SVAuto Internship

July 2022

"Thank you Clarice Pranyoto, a UPenn Mechanical Engineering student, for the summer 2022 internship in our shop. Clarice learned a lot about the real-world applications of engineering. We believe it to be essential for young engineers to be able to touch and see how engineering is applied. Clarice is a bright young lady with an outstanding personality, we were fortunate to have her join our team."
- Simo Veharanta, SVAuto CEO

My main task during this internship was fabricating inlets, outlets, mounts, and piping for the intercooler system of a 1966 Amazon Volvo.

Fabrication of Intercooler Inlet

We began by designing a transitional piece from the intercooler to the pipes that lead to the engine. This piece would transition from a square to a circular cross-sectional area. Above is the cone template used to rough cut the aluminum sheet metal using the bandsaw. We then sanded it and formed it using a metal brake. The left picture is the finished piece after welding it to the outlet.

I really enjoyed gaining hands-on experience with new machines for the first time during the fabrication of this piece. My favorite part was learning about different materials and their properties and how that affected their manufacturability.

Key Takeaway #1

Intercooler Piping

The customer of this vehicle requested the intercooler to be completely hidden behind the bumper, restricting the piping pathway from the intercooler to the engine. Significant time was dedicated to designing and prototyping this pathway, considering neighboring components (tires, balance bar, intercooler air filter) and maximizing airflow efficiency with turn angles.

Without having the tires, we did our best designing the pathway. This challenging task highlighted the importance of computer-aided design for me and sparked a curiosity for me to gain knowledge in CAD simulation.

Key Takeaway #2

Engine Building

I gained a technical understanding of the 4-stroke combustion engine by assembling a 6-cylinder 1971 Tatzen 240z engine and got to use the media blast to clean off rust.

Assembling an engine gave me a new appreciation for the technology of the combustion engine and meticulous work of car technicians. My favorite part was how even the orientation of piston rings and torque of all the screws affected the engine function!

Key Takeaway #3

This photo of a Porsche 959 was taken at Perry's Custom Metal Shop where they specialize in metalwork for car panels. There I got to use the English wheel and see unique machines used to pinch or stretch metal.