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Transportation Tech

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Transportation Tech

Projects completed or under construction by myself and my former Transportation Technology students

03/30/2026

It's a bit late for this winter but I finally got the 400cc (448) done for my 73 El tigre resto-mod project. It now sports a 69mm bore, a pair of Kehin 38mm flat slide carburetors, dual tuned pipes, a mild port and polish, and a Powerblock clutch. My goal is to have around 80hp - 85hp, which in a sled that only weighs 285lbs should give me a fairly decent power to weight ratio. I know I won't be able to match any of the newer sleds for top end speed but I'll consider it mission accomplished if I can surprise some of them off of the line and stay right with them for the first 50 metres or so.

01/01/2026

Okay, it's not a transportation project but it does look like it could be. Nancy's Christmas present is done, technically it's Georgie's as well since it's in her bedroom. I started by steaming the gunnels for a few hours and then clamping them in a jig to give the proper shape. Transferred the shape to the back (3/4" x 5" tongue and groove boards). Mounted the shelves, the sides, the gunnels, and voila, a boat bookshelf that stands 7'-6" tall. I kind of overbuilt it. Pretty sure you could mount a 9.9hp Johnson on the back of this thing and take it for a rip around the lake.

11/16/2025

Step 1: Layout. I scored a pair of Keihin PWK 38mm carburetors from a 97 Polaris RMK 700 for my 73 El tigre project. Before you say that this is too much carburetor for my 400 let me explain. My 400 has been bored and sleeved to take the 68mm 440 pistons and the EXT version of that same engine came with a pair of Mikuni VM40 carburetors. The factory actually used tapered spacers/adapters to bring the inlet port size on the 400 down from 43mm to 34mm so that it could run a pair of VM34 carburetors. If you're interested I've explained each step of the layout under the pictures. I'll make up another post once I get a couple of test runs in and make any required changes to the jetting.

09/29/2025

Done mocking up the tuned pipes and now just need to finish welding them up. Then it's onto finishing the engine, finish and paint the belly pan and hood, and upholster the seat. Hopefully there's still some snow in the spring because it may take that long to get this thing done.

09/18/2025

Rear skid and track are installed in my 73 El tigre resto-mod project. The skid and track are from a 96 Jag Z donor sled. All new idlers and slides. All swing arms etc. have been sandblasted and powder coated. The 400 is almost ready to install then it's time to recover the seat and finish the bodywork on the belly pan, hood and tank. Fingers crossed that I might get to ride it this winter.

08/18/2025

One more small victory on my 73 El tigre resto-mod build. I made my own version of the Alouette racing ski that they used in the mid 70s. I wanted a slightly better ride but a vintage look. The front ski stance has been widened from 28" to 36" and I'm in the final stages of transplanting the rear skid and track out of a 96 Jag into it. It should finally be sitting back on the ground within the next couple of weeks. I should add, before anyone gets too bent out of shape over this not being the strongest design, that this isn't going to see any hardcore trail riding. I am going for a unique vintage looking sled that will be used mainly for cruising and show.

06/20/2024

Finally some small victories on my 1973 El tigre project. I disassembled, cleaned, polished and powder coated the Powerbloc clutch. All of the chrome and any metal parts from the hood have been powder coated semi-gloss black. I manufactured and powder coated some new rear suspension mounts that will let me install the rear skid and track out of a 1994 Jag, and the tunnel is prepped and ready to go to Fusion Welding to get a few holes filled and a few cracks repaired. Once I get the tunnel back there'll be a sh*tload of sanding and polishing before I can start putting everything back together.

06/08/2024

Join Confederation College’s 20-week Women in Trades program to gain skills in heavy equipment technology, safety, and welding. Apply with a Grade 12 education.

06/07/2024

I'm running the "Trick Your Ride" bike course for kids through the college again this summer and am in need of bikes to build or to use for parts. If you have any old banana bikes or parts, or any old BMX bikes any size please drop me a message.

03/26/2024

No wheels, but it is transportation. This is a vintage row boat that I'm restoring that was made in the late 40s by Chicoutimi Aluminum Products in Chicoutimi Que. They made aluminum panels for fighter planes during the 2nd world war and switched to aluminum boats when the war ended. The panels on it are all formed and then welded together, and then it uses hardwood to give it structural strength. The keel, gunnels and seats are all now made of white oak. The transom is white oak sandwiched between aluminum sheets. I'm just in the process now of fitting a floor into it, then it's onto the seats and it'll be ready to hit the water this spring.

03/15/2024

Okay, technically it's not transportation, but it does have wheels so close enough. This grain scale was my grandpa's and was made around 1920. It had been sitting in my brother's barn for at least 50 years before we dug it out of the hay and I decided it would make a rather unique coffee table. The scale is fully functional and can weigh up to 2000lbs. After I knocked it completely apart I had everything that was metal sandblasted and then anything that would fit in my shop oven I powder coated satin black. The couple of pieces that were too large for my oven I just painted with satin black engine paint. A whole bunch of paint stripper and sandpaper was used to get all of the wood back into shape. A bit of stain and varnish and it was looking better than new. An SOS pad and some metal polish brought the brass balance beam back into shape. The scale is right on the money for accuracy but it's now going to live the pampered life as a conversation piece.

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