All that just to show you these bolts! These funny bolts have a special place in my heart! You see, they were the FIRST Cobra part I ever made! Back in 1989 when I was at BYU I had to figure out a way to make Cobra parts...so, I ventured over to the Manufacturing Engineering Department. I just showed up for a CNC class one day with some old Cobra parts. I think the professor was so stunned he didn't pay too much attention to the fact I wasn't accepted to the department--let alone I hadn't completed ANY of the prerequisites to his class! I figured that was the only place I was going to learn to make Cobra parts so I just followed my Dad's advise when he sent me off to college, "Son, there are two rules you need to learn in life. Rule #1--It is easier to ask forgiveness than it is to ask permission. Rule #2--If you don't like the answer...DON'T ASK THE QUESTION!" The school's CNC equipment just sat idle all night long...surely it could be put to better use! I didn't have anywhere near the money to buy my own CNC equipment so I would just use that class to make the parts. What happened is I just kept taking classes in the BYU Manufacturing Engineering Department so I would have access to the machines!
The first class I took was beginning CNC machining. The first part I made was this bolt! (Well, not this exact bolt, but one just like it for another Cobra). When everyone else in class was doing dumb projects (like writing their name in a block of aluminum to use as a stupid book end) just to get through the class, I kept bringing Cobra parts to school to reverse engineer. I made spindles, rotors, ball pins, brake bolts and all sorts of things! I NEVER took any of the prerequisite classes. I didn't have the time! I just showed up in the various classes and learned, casting processes, welding processes, tool design, basic CNC programming, Advanced CNC programming, Advanced tool design, Metrology, Metallurgy, stress analysis, material selection, Advanced Composites...
I learned how to use optical comparators, micrometers, program CNC machines, use both CAD and CAM systems, autoclaves, etc. I was a dumb student looking for my place in life and the Manufacturing Engineering Department took me in like an orphan. We have since done many projects with BYU and donated countless CNC machine hours to the department for land speed record cars, electric cars, and other projects. I will never be able to repay those kind professors who took me under their wings.
I will never forget the first day I took Advanced Tool Design (without any of the prerequisite classes, of course). I just HAD to learn CAD! The professor (who I had taken other classes from) just looked at me that first day and said right in front of EVERYONE, "Are you sure you want to be here?!!!!!" I said yes. Little did I know... Thankfully, he spent countless hours bringing me up to speed in that class--even at times going over basic mathematics to help me succeed. EVERY night he saw me in the CAD lab working away late at night. I constantly visited him in his office asking for help--which he graciously gave. Many nights we talked past 10:00 pm. He didn't make me turn in any assignments until 1 week before the final. I guess he could see I was determined to succeed and he wasn't going to stand in my way, but instead he wanted to be a help. I turned in my first assignment of the semester 5 days before the semester ended and all others over the next 5 days. It took me that long to figure out CAD. I received the highest score in the class on the final--and got an A in the class. My eternal thanks to Professor Kohkonen! We are still friends and I invite him to all of our Open Houses--along with other professors from the department.
As the semesters went by, all the professors in the department knew me by name and knew what I was up to. They all loved it (I think) and just looked the other way on the rules and spent endless hours of their office time helping me to learn. I was very, very fortunate to have such good and dedicated professors as I did! Good thing they were all car nuts too!
Anyway, back to the rear brake caliper bolts!
