Perks of graduate school, fabrication ideas?

[fitchn]

OK, so I had to leave my 79 sc in california when I moved out to boulder for graduate school (physics) but as soon as spring breaks I'm going to finally drive it out here, now that I have a garage space available. All this time apart has got me thinking about numerous projects/upgrades as I've been doing lots of machining. I have access to milling machines, lathes, and pretty much free materials (stainless, aluminum, titanium, magnesium, copper, peak, delrin, ultem, vespel, teflon, etc). I'll also be cleared on the CNC soon and will be taking a welding class. So I'm looking for fabrication ideas from those of you who have at one time thought, if only I had a mill, or gee if only I had a lathe, or a big chunk of titanium lying around. Thanks for the input.

Oh yeah and the obligatory background: 1979 sc, bought it when I has 19 after saving up for over 3 years. 64,000 miles when I bought it, 80,000 now. Projects so far have been valve adjustments (clearly), new bilstein sport shocks, turbo tie rods, chain tensioners, new momo steering wheel, short shift kit, removal of AC components, and usual wear and tear items. And a pic...

[tcar]

Now that's an unusual color. Cool. Really cool.

Have the air pump? You'll need it to register in CO. Actually many just keep car registered in previous state.

[fitchn]

I do still have the air pump, although its been in a box for a few years. I've heard about a program in colorado where you can register your car as a collector's car (if its over 25 years old) and that the emission requirements are different, although I don't have any details beyond that. I'll have to look into it.

[Jandrews]

Hey fitchn....go check out my recent thread regarding designing a harness bar for a tall driver. You may be just the fabricator I am looking for!!! Take a look and let me know your thoughts.

Help: Design A Harness Bar For Tall Drivers


Thanks,

JA

[RoninLB]

I wouldn't think twice about installing a trick gas tank skid plate if I lived in the Rockys. Going down hill through a pass can be fun when coming upon rocks or a slide.




If you make one make an extra to sell me. Every go cart should have one imo.

[tcar]

Yes, you can get Collector Plates, but you have to have the pump on to get them. You don't have to get it tested again as long as you have it after that, so, often the pump is put on for the test then removed.

Originally Posted by fitchn

I do still have the air pump, although its been in a box for a few years. I've heard about a program in colorado where you can register your car as a collector's car (if its over 25 years old) and that the emission requirements are different, although I don't have any details beyond that. I'll have to look into it.

[RWebb]

First, I take it that you are not studying to be a theoretical physicist....


The most urgent need on any 911 is to save wt. in the rear of the car.

A Ti muffler would be great; so would Ti fabbed heat exchangers. If you could cut the wt. of those items in half or close to it, that would be something.

The engine carrier is another big hunk o'steel that badly needs to be lightened (not the cross bar, but the thing it bolts to). If you can find a Ti alloy that doesn't stress crack too badly it might be a big advance to fabricate the carriers out of that.

[911pcars]

I understand Colorado has/will have roadside sniffers and roadside cameras to match license plate numbers with emission readings instead of the current inspection stations (?).

You might look into it before applying a full engine massage treatment.

Sherwood

[Wayne 962]

Hmm, I'm sure I could think of something to be made for the 959...

-Wayne

[fitchn]

Thanks for the ideas so far, a titanium muffler would be pretty darn cool, although I'm not sure how easy titanium is to weld. Porsche just only started putting titanium exhaust bits on the new turbo right? It is a it more expensive than steel, but not that much. Why would they have waited so long if it was easy? Perhaps I'll look into some past threads to get an idea of how complex the muffler interior would need to be.

I'm not looking to outsource projects here, just pick up on other's wild ideas to do to my own car. Wayne, lets just say I'll consider it just because the 959 threads are so interesting, especially if 1) those "appreciation gifts from pelican parts" keep coming or 2) even better, fab time=seat time http://forums.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/icons/icon12.gif
Wink

[RoninLB]

Originally Posted by fitchn

It is a it more expensive than steel, but not that much.

History Channel said last night T is 7x steel.

They took you through the whole processing from sand to rolls etc.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by 911pcars

I understand Colorado has/will have roadside sniffers and roadside cameras to match license plate numbers with emission readings instead of the current inspection stations (?).

You might look into it before applying a full engine massage treatment.

Sherwood

Yes, but you can only do that when you renew, not to register the first time.

It's been in place for several years.

[fitchn]

So I looked up a few raw material parts on McMasterCarr and I it looks like titanium pieces are about 3-4 times more expensive than identical pieces made from 316 stainless. That's a bit more than I thought but not all that bad, depending of course on the application.

[RWebb]

Noah - Ti is said to be more difficult to form and weld than steel.

I think the new 997 has Ti now even if not a turbo. Corvettes have had a Ti exhaust for several years (it would be great to get some from a junkyard and play around with them).

I hear there are some new alloys of Ti out there. You can (shift gears) and review company annual reports, 401K's to sometimes get info on new alloys. There are 2-3 companies that are exclusively in the Ti biz and I know at least one is public - they have the word in their name, but I can't recall the full name right now. A Thomas Manf. guide might help locate them. The annual reports will usually brag about new products to the shareholders...

There have been several threads with pics of muffler interiors on the bbs.
Here is one:

[RWebb]

Here are some pics of the engine carrier -- and my plaintive wail for lighter ones....

Engine Carrier

- Randy

[Bill Douglas]

A quick 15 minute job to do in your lunch break; lathe up some wheel spacers for the back.

Nice car and nice color.