So, I figured since I'm not on here too much (mostly on moparts) and I'm going to ask you guys a lot of questions this summer that I share a little about myself and what I do.
I'm currently a 3rd year mechanical engineering student who hopes to become an automotive engineer after he graduates (2-3 more years or so). When I'm not at school, I am usually interning at the gas company over here doing energy efficiency "stuff." However, most my time is taken by a club I joined a little over 1.5 years ago, SAE Mini-Baja. In this club we build and design a small off-roading vehicle and compete across the nation. Our school is number one in California. There are generally 3 competitions in North America and this year we decided to compete in Tennessee and Washington. In TN we scored 9th in the endurance race and 11th overall. In WA we picked up the pace and did a little bit of modifications and we ended up making it to design finals (first our school has ever done that), getting 5th in the endurance race, and getting 6th place overall.
This year I was a part of the drivetrain subsystem. I designed and built a safety cover and cooling system for our CVT to ensure no mud gets in it and no one harms themselves on the rotating mass. I also worked quite a bit with carbon fiber, making molds and panels for them. I'd say I'm experienced at it, but not a professional.
Here are pictures from our competitions...
Tennessee:
http://s1127.photobucket.com/user/muumuu101/library/Baja Tennesee 2013
Washington:
http://s1127.photobucket.com/user/muumuu101/library/Baja Washington 2013
Next year I will be the drivetrain captain and plan on redesigning the gears in our transmission case as well as conducting some more CVT tuning.
Now to the more personal stuff. Ever since I saw the first F&F movie (10 years old) I had been hooked on the Charger. I used to watch car shows all the time just to see mopars. One day I saw a Wrecked to Riches episode where they did up a 68 Dart. I fell in love of the idea and concept of the Dart (small car, big motor) and as a high school graduation present my dad bought two 68 Darts for me (one was a project and the other a parts car). Unfortunately, due to the lack of skills, tools, and people to teach me (as well as an angry mother), the cars sat at my mechanics for about a year or so and I ended up selling them off (~3 years ago).
Fast forward to last summer I was able to convince my mom of buying another car since I joined the club and was genuinely learning. I searched long and hard for another mopar and luckily I found the right one. Another 68 Dart! However, this one was already running and presentable. I had made and saved up a lot of money and was able to buy this car without putting a big dent in my savings (gas company pays me a lot). I got to drive the Dart for a little part of summer until my mom's remarriage, when the MC pooped on me and I hit a tree rolling downhill. Luckily there was no damage to the tree or the Dart besides a couple of paint chips. I had to limp the car 20 miles home and since then the car has been inoperable.
I had a mopar friend from my Baja club who started helping me get the car back together in the fall; however, the more we tried to fix the car, the more we realized how the previous owner screwed up the car. There was everything from GM parts, to shady mounts, as well as the all time (mopart's favorite) PS coupler!
My friend and I were able to get most the work up until rewelding a new panel for the firewall. Then we both got busy with the club and the car was put on hold. Now I'm 2 weeks away from school finishing for the year and anxious to get back on my car. Only problem is my friend doesn't seem too enthused to work on my car and I'm still stuck in the situation where I don't have the tools or know-how to do this stuff. So I've got a lot of learning and tool buying to do this summer...
That's the story of MuuMuu. I hoped you've enjoyed learning a little something about me.
I'm currently a 3rd year mechanical engineering student who hopes to become an automotive engineer after he graduates (2-3 more years or so). When I'm not at school, I am usually interning at the gas company over here doing energy efficiency "stuff." However, most my time is taken by a club I joined a little over 1.5 years ago, SAE Mini-Baja. In this club we build and design a small off-roading vehicle and compete across the nation. Our school is number one in California. There are generally 3 competitions in North America and this year we decided to compete in Tennessee and Washington. In TN we scored 9th in the endurance race and 11th overall. In WA we picked up the pace and did a little bit of modifications and we ended up making it to design finals (first our school has ever done that), getting 5th in the endurance race, and getting 6th place overall.
This year I was a part of the drivetrain subsystem. I designed and built a safety cover and cooling system for our CVT to ensure no mud gets in it and no one harms themselves on the rotating mass. I also worked quite a bit with carbon fiber, making molds and panels for them. I'd say I'm experienced at it, but not a professional.
Here are pictures from our competitions...
Tennessee:
http://s1127.photobucket.com/user/muumuu101/library/Baja Tennesee 2013
Washington:
http://s1127.photobucket.com/user/muumuu101/library/Baja Washington 2013
Next year I will be the drivetrain captain and plan on redesigning the gears in our transmission case as well as conducting some more CVT tuning.
Now to the more personal stuff. Ever since I saw the first F&F movie (10 years old) I had been hooked on the Charger. I used to watch car shows all the time just to see mopars. One day I saw a Wrecked to Riches episode where they did up a 68 Dart. I fell in love of the idea and concept of the Dart (small car, big motor) and as a high school graduation present my dad bought two 68 Darts for me (one was a project and the other a parts car). Unfortunately, due to the lack of skills, tools, and people to teach me (as well as an angry mother), the cars sat at my mechanics for about a year or so and I ended up selling them off (~3 years ago).
Fast forward to last summer I was able to convince my mom of buying another car since I joined the club and was genuinely learning. I searched long and hard for another mopar and luckily I found the right one. Another 68 Dart! However, this one was already running and presentable. I had made and saved up a lot of money and was able to buy this car without putting a big dent in my savings (gas company pays me a lot). I got to drive the Dart for a little part of summer until my mom's remarriage, when the MC pooped on me and I hit a tree rolling downhill. Luckily there was no damage to the tree or the Dart besides a couple of paint chips. I had to limp the car 20 miles home and since then the car has been inoperable.
I had a mopar friend from my Baja club who started helping me get the car back together in the fall; however, the more we tried to fix the car, the more we realized how the previous owner screwed up the car. There was everything from GM parts, to shady mounts, as well as the all time (mopart's favorite) PS coupler!
My friend and I were able to get most the work up until rewelding a new panel for the firewall. Then we both got busy with the club and the car was put on hold. Now I'm 2 weeks away from school finishing for the year and anxious to get back on my car. Only problem is my friend doesn't seem too enthused to work on my car and I'm still stuck in the situation where I don't have the tools or know-how to do this stuff. So I've got a lot of learning and tool buying to do this summer...
That's the story of MuuMuu. I hoped you've enjoyed learning a little something about me.
