnie-S wrote:
Very impressive, Kurt. They say it isn't full size, but it sure looks full size to me.

It's about 60" tall, so more of a baby Bridgeport. Because of that, the table is fairly low, and people complain it's hard on their backs. For that reason, a wheeled base is being put together that raises it about 8", along with leveling pads. Oh, and based upon various threads, the 3-phase belt-change model was ordered instead of the mechanical variable speed model (adjustable pulley diameter). Going that way saved $800 and pays for a variable frequency drive.

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Midlana book: Build this mid-engine Locost!, http://midlana.com/stuff/book/
Kimini book: Designing mid-engine cars using FWD drivetrains
Both available from https://www.lulu.com/


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PostPosted: February 28, 2019, 10:26 am 
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Here are a few pics with it finally on its stand and in-place. In the first pic, it's being wired, with the VFD at the top, the electrical shutoff, with 8 115 outlets at the bottom. This many is needed due to everything that can get connected: X, Y, Z drives, DRO, and VFD controller box, and the spindle light. In the last picture, the black box below the DRO controls the VFD. Surprisingly car-related, the spindle ring light is a 100mm LED lamp sold to mimic BMW headlights, and the assembly also contains a spindle speed sensor (I can't take credit for the design). The last picture isn't composed well but the top of the machine, where the spindle nut is, is just above the blue model label, or about 72" high. Doing it over, I might make the stand about an inch shorter, but since it's using ER32 collets, I won't have to get up there very often.

The first Midlana-related application will likely be (re)doing the alternator mount. The one on the engine now is made of 0.25" steel plate, yet once mounted the alternator can still be shifted by pushing on it. The concern is that the tight belt is pulling it out of alignment by some amount and accelerating belt wear, but I don't want to wait to find out. The new mount will either use 0.375 steel, or be hogged out of a solid block.

Image

Image

Image

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Midlana book: Build this mid-engine Locost!, http://midlana.com/stuff/book/
Kimini book: Designing mid-engine cars using FWD drivetrains
Both available from https://www.lulu.com/


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PostPosted: February 28, 2019, 1:08 pm 
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Pretty fancy, Kurt. It does look tall, but a good working height is a big deal, and you won't be hunched over much. Besides, when you get a vise in the picture for work holding that will require the table to be lower, and if you use it for drilling too, that will take things down further still.

By the way, it looks like we have the same bandsaw. It made a huge difference in my part making when I finally got mine.

Cheers,

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Damn! That front slip angle is way too large and the Ackerman is just a muddle.

Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=5886


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PostPosted: February 28, 2019, 2:15 pm 
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I use the band saw all the time for all sorts of things. Recently I've been looking at wood gear clocks*. After considering how expensive it would be to make metal gears on the mill or lathe, they may end up handmade, and wood, cutting them on the band saw. Still to be decided.

Related to getting the mill was taking a full three days to clean up the garage. It was shocking how much unneeded stuff came out of there, in addition to finding car parts lost/hidden** for 20 years.

*something like these http://www.lisaboyer.com/Claytonsite/Claytonsite1.htm, but I digress.

** After some period of time, "stored somewhere", "lost", and "hidden" all end up meaning the same thing, that either you aren't going to use it, or have to order another.

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Midlana book: Build this mid-engine Locost!, http://midlana.com/stuff/book/
Kimini book: Designing mid-engine cars using FWD drivetrains
Both available from https://www.lulu.com/


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