SPONSOR UPDATE......

As a former automotive mechanic and aircraft maintenance engineer I'm pretty picky about who I trust to work on my personal vehicles. As life got busy with kids, consulting, and race car projects (that consume large chunks of time), I found myself farming out the maintenance of my vehicles to Cam Thorkelson and his crew the Midas Auto Service Experts in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia. Given their professionalism and honesty it was only natural for me to ask if they would like to sponsor the project. I was pleasantly surprised to hear "just give me a list of the parts you need" as an answer. Thank you and welcome to the project!!

To visit their website just click their name under the sponsor section.

TEST VEHICLE DE-CONSTRUCTION.......

PROJECT TEST VEHICLE

The IMS4 Virtual Mustang Project test vehicle is a 1989 2.3L Fox Body Mustang. When I purchased it locally for $400.00 it was registered and capable of being driven on the street. Can't recall exactly how many miles it had on it but it was somewhere north of 200Ks.

It was in pretty decent shape with the exception of the front fenders and bumper which show that sometime in its life it made solid contact with another vehicle. The automatic transmission is mated to an engine that started up on the first go and didn't appear to burn any oil. Note the turbine rims in the rear and the T-bird ones on the front.

Frame is straight (if you can call unibody construction a frame) and there is remarkably no rust to speak of. Suspension and driveline components were worn (driveshaft universal joint needle bearings existed only in the form of rusty metal).

In future posts I'll include pictures of the car as it was stripped down to its present condition. Can't include any pictures of the neighbourhood kids (I had eight of them ranging from 4 to 12 years of age helping me) due to child labour violations (paid them in Slurpees instead of minimum wages).

SOME ASSEMBLY WILL BE REQUIRED.........

Part of this project involves looking at different ways of communicating information to the different participants of the project. We are using the resources from a wide range of abilities and understanding. Everything from middle school students to full blown engineers, technical and technophobes, veteran racers and newbies. (For the record I fit solidly in the last category as the closest thing I've come to racing is sitting behind the wheel of my parent's car making "vroom vrooom" noises.)

In my experience, how you communicate information is just as important (if not more so) than the information you are trying to convey.

This is why we will be using a product called Document 3D from Quadrispace. They've been kind enough to donate three seats of their documentation software for the project. I'll be using one to set up the templates, formats, and style sheets while two will be going to Camosun College where it will be used in the Engineering Graphics Technician Program. As part of the technician's coursework they will be using the software to document the race car build-up.

Most instructions are static in nature and reflect a technical representation of the product. For simple things this is okay. For more complicated items such as bikes before Christmas or a barbeque for the "Boss" - they are never simple enough.

Here is a example of an interactive document that can either be printed out (traditional) or used interactively (conveys more information).

Snowmobile Example (For other examples see http://www.quadrispace.com/demos/pdf.htm

As the project progresses you will start to see various IMS4 instructions. As you can see from the examples - Quadrispace has taken the "a picture is worth a 1000 words" adage and supercharged it to the next level.

RULES OF ENGAGMENT.......

I've had several people ask me what class I plan to race the (Real) test bed Mustang in.

If all goes well the car will be raced at Western Speedway located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
http://www.westernspeedway.bc.ca/

The specific class is called IMS4 Mini-Stock and is limited to 4 cylinder engines up to 2300cc.
http://www.ims4.ca/

It will look something like this:
http://www.ims4.ca/Drivers/47.htm

I know its not a Mustang but the following website gives one an idea of what I'm trying to do.
http://www.ims4.ca/Drivers/18.htm (Hint: click on the picture).

The vehicle will be designed and built to meet the following rules:
http://www.ims4.ca/2007-2008RB.htm

PROJECT SPECIFICATION

Name: IMS4 Virtual Mustang Project
Organization: Teamwork Racing
Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Project Lead:

Len K. Mar, P.Eng.
E-data Solutions
mailto:lmar@edatasolutions.ca

Objectives:

To develop an accurate 3D Model of a 1989 Ford 2.3L Mustang for the purpose of constructing a virtual IMS4 Mini-Stock race car.

To provide a set of detailed interactive projects that, when taken in their entirety, result in a full instruction set for constructing an IMS4 Mini-Stock race car.

To use the set of interactive projects in future high school and post-secondary curriculum.

To keep kids in school by showing them that what they are being taught is relevant and has real-world applications.

To engage local engineering & manufacturing firms in demonstrating to students that trades and technical vocations require completion of high school.

To create educational spin off-applications using the project's 3D model. (Potential spin-off projects include motion simulation, thermal analysis, virtual wind tunnel, molds, tooling, and so on.)

To provide a “real-world” engineering test bed that students can use to evaluate new designs.

Distributed Design

Allow local high-tech companies to pool their engineering resources using the software and techniques developed through the IMS4 project.

Collaboration

Provincial Government, Education, Industry Associations, Engineering & Manufacturing companies.

Endorsements:
Preliminary discussions are underway with the following:

Government:
British Columbia Ministry of Education (LearnNow BC Virtual School)

Education:
University of Victoria
Camosun College (Victoria)
Stelly’s High School (Central Saanich)
Belmont High School (Colwood)

Industry Association:
Vancouver Island Advanced Technology Centre (VIATEC)

Engineering & Manufacturing
CSC Racing
Tara Precision
Hydroxyl Systems
Carmanah Technology
Viking Air
Vancouver Island Helicopters
Rockland Scientific International
Triton Logging
Specific Mechanical
Alliance Works

Suppliers:
JB Precision Group
Columbia Valve and Fittings (Swagelok)

Technical Advisors:
Island Mustang Salvage
Exemplar Metrology Corporation
McDonald Racing

Software/Hardware Providers:
SolidWorks (3D Engineering Software)
DezignWorks (Reverse Engineering Software)
MechWorks (Web Based Collaborative Software)
Quadrispace (3D Web Publishing Software)
Faro Technologies Inc. (Digital Measuring Device)

IT Support
Smart Dolphins


-End--

IN THE BEGINNING.......

I've always wanted to design, build, and drive a racecar - it's a dream I've held since I first "rebuilt" a friend's wagon so we could go faster.

Just when I got to a point where I decided to stop dreaming and start doing, my plans were waylaid when my family was involved in a car accident. The mini-van we were in was rear- ended by a 1-ton pickup whose driver couldn't stop soon enough at highway speeds. After writing off the mini-van, we've spent the last two years trying to recover from the injuries.

Now unable to sit for long periods of time or do any heavy lifting, my plans to do all the racecar work by myself came to a screeching halt. I suspect I may one day take the car around the track just to say I've done it, but I also worry that the extent of my injuries will prevent me from ever fulfilling my dream to race in a sanctioned event. I just can't risk the possibility of another crash and sacrifice the well-being of my family for a childhood dream.

However, never one to complain about the lemons life sends your way (and I've had my share by the bushels) I decided to make lemonade.

This project takes my personal love of "tinkering" to a whole new level. It combines my other interests such as Computer Aided Engineering, Computer Aided Manufacturing, sheet metal fabrication, painting, and teaching into one neat (I hope) package.

I may not be able to fulfill my own lifelong dream ..... but I can surely try to help someone else achieve theirs....

Let the adventure begin..........................