Solar Jackets

We're Back!

2009-01-20T12:55:00.004-05:00

We're back! Winter Break was fun and all, but the car still needs a lot of work. Recently some members went out to the workshop to tidy things up and practice welding with out brand new MIG welder.

Forrest shows off the Solar Jackets "Club". Unfortunately it didn't hold up well.

Pouring water on the fresh weld tempers it, creating a stronger phase of steel.

You can't get any welding done if the metal is rusty and dirty. The grinder made short work of rust on the scrap metal we had.

Ryan read online that a good way to practice welds is to try and move the bead in a straight line on a flat piece of metal.

Tonight we are having our second meeting of the year and electing new officers. The question on everyone's mind is, Will there be bagels?

There's a lot of work to do before our first car show, so watch the blog for weekly updates.

Cheers,

Morgan

2008-12-08T00:53:00.002-05:00

So, here are those pictures from the engine removal. Sorry it took so long to upload the buggers, but it's been hectic these past few weeks.

Quite the feat, I must say.

Check out the time-lapse videos on our Youtube channel! They turned out really well.

Members, check your email inbox when the Spring semester rolls around.

See you guys next semester, and good luck on finals!

-Morgan

P.S.

TO HELL WITH GEORGIA

Updates

2008-11-16T03:21:00.003-05:00

Alrighty, so there are pictures from today (the 15th), but I do not have them on a computer ready to upload. I should have this care of by tomorrow evening.

In the mean time, do check out the new time-lapse videos on our Youtube channel.

Cheers all,
Morgan

2008-11-09T19:48:00.004-05:00

The Solar Jackets had another productive weekend! The CV joints are unbolted, the front end removed, the gas tank mostly gone and the shop has been cleaned and organized.

But enough chit-chat, let's get to the pictures!

We are just that good.

Eric holds one of the three heat-shielding panels on the underside of the car protecting the fuel tanks, fuel lines and computers from the heat of the exhaust system.

When you need torque, use Wrench-Aid! Also doubles as a hacksaw (uses broken blades).

Our ingenuity is ingenious.

Andrew Soltis chuckles at the poor saps removing heat-shielding (it was not easy).

Hey guys, can you spare a pipe?

The purpose of using the pipe was to keep the siphoning tube straight in the gas as it had a tendency to curl.

Compare this picture with the next, let's see if you can spot what's different.

Got it yet? Solution at the end of the post.

Project Manager John Forrest is sporting his 1950's mechanic's suit, distinguishing him from the rest of us.

If anyone has an idea on how we can get customized letters like these TT's on the back of the car, that'd be swell. The idea to add "EV" to the TT's was floated Saturday with approval by all.

Borm tags a part that came off the car. Organization and cleanliness took precident during Sunday's work session.

Corbin and Andrew Vischio work together in removing parts of the fuel tank with a drill. Yes, a drill. Safety concerns ruled out the use of the circular saw, using a hacksaw was too slow and inefficient and the utility knives would not cut the plastic.

Many thanks to the guys who spent part of their weekend getting greasy, organizing the shop and discussing how to remove the engine. The club only gets things done because you put in the effort.

I am uploading the two time-lapse videos (one for each day) and another that shows the shop to our Youtube channel.

See you jokers Tuesday,

Morgan

Update

2008-11-08T20:57:00.002-05:00

Despite having some pictures from today's work sessions, I will be updating the blog tomorrow evening with photos and links to time-lapse videos from both Saturday and Sunday's efforts. Who knows, I might jump a member or two and get some opinions out of them on camera. Tune in tomorrow for the results.

Teaser:

We took the bumper off to pull the engine out. CV joints are being a pain, broke our second bit on it today. Gas tanks are getting mutilated to get them out without having the take off the rear axle.

Cheers,

Morgan

Work on a Thursday

2008-11-06T23:19:00.006-05:00

So, after Thursday's meeting we went out to the Uhaul and took a few more parts off the car. Got a headlight, some bolts off the CV joints, the fuel pump and a few pieces of sound dampening plastic. I'm sure there's more, ask Forrest for details.

This photo is proof that the Solar Jackets are capable of a good time. Look at those smiles!

Sponsor shot. Exide gave us a great banner to hang up in our workspace. It's a nice touch.

