Automotive Manufacturing -- 05.26.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: If you had to walk someone through one thing we learned this semester from memory, what would it be? Be specific.

Today: Final Exam Review

Thursday is the final exam. Today you build your cheat sheet.

You will receive a one-page worksheet with every topic that could appear on the exam. Fill it in from memory. The blanks you cannot fill are what you study tonight and Wednesday night.

1. First Half -- Computer Lab

Fill in your cheat sheet from memory. Work independently.

Ford v Ferrari is playing in the background. Pay attention. There are bonus questions from the movie on the exam.

2. Second Half -- Shop and Lab

Mr. McAteer will pull small groups for hands-on practice:

• Brake removal, turning, and reinstallation

• MIG welding station setup

If you are not in a group, keep working on your cheat sheet or watch the movie.

3. About Thursday's Exam

Four stations. Eighteen minutes each. You rotate through all four.

• Station 1 -- Written Knowledge: Multiple choice and short answer covering engine theory, torque specs, oil change, safety, and consumer knowledge

• Station 2 -- Part and Tool ID: Pick up real Predator 212 parts and tools. Name each one and explain what it does

• Station 3 -- MIG Welding Setup: Walk up to a booth and set it up correctly from scratch. Mr. McAteer observes and scores a 12-step checklist

• Station 4 -- Oil Change Procedure: Write a complete oil change procedure from memory with tools, safety, and disposal

Everything on the exam is on your cheat sheet. No surprises.

Expectations

• Work independently on the cheat sheet

• Phones away, no AirPods

• Your cheat sheet goes home with you -- study the blanks

Automotive Manufacturing -- 05.21.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: What is the difference between taking initiative and making assumptions?

Today's Plan

One lift. One vehicle. The 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback.

If you want to work on a car today, you are working on the Subaru with Abe. Your portfolio on Canvas must be current before you go to the shop. Check your grades first.

If you do not want to work on the car, you are in the computer lab finishing Diagnostic Files, portfolio, or other missing assignments on Canvas.

If you insist you have nothing to do, we will get out the automotive textbooks and start working through chapters. There is always something to do.

No personal vehicles today. We are not running two lifts.

Personal Vehicle Projects

We have ten days left and I know many of you want to work on your own vehicles. That can happen, but not without a plan. A two-post lift, a creeper under 3,000 pounds of steel, and air tools are not things you use casually. Every professional shop in the country requires a written work order before a vehicle goes on the lift. We are no different.

Pick up a Plan of Procedure form from the front table. Fill it out completely -- vehicle info, scope of work, step-by-step procedure, tools, parts, safety, and time estimate. Submit it to Mr. McAteer. Approved plans go on the board and get scheduled for next week.

This is not a punishment. This is how shops work.

Expectations

• Portfolio current before shop access

• Subaru crew checks in with Abe

• Computer lab students stay in the lab

• Shop clean before dismissal

Automotive Manufacturing -- 05.19.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: What is one thing you learned from the Spec Sheet Showdown that surprised you about vehicle pricing?

Today's Plan

1. Canvas Check (First 15 Minutes)

Before you touch anything in the shop, log into Canvas and check your grades. If anything is missing, incomplete, or not submitted, fix it now. This includes:

• Diagnostic Files Repair Orders

• Spec Sheet Showdown worksheet

• Final Portfolio photos and documentation

If everything is turned in and current, report to the autos shop.

2. Shop Assignments

Abe Moore is running point on the Subaru. If you are cleared from Canvas, check in with Abe for your task. He assigns the work, you execute it.

Zeph and John are on the CNC mills with Mike Carpenter from OSU. Do not interrupt their session.

Lincoln is doing TIG welding with Bob. That bay is theirs.

3. MIG Welding -- Tic Tac Toe

If you are caught up on Canvas and not assigned to the Subaru, you are running MIG beads. The game is tic tac toe -- lay beads on a grid, alternating with a partner. Cleanest, straightest beads win the square. Slag it or burn through and you lose the square.

This is not optional downtime. If you are in the shop with nothing assigned, you are welding.

4. Mr. McAteer

Mr. McAteer will be moving between the computer lab, autos shop, and metals shop. Do not wait for him to find you. Know your assignment and be working when he walks through.

