My Senior design project - a "Swamp Thing" tracked vehicle clone

Garauld · Jan 15, 2019

I spent a good deal of time the last few days working on the gas tank and battery area. The tank came out nice but was a PITA.

Garauld · Feb 7, 2019

I got the cargo frame section that covers the gas tank and battery box all welded up. The temporary plywood panel defines the electronics area where I plan to mount the ECM, fuse/relay panel and junction box.

Here's some current CAD layouts that I've been updating. I thought I may place some aluminum tool/storage boxes in the rear unassigned cargo zones. Any other ideas out there? The frame covering the engine has a piano hinge in the front - I plan to mount a couple gas lift supports on it. The radiator fan will be reversed to push air out the rear and suck it in thru the two louvered side panels.

pmsmechanic · Feb 8, 2019

Two thoughts. Your "A" pillars in your drawings are to wide for good visibility and the piano hinge might not be robust enough for the engine cover.

Garauld · Feb 8, 2019

The steel piano hinge will be 30" wide and the engine cover frame & fascia will be aluminum. Still think it is not robust enough?

Garauld · Feb 8, 2019

I will look into making the front window wider. Thanks for the feedback.

ArlyA · Feb 8, 2019

On snow machines like this, visibility is paramount. Maybe this applies to swamp machines as well?? I'd make all windows as large as possible.

Seems your piano hinge would be easy enough to change, if its fails. Thanks for posting your project.

Garauld said:
I will look into making the front window wider. Thanks for the feedback.

pmsmechanic · Feb 8, 2019

Garauld said:
The steel piano hinge will be 30" wide and the engine cover frame & fascia will be aluminum. Still think it is not robust enough?

I would say it depends on what size you use. It would also depend on whether the cover fits into a "pocket" to hold it secure while traveling over bumps etc. If the piano hinge is the only thing that's holding the cover in place then I don't think it's robust enough. I could be wrong. I'm just throwing out what I think.

Garauld · Feb 8, 2019

...then I don't think it's robust enough.

I guess we'll find out during the testing phase.

Fallon · Feb 8, 2019

pmsmechanic said:
I would say it depends on what size you use. It would also depend on whether the cover fits into a "pocket" to hold it secure while traveling over bumps etc. If the piano hinge is the only thing that's holding the cover in place then I don't think it's robust enough. I could be wrong. I'm just throwing out what I think.

Ya, youd need a pretty beefy hinge if it was the only support. But if the hood is sitting on the frame or supports when closed & appropriately latched the hinge wont see that much load.