Post 6: Steering and Coachwork

 With the chassis welded, it is time to install steering components as well as install some of the body panels, namely the front fascia to the REV, to mimic the original Quadricycle.

During an informative trip to the Mohawk College Stoney Creek Campus for Trades and Apprenticeship, many SHSM students who are also on the Project REV team were able to discover several trades programs available as post-secondary pathways to their future after high school.

Students visited several areas of apprenticeship including welding, transportation, carpentry and elevator technician to name a few.

After our trip, students returned to work on the REV. Mr. Mule's, and Mr. Peca's SHSM construction students began work on assembling the front fascia for the REV. After several cuts, gluing and screws later, the front part was lifted into place, denoting the front of the old style vehicle.

 

Once the front was installed, one of Mr. Mule's senior SHSM construction students went on to create a replica of the driver's seat for the REV. It too was temporarily installed on the leg braces and measurements taken, before it gets some foam and upholstery in the new year:

 

For a little fun on the last day before holidays, the REV team members and Mr. Da Silva used torches to begin bending some reinforcement rails for the bench seat. 

We will need to create more reinforcement to the bench seat to keep the back perpendicular to the seat portion, and then bend and weld in side rails to look similar to the old style online:

Eager to see more of the Reding Electric Vehicle come together, some students helped to lay out and measure potential bends for the upper steering arm of the vehicle. Using torches and jigs, we were able to heat and bend the steering arm into shape. With instruction from Mr. Ferko's OYAP Electrical class, we were able to cut threads into various steering tubes to help assemble the steering system into the front fascia. We also used special pillow block bearings from our Community Partner Atlantic Bearings in Milton.

After painting the main steering components overnight, the REV team did a primary assembly of the steering system to see how the handle, shafts, joints, tie rods and spindles worked together. 

And with this, some members stood behind for a quick picture of the vehicle thus far. 

Chassis, seat, wheels and steering systems nearly complete. 

But once back after the Christmas holidays, the REV team will continue to design, construct and optimize the vehicle's many systems to get it ready for unveiling in June- in fact, we will aim for an official unveil on June 4th, 2024, which will be exactly 128 years, to-the-day, after Mr. Ford unveiled his exciting quadricycle!

From everyone at Project REV and BR, we wish you a happy and safe holiday, and hope to see you back soon for more exciting build updates in 2024!