Project Madera: A Jimmy GT

[skorpioskorpio]

Originally Posted by mcmlxix

I wanted the E-STOPP brake system, but I heard it takes (relatively speaking) forever to engage... almost 10 seconds. Its about $500. too....

The E-STOPP is actually only one of several aftermarket solutions and there is OEM parts that also do the same thing. That said, I'm not sure that a 10 sec engagement is really a problem for me given that the trans will still have park. I have probably set a parking brake in a car with an automatic trans less times than I have fingers and toes and the 'Vette brakes I'll be using use an internal parking drum in the rotor that is, frankly, slightly less stout than the drums on my Honda 250 dirt bikes, which themselves are barely adequate for the less than 300 lb bike they are on. So, they really are parking brakes and not any sort of a real panic emergency brake.

My plan was maybe to just auto engage them when the ignition was off. My father drilled into me that the parking brake is either something you use every time or absolutely never use at all, because if you don't use it every time the cable gets sticky and doesn't disengage all the way and wears out your rear brakes. So if I did use the electronic version it would probably either be a button I never push because it engaged automatically, or a button I never push because I simply don't use it. Is it worth $500 if that is the case? I don't know, but it just seems like not having a parking brake at all just seems wrong, no? Especially since I already have all the parts at the wheels to make them work.

[watahyahknow]

you could look around at wheelchair adaptations for cars , some of them allso have these sort of thing for when the person operating it doesnt have the strength or feet to operate the lever
from wat the picture of the system shows its nothing more than a linear servo , you could add one to under the dash mecanicly pressing the brakepedal lever above the footpad with a small roller , prolly can use a smaller less powerfull servo for that
retracted it doesnt mess up the pedal feel and extended it keeps all four wheels locked
it does put some force on the hydraulic lines and stuff but it would brake better than a emergenc brake does
i would still keep the original emergencybrake setup incase the hydraulics let go

[hgs_notes]

So why not just use a grab handle for the E-brake?

BTW, it's August. Have a chassis yet?

[jlsanborn]

I'd stick with a manual brake, hand or foot operated. Unless you're some drifter or something I don't think it's purpose would be for "dynamic" use. If you're away from the house and had a differential failure, u-joint failure or something like that you'll want one that works.

I had an '07 GTI and never used the hand brake. When wifey parked it in the winter she'd yard on the handle and it'd always be frozen ON in the morning (moisture in the cables). Her '09 Tiguan has an electric park brake that operates all on it's own, every time. It also has a selectable feature where it sets when you come to a stop in gear. You can let your foot off the brake, then it automatically releases when you push on the gas pedal. My '12 Silverado has a similar feature (not selectable) where the brake comes on if your rolling backwards in drive. It holds you in place if your stopped, facing uphill.

The electric actuator kind of falls in line with the rest of your tech, but unless you're going to automate it, I'd keep this one simple and reliable.

$0.02

[skorpioskorpio]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

So why not just use a grab handle for the E-brake?

BTW, it's August. Have a chassis yet?

I don't know, seems kind of wrong some how to have a grab handle for the brake but not have a shift lever. Also the best I could come up with for a lever I liked the look of was to adapt one from a Jeep, most of the aftermarket brake levers just looked cheesy to me.

And in answer to your 2nd question, um nope.

[watahyahknow]

maibe just use a line lock system on the rearbrakes

[mcmlxix]

I had originally grabbed a brake lever out of an early 2000 Range Rover. Well built with a nice handle and leather boot. My problem is the mounting location. I kept changing my center console design, and may end up going with e-stopp so I can just have a button on the dash... They did have something in the works with UPS so that the brake automatically sets when you put the vehicle in park...

I also always use the e-brake even with an automatic. I would rather have the have the pressure of the car (on an incline) on the brake, rather then the parking pawl in the automatic transmission.

[gringoloco]

What's the latest from PB?

[skorpioskorpio]

I've made some pretty wordy posts in this thread but a picture's worth a thousand words, so here's a couple grand worth:

[skorpioskorpio]

...and with the top:

[jlsanborn]

Looks awesome! If you can pull it off it'll be one of a kind in so many ways.

[Hellaflush3d]

Nice renders :P

[NorCal]

Originally Posted by skorpioskorpio

I've made some pretty wordy posts in this thread but a picture's worth a thousand words, so here's a couple grand worth:
Attachment 1440902
Attachment 1440903

Very nice! That's also a sweet looking rendering, who did that for you?

EDIT: hellaflush3d, i assume. Great work.

[skorpioskorpio]

Originally Posted by NorCal

Very nice! That's also a sweet looking rendering, who did that for you?

EDIT: hellaflush3d, i assume. Great work.

You assume correctly. This one is actually my favorite of the renders he did:

[Z10]

What a great build! Really fun to watch.

[jlsanborn]

I get the cleanliness of the concept, and it'd be cool as hell but I like the look of the black frame better.

[watahyahknow]

might look better if you slant the sides inwarth a bit

will give you problems fitting the side windows unless you dont make them roll down but more of a canvas pull out style

[skorpioskorpio]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

I get the cleanliness of the concept, and it'd be cool as hell but I like the look of the black frame better.

I like the black and it's certainly easier to pull off, the nickel option isn't easy at all, I'd probably need to slice the whole frame off somewhere across the firewall, have it plated then weld it back together with enough distance that it doesn't blue the plating. thought about just making the sides and top a bolt on piece but I'd bet that body flex would crack the windshield. Also it has to be all metal and really clean to do it.

Originally Posted by watahyahknow

might look better if you slant the sides inwarth a bit

will give you problems fitting the side windows unless you dont make them roll down but more of a canvas pull out style

hmm, probably a bridge too far, I like the idea and I have thought about laying down the windshield a bit as well, but all this screws with the vent windows, the fitment of the top, etc, etc. I am building this to be a daily driver, and even though I plan on modifying virtually every panel, it's still something that could be repaired if it ever needed to be without huge effort.

[Z10]

I vote black.

[roushinator]

Whats the latest?

[watahyahknow]

kindah interested too , aspecially at how far you gotten with the engine
been looking intoo some problems of my own with the jaguar inline 6
the engine is normally mounted at a 21 degree slant and i want it straight up in the truck
problem is the automatic trans , could make an adapterplate rotating the mountingholes or make a new engineplate where the trans mount too doing the same thing
but the starter cant be moved and i have doubts it will clear the bellhousing if the divit for it has rotated 21 degrees away from the starters nose
might need to cut a hole for it in the side to get everything to play nice again , i wish the bellhousing was bolted to the trans but it isnt unfortunately

[T0ple55]

Anything new on this build?? Been about year now,. Curious to know how things with PB played out

[PancakeMix]

Yea, I'm getting ready to do the same 4.2L vortec and 4L80E swap into my C50. Probably going to buy the pre- machined pump face and adapter ring and cut the bell off myself.

Any progress?