| Date |
Costs |
Activity |
| 1/1/2005 |
|
Got C19, C26, C27, C29 cut, fitted and put on today. A little bit of a gap between C17 and C27 due to miscalculation but not too bad.
 |
| 1/2/2005 |
$35 |
Went to local salvage yard and found pop-up headlights from 1990 (or so) Plymouth Laser (complete with halogen bulbs). These have electric motors, but I do not have electrical diagram so might end up using mechanical linkage similar as what is in the TriMagnum if I have difficulty.
Also picked up windshield reservoir and pump from a Dodge Shadow that is long and narrow and wiper motor linkage and blade from Isusu Trooper. Will only be using a single wiper blade.
Put in C11 and C28 today. Per recomendations from Alex Smith I decided to put in some holes in the side formers so that eventially can run wiring from front compartment to middle and engine compartments without having to use conduit per plans. Did not like the idea of conduit and Alex's idea sounded better.
 |
| 1/3/2005 |
|
I decided that I wanted to put on the seat back and roll cage assembly prior to glassing the chassis. It did not look like it would be too terribly difficult to glass it all together as one assembly and I figured that it might actually be better to do all at once.
Talked to Paul Schreiner @ PS Composites in Harrisburg, PA to set up appointment to get chassis glassed. This is one area that I did not want to do myself and decided to out-source it to a professional... I have 2 weeks to complete the chassis and get it to him.
Since I needed to put in aftermarket seats I had to increase the internal headroom. Used a set of seats to guesstimate then added 3" just to be sure to get overall height. Do not know until I get seats exactly what the final height will be but decided to split the amount and add 2" total height of G1 (seat back) and will add the rest to the the window height.
Completed G1, G2 G3, G9. Since seat is not reclined so much reduced the angle to about 15 degrees this also allowed me to pull G2 in at the same angle and give me additional work room in engine compartment area.
 |
| 1/4/2005 |
$268 |
Picked up a Harley rear belt and pulley for rear drive. |
| 1/5/2005 |
|
Installed G4, G5, G6, G7, G8. Know that some adjustment might be needed when I get the seats.
With the additional height it appeared that the lines of the Vortex were getting boxy, so I decided to add 5" to the very front of the vehicle to bring the lines back and look more gradual. Basically just tacked on length could have done some fancy joinery but knowing that when the chassis is glassed that it will make the joint stronger.
Side benefit is that now I have *much* more room in the front compartment to put larger fuel cell, battery - whatever!! I then cut the angle on the top part of C22 and finished C23/C24/C25.
 |
| 1/8/2005 |
|
Made the headlight assembly to contain the popup headlights. Only restrictions in WV is that the headlights have to be between 24-48" from ground so positioned them to be about 25" to give me some leaway. I also had to guesstimate how the foam body would go, it appears to taper from approximately the front of the wheel well, so keep headlight assembly as narrow as possible.
  |
| 1/9/2005 |
|
Time is getting short before glassing LOTS to do!
I used a belt sander and put the chamfer onto C1 and C13 so that the outside skin would go on properly. I basically used a straight edge between them and marked how much material needed to come off. By angling the belt sander to approximate the straight edge it came out pretty well. I thought that the way that the plans suggested to put them in just would not work for me, it really looked like a 2-man job that way plus needed a good amount of shop space so I did this compromise.
Glassed in internal seams on rear of one side. |
| 1/10/2005 |
|
Glassed in internal seams on other rear side. |
| 1/12/2005 |
|
Put on outside skins C32 onto both rear sides, as well as glassed in front sections between C26, C27, C28, C29 on both sides. Put on outside skins C31.
 |
| 1/13/2005 |
|
Radiused all outside corners using 1/4" router and belt sander, used automotive body filler to radius all inside corners.
Cut out area for steering rack, made up platform to hold chassis in the back of my truck.
Ooops accidentally 'crunched' window top part G8 when loading - no worries I will have to modify once seats arrive... The tops of the roll cage will not be glassed in.
Loaded up chassis using loader on my tractor, tie down and off to PS Composites! Wheeeew... |
| 1/14 - 1/16/2005 |
$$Pricless |
Glassing in the chassis @ PS Composites. Paul is personal friend of mine so he let me 'assist' him with the glassing job.
We used black pigment in the resin for completing the bottom of the chassis. |
| 1/17/2005 |
|
Load up chassis for trip back to WV!
 |
| 1/20/2005 |
$5 |
Located a 1-1/2" wide 30 tooth Harley pulley from a 2002 VRSC V-rod that will work for driving intermediate shaft as it has a flange instead of spline.
   |
| 1/21/2005 |
|
Seats have arrived, dummied them up inside passenger compartment and sat in them. Quickly determined that I can reduce the window height by almost 3" and still have 1-1/2" of head clearance from the bottom of the roof supports G10 as it is directly over the left side of my head while sitting. |
| 1/22/2005 |
|
Reduce the window height to final dimensions and replace G7 and G8. |
| 1/23/2005 |
|
Sand and radius the roll cage and glass G4, G6, G7. |
| 1/28/2005 |
$72 |
Purchase set of Triumph Spitfire front shocks on eBay. |
| 1/29/2005 - 1/30/2005 |
$0 |
Pull engine from my 1984 Yamaha FJ600 motorcycle, 72hp, 600cc, air cooled, 6 speed transmission. I bought this new in 1984 and have kept it just for my 3-wheeler. According to Steve Pombo he originally used a 750cc, 75hp and power was not an issue, it might not scream but then again that is not bad and will help to keep me in check... The nice thing about the Vortex is that you can start with one engine and at any time put in something else - eventially intend to put in 1000cc. |
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