5. Expectations

• Canvas check completed before shop access

• Stay in your assigned area

• No wandering between spaces

• Shop clean before dismissal

AUTOS AGENDA: 05.18.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: You have $40,000 and need a vehicle that can do one thing extremely well. What is that one thing, and why?

Today's Plan

1. Spec Sheet Showdown (Computer Lab)

Pick up the worksheet from the front table. You have two options:

Option A -- New Vehicle. Budget: $40,000. Go to a manufacturer's Build and Price tool and configure a new vehicle from scratch.

• ford.com/build-and-price

• toyota.com/configurator

• chevrolet.com/build-and-price

• ramtrucks.com/build-and-price

• automobiles.honda.com/build

• subaru.com/build-your-own

Option B -- Used Vehicle. Budget: $35,000. Find a real listing on cargurus.com, autotrader.com, cars.com, or Facebook Marketplace. Real listing, real price, real mileage.

2. Fill Out the Worksheet by Hand

Use the computer for research. Write your answers on the worksheet in pen. Every field must be completed. Print your build summary or listing page and staple it to the back.

3. Expectations

• Completed worksheet with printout stapled to the back is today's grade

• Handwritten answers only -- no typed responses

• No phones, no AirPods

• Stay in the computer lab the entire period

AUTOS AGENDA: 05.15.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: What is the difference between rotating tires and mounting tires?

TIRE JOB

Mr. Keim is going to be here this morning to help with a tire rotation and mount. Mr. McAteer will assign the crew at the bell. If you are on the crew, you work with JJ until the job is done. Document tread depth and tire pressure before and after.

EVERYONE ELSE

You have two priorities on Canvas. Pick one and commit.

Diagnostic Files Volume 2 -- Complete these Files 6-10. Real parts, real prices, verified fitment.

Final Portfolio -- Ask Mr. McAteer to see the exemplar. Instructions are on Canvas

MIKE CARPENTER (OSU iLabs)

Mike is back in the metals shop working on our Haas CNC mills. He is here advancing two senior capstone projects -- Zeph's custom putter and John's ice press -- and has already started CAM work on the ice press. If you want to watch a professional machinist run CNC equipment, you are welcome to observe from the metals shop.

The rule: Pick a location and stay there. You are either in the autos lab working, or in the metals shop observing Mike. You do not get to wander between the two all period. If I see you floating, you are back at a computer for the rest of class.

EXPECTATIONS

• No phones, no AirPods

• Everyone else shows progress at check-in

• Shop clean before dismissal

AUTOS AGENDA: 05.12.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: What is the difference between a symptom and a cause? Give one example of each using a vehicle.

TODAY: DIAGNOSTIC FILES -- SCAFFOLDED RESEARCH DAY

Yesterday you got your Complaint Card. Today you slow down and learn the problem before you solve it. You will need to turn this into canvas today to get full credit. 

STEP 1: RE-READ YOUR COMPLAINT CARD (5 min)

Before you do anything else, read your Complaint Card one more time. Slowly. Underline every symptom the customer described. A symptom is what they see, hear, feel, or smell -- it is NOT a diagnosis. Do not skip this step.

STEP 2: USE THE FIELD GUIDE (15-20 min)

LINK TO DIAGNOSTICS FIELD GUIDE 🔗

Click on the link above for the Diagnostic Files: Volume 2 Field Guide. Find your file number. The guide gives you:

• What makes your file tricky and why you might be stuck

• Questions to ask yourself that point you toward the answer

• Specific YouTube videos and forum searches for your exact vehicle

• Common mistakes other students make on that file

Read your section. Watch ONE video from the guide's recommendations. Take notes. Then go back to your Repair Order.

This is not a YouTube day. One video, take notes, apply. If you are still watching videos after 20 minutes you are off task.

STEP 3: BUILD YOUR REPAIR ORDER (remaining time)

Use what you learned from the Field Guide to complete your Repair Order. You need:

1. What the customer said (their words)

2. Your differential -- 2-3 possible causes ranked most likely first

3. Real parts with real prices from RockAuto, AutoZone, or O'Reilly

4. A customer explanation written in plain language

Submit your completed copy on Canvas.

THE RULES

No phones. No AirPods. Lab computers only. Confiscated if visible.

One video, then work. This is not a YouTube day. Watch, take notes, apply. If you are still watching videos after 20 minutes, you are off task.

