BUILD-OFF CHALLENGE: Tygaboy's '75 LS3, It seemed a good idea at the time... Options

[tygaboy]

Hi World!
Let the games begin! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)
As the title says, it's a '75 that's getting an LS3 (Cracker's "old" motor - thanks Tony!) and Boxster 6 speed.
Also planned is zippidy doo-dah 911 front suspension with Boxster calipers all around. The rear suspension is getting 911 ebrakes, Tangerine Racing raised pickups and shock towers.
I have plans to stiffen the chassis with a partial cage.

Doesn't that sound like a great plan? I think so, too!

BACKGROUND:
I got this as a roller that was purported to be "dry and accident free". And it was!
Except for all the rust and the place where it was hit. Yeah, yeah... But it's all good. The seller and I worked everything out. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

But our little 914s are full of surprises and isn't that half the fun? So, first up is rust repair time! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sawzall-smiley.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sawzall-smiley.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

Let's begin with some pics of what I started with. Wish me luck! Wait, forget the luck, wish me SKILL!!!

[tygaboy]

Next I hacked together an initial mock up of a vent slat, just to get a feel for what this multi-part model might be like.

I'm thinking I can shape the slats to overlap the frame, add some style points and help create a bit of Gurney flap effect.

For a first go at what I might really use for slats, I've ordered some 3/16" X 2" balsa wood strips that I'll shape into the individual vent slats, then cover with fiberglass. I think a slat with some dimension to it will address the issue I have with the sheet metal slat look.

[Cairo94507]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

[AZBanks]

Balsa wood and fiberglass -5HP
Carbon Fiber +15HP

[914forme]

Like it, also added the fact that was bugging me, you where not generating low pressure behind the flaps. Would have worked, but this should help draw the air out the vents at speed. Even though you should not have an issue with high pressure of the nose.

Every little bit helps.

BTW, I like it, but would do carbon as you have built that them in the rest of the car. Paint it and show the weave or just keep it black with UV protection. Enbed som captive nuts in the balsa flaps and then use some bolts, Machine screws, etc...

You do know with this design, you could change the stationary flaps for mechanical flaps or servo operated flaps that would open and close as needed.

[KELTY360]

You do know with this design, you could change the stationary flaps for mechanical flaps or servo operated flaps that would open and close as needed.

...and lights! You could put lights underneath that would show when you open the vents.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[altitude411]

You do know with this design, you could change the stationary flaps for mechanical flaps or servo operated flaps that would open and close as needed.

...and lights! You could put lights underneath that would show when you open the vents.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) ...and sensors with thermal resistors hooked to the servos that would automatically open them when needed. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

* and of coarse obviously turn on the lights... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

[mb911]

Impressive work. Great job

[tygaboy]

Thanks for the suggestions re: heat-sensing, auto-opening, self-lighting vents. I'll see if I can figure out all that... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

But for now:
I want to do my best to keep a consistent design theme. Well, at least one that makes sense to me. The interior and other aspects of the car are sorta industrial, what with the stampings and rivets and I think the vents need to avoid looking too refined.

What to do? I put the V1 vent back in place and tried to understand what it was I didn't like and why it looked crude.

I'd already decided the overall shape would change and that I wanted to try a total of 7 vents. Then I zeroed in on the vent's upper edge as needing to be softened; the corners were too abrupt and it had that dead flat upper edge. Neither of those shapes seem to fit.

A minute with the snips and I have a proof of concept re: different corner radii. I didn't even try to address the flat edge. (Pay no attention to the horrid Sharpie lines. I was messing with the idea of a center strake.)

A big improvement, IMO. Certainly worth making one to see it in real life.

[tygaboy]

Back to the electronic drawing board. It would be perfect if I ended up with this design, what with it being V8! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

And to add a slight curve to the vent's upper edge, I couldn't help trying out a radius that pays homage to the car!

Note this version also narrows the gap between the vents' outer edges and the frame and retains a corner notch that could be used to locate a hood pin, should that become a thing I need to consider.

Now to see if I like it in real life.

[tygaboy]

The latest design just cut. For those who may be interested, here are a couple pics to show what level of detail can be cut with plasma. That's a .1" gap between the frame and vent. That said, it's not like laser cut, but for my purposes, I'm really happy with its performance.

[tygaboy]

In place. Aaaaaaaand, it's a no! What's wrong this time?

- too large a radius on the vent corners
- too much vent blade above the bend - I think they look a bit tall

The good news is the 91.4 radius looks like it'll work! Of course I'll have to point that out anytime I'm asked about the vents but, how cool is that? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[tygaboy]

I think I do like the 7 vent look. It's maybe hard to tell in the pics but, overall, I think the scale looks good with the rest of the car. They look pretty cool from most angles, very cool from some!

And just so you know, all these trial pieces have been cut from one piece of 18 ga cold rolled scrap that I picked up for $10. Pretty inexpensive prototyping!

Back to CAD and V9...

[djway]

I vote for 1 vent per cylinder:)

[tygaboy]

I vote for 1 vent per cylinder:)

@djway - Well, there are 8 openings in the vent... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[Cairo94507]

I think this is a bitchin' look from this angle. It's almost there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[914forme]

I'll give you a new idea that fits the theme of the car.

I do not think the gills are adding anything to the look, this gives you a bit more detail, while maintaining a stubble details that make this build so much fun to watch.



Gladly grant you rights to this IP

[914forme]

And working on a new medium should provide a bit of frustration to make it worth your while.

[bbrock]

You do know with this design, you could change the stationary flaps for mechanical flaps or servo operated flaps that would open and close as needed.

...and lights! You could put lights underneath that would show when you open the vents.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) ...and sensors with thermal resistors hooked to the servos that would automatically open them when needed. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

* and of coarse obviously turn on the lights... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

Screw that. Let's just have them open and have machine guns pop up... better yet, launch rockets out of them. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/fighting19.gif)

On a less serious note - I'm pretty sure the rule is that 3 or more votes for an idea means you have to do it. I count 4 for motorized doors. Like it or not, you have some servo shopping to do. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

Servos or not, I love watching your process. You are a true master and a good sport for putting up with us knuckleheads. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)

[tygaboy]

@914forme Stephen - I'm not ready to give up on the vents. I do like the mesh look, as you know from my earlier pic in post #3120. But give me a few more tries at the vents. Heck, I'm only up to version 9! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

@bbrock - To your "votes" comment: You're a dick. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)
Seriously, thanks for the kind words, but please, don't you have a car to get running? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

[tygaboy]

Version 9 ready to cut and here's the V8 (on the left) to V9 comparo.
- tighter corner radii
- less vent height once bent (the bend location was moved up the vent blades)
- increased vent size (height)
- outer vent edges clipped so once they're bent into place, they clear the hood's support structure

Hopefully, I'm getting close to something that'll work.