Polytechnic Engineering Club loving project’s challenge

The 13 active members of the Polytechnic Engineering Club don’t have a mission statement, but they do have a mantra they keep telling themselves.

“If it’s too easy, it’s boring.”

And nothing they are doing is boring.

Formed in the spring 2022 semester, the Polytechnic Club took a while to organize and decide on a project. Then they dreamed big and started on a mission to put a Jaguar V8, 400-horsepower engine into the body of a 1985 BMW 318i.

“A lot of the members want to learn more about cars and engines,” said Mitzy Montoya, a junior mechanical engineering technology major who is the club president. 

So they purchased the BMW shell for $300 over the summer and, after stripping the BMW to its frame, started working on the interior, which they are restoring from almost nothing. After taking everything apart, they recently discovered the transmission works better as a paperweight because the first and second gears were shredded piles of metal.

Again, at least it’s not too easy.

“It keeps us on our toes,” said Joel Smith, a polytechnic electrical engineering major and the club vice president. “The best way to learn, in my opinion, is by doing.”

Though a freshman, Smith has more experience working with vehicles because he’s a 25-year-old U.S. Army veteran who specialized in mechanics and radio equipment.

“There are two sides of the coin for electrical engineering,” Smith said. “There’s mainstream, which deals with mathematical and theory behind why everything works. The polytechnic side deals with how things work and using them. The main side might build the circuit, but we’ll take it from the diagram and make it into something that actually works.”

The car project is about club members putting what they learn during classes into practical use.

“The engine swap project serves as a practical application of nearly every major in the polytechnical engineering department,” Montoya said. "If we had a car that already had the engine in it and we were converting it into a race car, that’s kind of boring. We’re actually taking things apart and analyzing how the specific parts work in the original engine.”

They are being creative with their solutions. Eventually, parts will need to be fabricated inside and out. They are currently working on building the engine and the drivetrain, which Montoya said focuses on the mechanical and electrical portions of their training.

The car is currently located off campus so club members can work on it two or three times a week. Montoya estimates they are 20% done with the rebuild. Luckily, she’s the oldest club member in terms of the academic year, and Smith, secretary Daniel Horne, and treasurer Mawazo Pierre are all freshmen so there’s time to complete the project.

“We have some experienced mechanics and some people who are interested in learning to become car people,” Montoya said. “We really cater to that. The nice thing about the polytechnic club is that it’s not limited to car people because literally, anyone can join, even if they are a music student, as long as they are willing to get their hands dirty and get things done.”

Besides practical uses of their classroom learning, the project is really about developing lifelong friendships. Everyone pitches in on every area and has fun. No one is an expert, but they’re all learning along the way.

“It definitely has been a challenge thus far, but I really do think we’ll get it working,” Smith said. “We don’t have a very large group, but everyone there is highly motivated. There’s a lot of camaraderie developing from working on something like this.

“A lot of people don’t necessarily have the skills, but they have a very strong desire to learn. It’s impressive how many people want to learn about these things but don’t have an outlet to teach them. It’s very cool to see in action.”

Basically, the car is a giant puzzle where not all the pieces fit, but they are still trying to make the operation function.

“It’s a challenge and it really tests your patience and creativity,” Montoya said. “Every single member of the club can say from their hearts that they enjoy that challenge.”