Last couple days I spray painted the new frame, welded nuts for the A-arms, bolted the A-arms up with washers and bearing grease, and cut the metal for the motor mounts.

Pictures at http://www.craterfish.org/teamprodigies/?pictures?2007/Feb

The story of a day in pictures:

http://www.craterfish.org/teamprodigies/?pictures?2007/Feb

I welded the A-arms for the rear of the car. I have no school this week (except for calculus II on Wednesday) because it's mid-winter break, so I should have some time to get some stuff done.

I put up a picture at http://www.teamprodigies.com/?pictures?2007/Feb

A week or so ago I welded the frame of the back of the car, as you can see in the picture (the I-shaped structure next to the identical front of the car). The ends of the "I" - which the A-Arms connect to, had bent inwards when they had been welded to, decreasing the distance by almost a quarter of an inch on each of the four corners. I fixed this in the only way I could think of, pounding them as hard as I could with a monkey wrench. I then ground down the metal that rotates with the A-Arms (and fits between the ends of the I) to fit just right. I also went to Home Depot to get some more tubing for bushings, and some more supplies. I got new pins for the axles, but they did not fit, and neither Home Depot nor NAPA Auto Supplies had the nylon washers or ratchet adapters I needed.

I went to Home Debot and bought some 3/8" round steel bar for the axles of the car. I cut two 7" lengths, put some u- joints on them, drilled them, and put pins through them.

For a picture go to http://www.craterfish.org/teamprodigies?pictures?2007/Jan.

After removing the motors I sprayed the mounts with rust off.

After waking up at 3PM I cut the mounts for the two front motors and welded them onto the frame. I also bought all the carrier bolts, lock washers, and nuts that I need and put them in. I bought Home Depot out of 3/8" nylon washers, and I think I'll have to do so a couple more times before I have enough. I put bearing grease on the bolts/washers that I put in so everything pivots smoothly. I still need to spray the Ace Rust Stop on the new metal.

Go to http://www.craterfish.org/teamprodigies?pictures?2007/Jan to see a picture!

Over the weekend I bought some nylon hosing from Home Depot with a 5/8" outer diameter and a 3/8" inner diameter. This fits perfectly inside the 3/4" tubing, and the 3/8" bolts fit perfectly inside the tubing, so it acts as bushings for the A-Arm pivots. I'll add some bearing greese and I should be good to go.

While in the garage I looked at the month-old frame and noticed that it was already rusting pretty badly. I drove to Ace Hardware, arriving at 8:55. It closed at 9:00. I got some "rust stop" and sandpaper for $5.40. My bank account had $5.68. After getting home again I sanded the frame as well as I could, but it wasn't perfect. After a lot of sanding I gave up on perfection and sprayed the "rust stop" on. It has a nice dark black color to it.

A picture is at http://www.craterfish.org/teamprodigies?pictures?2006/Oct

Today I finished the four A-arms. I set it up with the wheels and took a picture (http://www.craterfish.org/teamprodigies?pictures?2006/Sep). It's about 4'3" between the outer edges of the wheels.