Charlie's no budget mid engine build: *Codename:BlakBishop*

[onlytrueromeo]

You're willing to make an adapter plate to use a Sequential Gearbox?

http://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=ch ... =seb&ion=1

[wytbishop]

Yeah...note the location of the outpput flanges on the Quiafe I linked to. Also note the location of the shift mechanism. On most of the trannys on that page Romeo, the shifter would be somewhere by the rear bumper and the output flange would only be good for driving a propeller. Now there's an idea!!!...

The Porsche G50 is pretty much THE tranny of choice for mid-engine/rear wheel drive project cars becuase it will hold 500hp, has a side differential and cable shift, which is why they are so expensive. The Quaife that I listed there is particularly awesome because it has those features and the sequential shifting and it's very small and it's rated to 450hp (which means it will comfortably hold 650). Downside is, not only does it cost $13,000CAD, but you would have to mate a Porsche Caymann clutch to a custom flywheel which would be at least another $2500.

Here, just as a point of interest, is the Grandaddy of all super trick sequential gearboxes...rated to 450lb-ft of torque (which in most applications would equate to upwards of 800bhp), available in either a forged aluminum or magnesium case for the low low price of $27,000CAD...the Hewland LLS.

http://www.hewland.com/svga/lls.html

[onlytrueromeo]

Since it's sequential, it should not be THAT difficult to create a mechanical / electrical shifter, so you can mount either paddle shifters or a custom lever wherever you want.

Yes, it would need to mate with the engine and like you said, mid engine would probably be a problem haha.

Isn't the GTR a sequential box? I thought I had read that somewhere. Maybe a lucky junkyard find!? (better odds than lotto!)

[Nd4SpdSe]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq-D2Rvw ... re=related

[wytbishop]

Clay modeling makes you sexier...it's been proven.

I still have the twin engine MX-3 in the back of my mind. Cool vid, but the car looks sort of like a junk yard special.

[wytbishop]

spoke with a Porsche transmission specialist today. The first guy I've spoken to about this who actually sounded like he knew what he was talking about. Apparently the box to have is the Porche G96/50 from a twin turbo 996. 6 speed, side shift and capable of 800+ hp all day long.

It's going to cost $11,000USD but on the other hand the Quaife is $28k and the cheaper options (Audi 01E) are just not up for the big power applications. so that goes on the wish list.

Work stalled a little bit on the clay model and other design stuff as I've had king of a rough go lately with my job. Things are settling down now and I'll be getting back at it right away. I'm down to the details with the model. Figuring out the lines of the hood, the entry and exit of the internal air flows for venting and air intake and such, the visual aspects of the rear valance. the size and shape of the tail lights. Where the exhaust will exit and what it will look like. How the rear diffuser will mate to the rear bumper. It's very close now. A couple of days of work and it will be done and I can get it digitized.

The hardest part is getting the model symmetrical and the biggest problem is that the rear fender on the driver's side is perfect, but the passenger door is better than the driver's door...lol. Just have to be painstakingly detail oriented and super duper anal to get it perfect.

i will probably take Sleeper6's advice and once the model is scanned I will bisect it and mirror it so that the electronic file is perfectly symmetrical. Teh physical model doesn't have to be perfect to give me the feel for the overall look.

Anyway that's what's going on. Once the model is done I will post some better pictures.

[tehbrookzorz]

How have I not seen this thread? You're crazier than me, and I love it! Way to go!

[ethand]

Glad to hear you've had some more progress, Charlie.. Hows it shaping up now?

[wytbishop]

i haven't had much time to work on it since my last update. I'm really struggling with the lines of the front end. I've revised it a few times.

Most of the attention that I can spare lately has been focused on the carbon fiber research. Getting quotes from local suppliers and roughing out production techniques. It requires a lot of thought to figure out feasible ways to manufacture stuff with limited resources.

I am also working on a few projects in my head for the near future involving making the odd CF part both for practice and for sale to the community. We'll see how that works out.