When I was working under the car, this is what I kept seeing. Real encouraging, guys.

No seats? No problem. Surprisingly, the seatless seat area was quite comfortable, although there was no view over the dash.

Ok, so I can't drive a stick, I had to pretend I was having super amounts of fun behind the wheel.

Ryan, however, knows what he's doing. Aviators were for everyone who sat behind the wheel tonight.

Jackson's shot behind the wheel.

Part of a quote that is attributed to Mother Theresa, but there is no evidence confirming if that is so. Either way, it sets the tone for the club, especially to the guys from last year.

Borm approves.

Project Manager John Forrest knew what he had to get, so God bless him, there he goes again...

Can you tell what's missing from the last update?

We finally broke a tool; it was only a matter of time. Not often one strips the bit and now the screw.

Andrew doesn't take too kindly to the camera flash.

The next work session is from 10 am - 6 pm Saturday in 4-hour shifts. If you want to work head over to the Solar Jackets wiki page and put your name in. Things coming out Saturday: gas tank, CV joints, and possibly the engine.

We've got two more videos up at the Solar Jackets Youtube channel! One is of us fiddling with the manual transmission and the other is a time-lapse.

See you guys Saturday,

Morgan

Work Night

2008-11-03T13:46:00.006-05:00

Thanks to all the guys who showed up and stayed until the early hours working on the car! I apologize that there wasn't enough work for everyone at any given time, but hopefully we'll be a bit more organized this coming weekend.

I uploaded the time-lapse to our Youtube channel, http://www.youtube.com/solarjackets. Sorry for the poor quality, it's the best we have at the moment.

Here are some pictures from both Saturday night and Sunday afternoon:

The Audi before we got to work.

Taking bolts and screws out to remove the front panel, a required step to get to the radiator. This required removing each front tires (on different occasions) to get to bolts tucked away in the car.

Ryan jerry-rigged a device to keep the light switch from cutting out on us. Shop rule #2 still applies.

Scrap wood + duct tape = lights on

Another angle of the car.

Ryan and Forrest set to work taking the air intake filter out.

Project Manager John Forrest takes charge and drains the oil.

Here it goes! Taking the hood off wasn't required but it sure makes for better working conditions. It's currently wrapped in plastic and tied to the wall.

Huh, I swore there used to be something here... Oh wait, the radiator.

The engine will be one of the last components to be removed, and a doozie it will be.

Buzz approves!

Again, thanks to those who gave up their Saturday evening to work on the car. Members: Keep checking our email for important updates and information, it's the easiest way for us to share information such as changes in meeting times and work sessions.

Cheers,

Morgan

Audi TT (The Start)

2008-10-26T20:13:00.008-04:00

We finally got our first day of work with the car! The 2001 Audi TT is a little dirty and not the original car we intended to buy, but according the those who tested the abilities of the car, it is just as fun. Our hope is, upon completion, to take the car to the Atlanta Motor Speedway for some testing.

Thanks to those who spent their Sunday afternoon struggling with incredibly tight bolts, whiteboards, and digging through a massive amount of screwdriver bits and never finding the right one.

Ryan wields the massive ratchet we used as our last resort to getting the back seats out.
Francesco and Borm compare hats.

Our president is always quite serious.
The formula is a reference to this comic.
Our workspace has the lights and electricity set on a timer so the place doesn't pay for power if we accidentally leave the lights on when we leave. This becomes a problem when we are sawing or using the electric drill.
Congrats to Jonathan for snagging this rejected whiteboard from GTRI.
So many screwdrivers.
Andrew takes to relaxing on a section of the uninstalled back seat.

The owner's manual didn't give us any clues on how to take out the back seats, by far our biggest hurdle of the day.

The pictures reverse their order when I upload them, a bothersome bit I will work on when the next post comes (hopefully this Tuesday).

-Morgan

Move-In (Sunday)

2008-10-20T17:13:00.002-04:00

Sunday afternoon saw the final assembly of the second worktable, the staining of both tables, the construction of a trash receptacle and a good thorough cleaning and organization of the workspace.

Here are some pictures.

Move-In

2008-10-20T15:57:00.001-04:00

A Start

2008-10-20T13:21:00.000-04:00

Hello and welcome to the blog of the Georgia Tech Solar Jackets!

Pictures of our move-in to come soon.