using old parts on new projects

[URracing]

Hey all,

We've been really struggling as a chapter to keep things together over the last few years. Students who have been in and out of the team have gone and bought/collected parts for a new Formula car that sadly has been in production for almost 9 years now. I have returned to finish my engineering degree after a couple years off doing carpentry and framing work so I've been helping the team whenever I can justo keep things together. We finally have a good committed team and they all decided to try baja since they thought it was cheaper. After some enlightenment that wasn't so much so so now we're back to the FSAE project. I did a quick search and couldn't find really what I was looking for but my question is:

How strict are the judges on using older parts (possibly discontinued parts) for a new FSAE/baja project? Particularly I know the CBR 600 F4 and F4i motors were used by a very broad selection of teams for a while back earlier in this decade. (I hate how time flies when you leave school). We also have a perfectly brand new Zexel Torsen diff that was never used sittin in our parts cupboard. Not sure exactly what model it is but I do believe it was considered the "University Special" back around 2002/2003 or so. We also bought a $3000 engine management system, driveline parts from Taylor-Race, along with single floating calipers and components from Wilwood. All these parts were purchased back around 2003/2004/2005 so I'm wondering if any of them are still compatible to use on a new FSAE car, particularly the motor. Not sure who's all using the CBR motors still but I know the RR has really taken off in the last couple years.

[URracing]

Hey all,

We've been really struggling as a chapter to keep things together over the last few years. Students who have been in and out of the team have gone and bought/collected parts for a new Formula car that sadly has been in production for almost 9 years now. I have returned to finish my engineering degree after a couple years off doing carpentry and framing work so I've been helping the team whenever I can justo keep things together. We finally have a good committed team and they all decided to try baja since they thought it was cheaper. After some enlightenment that wasn't so much so so now we're back to the FSAE project. I did a quick search and couldn't find really what I was looking for but my question is:

How strict are the judges on using older parts (possibly discontinued parts) for a new FSAE/baja project? Particularly I know the CBR 600 F4 and F4i motors were used by a very broad selection of teams for a while back earlier in this decade. (I hate how time flies when you leave school). We also have a perfectly brand new Zexel Torsen diff that was never used sittin in our parts cupboard. Not sure exactly what model it is but I do believe it was considered the "University Special" back around 2002/2003 or so. We also bought a $3000 engine management system, driveline parts from Taylor-Race, along with single floating calipers and components from Wilwood. All these parts were purchased back around 2003/2004/2005 so I'm wondering if any of them are still compatible to use on a new FSAE car, particularly the motor. Not sure who's all using the CBR motors still but I know the RR has really taken off in the last couple years.

[Mikey Antonakakis]

I think there are still plenty of teams using F4i's, Torsens, Taylor Race parts, Wilwood brakes. If they work, they work. If they allow you to compete, they DEFINITELY work. Build that car!

[Drew Price]

I second. The rule about 'sufficient re-design' from year-to-year within a team is meant to prevent highly developed legacy cars from trickling down to new teams in a high state of development with the new members not understanding the nuance of each piece, since they inherited lots of the technical development from people whom they may have never met. (<--- Dang, I am really proud of that sentence.)

If your car has never competed, there is nothing wrong with re-using parts.

There's also nothing wrong with re-using parts that work well if you can demonstrate quantitatively that you explored other options through testing, analysis, etc. that they still represent the best option available to you, within reason.

Generally, the judges are very understanding and give very good feedback, as long as they don't think you're trying to bull-shit them.

On the other hand, if they don't know you're bullshitting them, you will probably get more points, and feedback that's just as good. Just pick and choose who you decide to spout nonsense to.

If you get called out on it, it'll be a looooong trip back to your Uni with your team-mates howling at you for accidentally trying to convince Claude that you sufficiently reduced sinusoidal repleneration in the Sperving bearing assembly so as to eliminate the pressure spikes in the blinker fluid pump.



Or whatever.



Get that car built!!



Best,
Drew

[Huskie Motorsports TD]

Hey URracing,

I am assuming this is Brett? We are working on a new car for this year in Saskatoon as well. If you have any questions drop us a line, and I have a shelf of F4/F4i parts that I am looking to thin out if you need something. It is good to hear that you are back in the game I have been waiting for your new car for a damn long time!

Drew hit the nail right on the head, it really doesn't matter what parts you use just have the engineering done to explain intelligently why your are using them. I have been around for a five cars (I am a grad student now) and our team fell to bits for a few years and it was a long road back. Our first competition was tough because none of us had been there before, as well as we were given a half designed car. The guys that could tell us the design rationale were long gone and since stopped caring, so design judging was and interesting experience.

Get the car built, get to competition!

-Chris

[URracing]

Thanks Chris,

Ye its Brett. I think I do recall probably meeting with you when you brought a couple of your cars down to Lumsden for one of QCMA's solo events. I know back in the day our chapter was doin awesome with baja and fsae cars within a couple years of eachother consecutively for over 10 years. I heard from alumni that somewhere down the line our engineering program rivalry somehow merged into SAE as well. Nowadays it seems we're just lucky to get a few cents to spend on some hardware here and there so I think alot of it has simply turned into appreciation if any progress or support is made. Since about 01 or so it's been rough since that was the last year U of R competed in FSAE. Guys (and a few gals) have come and gone and when I started my degree in 04 I had a half designed car and everyone sorta just either left or graduated with no future interest in SAE. We managed to kidnap a few students from other faculties to help us out here and there but those non-engineers really take some work in trying to convince it's "NOT A BACKYARD GO-KART PROJECT".

Thanks for the offer Chris and I hope to be in touch with you guys in coming days. Good luck and thanks to all for replying. I've already assigned our Artsy student to find out how to present the design behind our flux capacitor. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif