big sky trapper said:
I ilke teri ann's approach sounds simpler and cheaper than mine over the years....bolt on said part then modify untill it cost twice as much as new till it dosnt work as intended any more.....then start over.
My typical analytical approach is very time consuming and would drive many people crazy:
1. Identify the problem
2. research the problem to try to learn its parameters and potential gottchas.
3. research existing solutions that others have used for similar problems, how well those worked and what off the shelf solutions are available.
4. Compare my problem to the problems others found solutions for to identify those solutions which are most applicable.
5. Run a comparative study of existing solutions to identify best ideas that are most applicable to my own problem.
6. synthesize a best solution for my particular problem from the best ideas previously researched.
7. Create a clear plan of implementation
8. Implement
9. chase down assorted gremlins and teething problems
10. have a nice cuppa tea & enjoy.
11. refine everything so it works even better.
Very slow. It took me over 2 years to decide how I wanted to convert my Land Rover regular into a long range expedition vehicle and about 6 months to repair, refurbish & install a Dormobile kit, design & fabricate additional furniture, design a 15 gallon water tank, filler & filter system, fabricate the parts & install it, set up a built in 5 gallon propane system, add a second battery and rear electrics, have the vehicle painted and an all new interior, convert to a Salisbury (Dana 60) rear axle assembly with ARB air locker, add a automatic torque biasing diff up front plus a few other odds & ends.
I immediately tested everything with a 3 month long camping trip.
When I decided I needed additional power to haul my RV around, I spent a year exploring engine & gearbox combinations that could fit into a Series Land Rover, installation & operational cost numbers of promising solutions, collecting gear ratios, running possible gear ratios and estimating their affects on performance & fuel economy. Then after a year of research, in a tad over a month, my Land Rover went from a 2.25L four cylinder engine optimistically rated at 70 hp to a 1970 Ford 302 V8 with Borg Warner T-18 gearbox, Series Land Rover transfer case (one of the strongest transfer cases available) with Ashcroft high ratio kit (increases high range gears while leaving low range alone). An unexpected bonus added at the last moment for additional interior space was power steering. Always keep an eye out for serendipity, she is your friend.
Being saddled with an analytical mind means not doing anything quickly. For the longest time it looks like you are doing absolutely nothing other than poking around looking at things & asking weird questions. And you are always collecting specifications and performance data. A lot of people do not have the patience to put up with someone who has an analytical mind.
It also means that one should have supporting data available before one says "Good morning". An offering of a nice hot cuppa tea and a warm smile also helps back up the supporting data.
