Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas!

I have a small break at work and I'm hoping to get alot done in the next 2 weeks....

....so much to do I, I have to really get my ass in gear and start working....sometimes keeping working on big projects like this is hard.

that said my project looks like a walk in the park when compared to what this kid is doing in his garage.
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3277830&page=1 (spend some time on THAT thread!)

The next goals is to get to a point where I can start working on the motor.

On list ,
-Weld firewall holes and tube holes shut and seal the firewall.
-Fabricate and install rear "firewall". (alum. or steel I dunno yet)
-Position and fabricate pedal mounts.
-Install Master cylinders and install brake lines.

**major milestone**get brakes operational!***

Then If I'm really lucky to finish all that, start working on the new dash fabrication and gauge positioning.

Oh yeah.....paint the engine bay.....paint all the new tubes inside the car.....

I have 2 weeks....lets see......

and here are some pics of the reason I haven't been working on the car.......

The only bad thing about working with movies and cutting edge technology is that your working with all this cool stuff and all these cool projects that you have to keep quiet about....so this is about all i can show....

To say I'm excited about what I'm doing is an understatement. Especially in this economy, I just happy to have a paycheck! Also, it's nice to have some funds to be able to complete the car......


Me on the left on a pre-production prep day....and yes that a rally car.


me trying to figure out what does what on our Avid DS system.



Like my co-worker says " I'm just a monkey in a spaceship, pushing buttons. " eventually I figure out what I'm doing!

Pretty much sums up how I learn things......

Friday, December 12, 2008

Weigh-in part 1


still waiting on the pistons.......

haha...... I love it... my car is anorexic!!

How much do you think my car weighs......Rolling chassis?

No engine
no tranny
no driveshaft
no diff and axels
no caliper or brake booter and lines
no seats
no dash
no wiring
no gauges
no fire system
no fuel cell & pump

it's as basic of a rolling chassis you can get!



I wonder how much all the stuff will weigh???????

Final weigh should be below 2000lbs.......I think.....

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Parts, parts, parts!

Well it's been awhile.......

I've been really busy with my new job. I'm loving it. Better pay means more parts and hopefully.....on the track for next year!

So santa visted early,

I bought,
New 11:5 to 1 pistons (coated)
Main bearings drilled to Alpina racing specs (coated)
New wheel studs/nuts
Alum. flywheel 7lbs.

Wilwood (I was going to use Tilton but I got a smokin' deal on the these)
Clutch pedal
Brake pedal w/ balance bar
3 master cyclinders kits(1 clutch & 2 brakes)
Remote balance adjuster

and a few other bits....



Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Willow Springs - My Nasa HPDE video

This video was shot during a NASA hpde trackday held at Willow springs
this last August.

Since my race car has been in surgery all year, I have been atending NASA events with my friends and have recently become a NASA instructor.

This was a learning expirience for some of the videos I will be shooting for when my car gets on the track again.....planning some cool videos when that happens!

The primary goal of this short video besides making a cool video for my
best friends was to exercise my newly acquired Final cut Pro skills. It
was shot with a Panasonic HVX200 HD camera in 720pn. It was my first day
with the camera and was getting used to everything. I had a hard time
looking at the LCD on some of the pans in the bright sunlight(I now have
a custom monitor hood). Most of it was shot at 24fps with a few 60fps
shots included as well. I was running around all day but I think all in
all for a first try I left with some decent footage. I edited it on
Final Cut Pro Studio as well as color correcting on it as well. The
titles were made with Motion and Livetype.

I had to compress it down for VIMEO but it is what they call an "HD"
video. Still it is runnign at 15fps so it might appear to the more
trained eye a bit jumpy (especially the titles at the end).

I highly recommend once you let it download, that you click on the
little X on the screen to make it go full screen on your monitor. Also
on the bottoem of the page they have a link to download it to your
computer. Sit back turn up the volume and enjoy! Hope you all Like it!!


HERE IT IS.....

Vimeo HD version 10mins. long.
http://vimeo.com/2032682



For more info on the #475 car, visit his build blog (pics and specs) - I
also helped build this car.
forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1071981


#34 car (Adam's car) was purchased as a race car (here on bimmerforums)
already just 1 month before this video was shot. No build blog yet. But
here are some specs on his car.
-3.0L with schrick cams, software, intake, HFM, headers
-Tckline double adjustable coilovers
-OZ wheels - Yoko Advans
-Brembo -2 piece rotors
-quaife diff
Etc.etc...etc....

Both cars besides being the same color are actually pretty matched.
Dmitry is a more experienced than Adam. By the looks of it Adam is eager
to get more track time and catch up!

Special Thanks to:
Stereoscope LLC, - stereoscopestudios.com/
BMW/Mercedes Service of Sherman Oaks - bimermbenz.com/



okay,
not recommended (very compressed) YouTube version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O0HMiiJAeY