[ethand]

Sweet, that'll be interesting to see how it turns out, I'd love to see what this turns into eventually! There's a whole lotta respect for any man who's willing to take on the design, engineering & construction of their own car, let alone something as ambitious as this!
I guess the main thing to remember is that most designers spend a fair while on each vehicle they design, they have a team that work on it full-time for months at a time, trying to work out proportions & lines that 'work'. Those people also have degrees & a whole lot of experience in design, so definitely don't rush trying to get the lines to look 'right' & don't beat yourself up if it takes some time! Design is something that takes countless revisions & developments to get 'right'.
Equally time consuming & tricky (actually, probably even more so) is the engineering - again, teams spend months & months figuring out the best solution to every detail of the mechanicals, etc. Then there are R&D departments, whose full-time job is to keep their fingers on the pulse of techniques, materials, etc. which are new to the market/newly viable for application to automotive products.
So just remember that what you're doing is similar to what would take several teams of professionals a few years to do, so it's definitely worth spending the time it takes in the research & development phase to make sure that your final product is something that you will absolutely love in every single aspect. Also remember that if you try to take shortcuts/make compromises you're not entirely happy with, you'll be the only one who knows, and most likely the only one who cares & has to live with it! Haha
Enjoy the process!

[wytbishop]

Well the reason I sort of unwittingly stumbled into this was all about the challenge. I wanted to take on something that would be really hard. Something that would require me to learn new skills and relearn the ones I haven't used since school.

My original goal was to have a complete manufacturing package by the end of 2012, but I'm not sure if that will be possible. I'm finding that when I get going, the project is so all consuming that I can't maintain the necessary level of concentration for extended periods of time. I go really hard for a while and then I have to step back and think about something else. Once I get the exterior finished I think things will go a lot faster. The aesthetics are the most difficult for me as I'm not a particularly artistic person. Once I get into the mechanics and manufacturing I'll be much more in my element.

I'm heading to L.A. for business next week and I think when I get home I'm going to really push to get the model finished. Then I think I will make some significant progress.

Thanks for following along.

[ethand]

Sweet as. Sorry, I haven't checked back until now! Now that my uni semester is (more or less) finished, I should be able to check back a bit before I make the shift overseas!
Any further updates just yet?

[wytbishop]

I have been working on the details of the clay model for a couple of weeks.

First I made the front wheel smaller in diameter so that I could bring the height of the front fender down a bit.


The front end is very very hard to get right. I am trying to make it sleek and elegant but still aggressive and it still looks really chunky to me.


I added a bit of detail to the rear fender just to give it some more interesting lines. I'm also working on the shape of the tail light. Not done but it's a start.


I'm very happy with the general line of the body now.


My decision has been to focus on the driver's side and get it to where I want it to be. I have found that my limited skills as a sculpter make it essentially impossible to achieve any real symmetry, but I can get one side very close to what I want. From there I can scan half the car and mirror it digitally.

[ethand]

Nice!! That looks fantastic! I love that rear detailing, and the strong, muscular lines flowing from the side into the rear - looks great!
With the front, perhaps having the headlights tapering slightly to one side to form a point may help acheive this ideal of elegance, flowing lines, and sports. I'm talking kinda the same general gist as Mazda3/Mazda6 has, when I say that (in case my explaining is hopeless!). I know that this may be hard to implement cohesively into a muscular design such as your car, but if you look to some concept cars (such as Furai) which have these flowing lines & pointed headlights as the design theme, achieving a cohesive blend of elegance & sporting pretensions, in a muscular, squat-stanced car.
I'm just thinking, if you let the front lights taper back with the front arches more, it may help this elegant-yet-agressive look to become less chunky, more flowing...? I haven't exactly tried sketching it or anything, but that's just a flying-by-the-seat-of-my-pants impression of what may work...
Otherwise, you've done an amazing job with this!! Looks like real neat work, and a great design, especially for someone who says that design isn't their thing!!

[Nd4SpdSe]

Wondering if this "chunkiness" your feeling is from the narrow hood/wide fenders, and the lower raised section of the bottom of the front bumper that lines up perfectly with the hood/fenders, gives the front looks like it's bit almost a big X up front. Maybe offsetting the top to the bottom would fix that