WHY THIS MATTERS

A real service writer does not just write down "car makes noise" and hand it to a tech. They ask questions, they research the vehicle, they narrow the possibilities before anyone picks up a wrench. That is what separates a parts-changer from a diagnostician.

DUE TODAY

• Repair Order progress -- minimum one file with diagnosis and parts sourced with real prices

AUTOS AGENDA: 05.11.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: A customer says their car "runs rough." What five questions do you ask before you open the hood?

TODAY: THE DIAGNOSTIC FILES, VOLUME 2

OPEN THIS LINK 🔗

MAKE A COPY

Files #6-10 are harder than #1-5. Quality over speed.

HOW IT WORKS

1. Pick up your packet from the front table

2. Start with File #6 and work forward

3. Use lab computers for all research (manufacturer forums, RockAuto, O'Reilly, AutoZone)

4. Complete the Repair Order for each file: diagnosis, parts with real prices, labor estimate, customer explanation

5. Mr. McAteer reviews your work before you advance

THE RULES

No phones. No AirPods. Confiscated if visible. Lab computers only.

Every part must be real, from a real vendor, with a real price. Verify fitment for the exact vehicle on the card.

Your customer explanation must be written for a real person. Explain why it broke, what you are fixing, and what happens if they ignore it.

GRADING

Each completed Repair Order = one daily grade.

Minimum two files completed over the project period.

A thorough File #7 beats a rushed File #10.

EXPECTATIONS

• Working the entire period

• Repair Order progress visible at check-in

• Real parts, real prices, verified fitment

• Customer explanations written for a non-mechanic

AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING AGENDA | 05.07.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: What is one skill you picked up this year that you did not have in September?

TODAY: SHOP RESET → OIL CHANGE LAB → FLIP OR STRIP

Three things happen today, in this order. No skipping ahead.

PHASE 1 — SHOP CLEANUP (EVERYBODY)

Before anything else, the shop gets reset. Every table cleared, every loose tool put back where it belongs. Oil spills and floor messes get hit with oil absorbent, swept up, and double-bagged for proper hazmat disposal. Do not throw used absorbent in the regular trash. It does not go in the landfill.

This is a team effort. Everybody works. Nobody sits. Mr. McAteer calls it clean, then we move on.

PHASE 2 — DONUTS + SENIOR RECOGNITION

Quick break once the shop is squared away. Donuts for the seniors who survived high school and birthdays worth celebrating. Enjoy it, then get back to work.

PHASE 3 — SPLIT FOCUS

Oil Change Groups (Abe Moore leading) Abe is running the 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback oil change as his senior capstone. If your group has not completed an oil change yet, you are with Abe at the bay. He walks you through the full procedure. Listen to him the same way you would listen to Mr. McAteer.

This is real. Abe sourced the parts, built the parts list, and owns this project. Respect the process.

Everybody Else — Flip or Strip If you are not in the oil change rotation, you are working on your Flip or Strip project. Research, documentation, financial analysis. Chromebooks open, phones used for research only.

There is no free time today. No hacky sack. No wandering. No "I'm done." If you finish a section of Flip or Strip, start the next one. If you are genuinely stuck, come find Mr. McAteer.

REMINDERS

• Clean first. Donuts second. Work third. That is the order.

• Used oil absorbent gets double-bagged. Do not mix it with regular trash.

• Abe has authority at the bay. Follow his lead.

• Flip or Strip is not optional background noise. It is graded work.

AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING AGENDA | 05.05.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: Yesterday you priced a vehicle on paper. Today you have to convince a stranger to buy it. What changes about how you describe it?

TODAY: FLIP or STRIP — DAY 2

Yesterday you made the call. Today you prove it. Your Canvas assignment is live — "Flip or Strip: The Salvage Yard Business Challenge" — due Thursday, May 7th. Read the rubric. It tells you exactly how you'll be graded.

FIRST 10 MIN — YARD PHOTOS

Go to your vehicle. Take photos: front, rear, engine bay, interior, damage/wear, VIN plate. Minimum 6 photos. These are required for your Canvas submission. No photos = no credit for Part 1.

Closed-toe shoes and safety glasses in the yard.

THE LIFT

Running vehicle goes up after photos. That group photographs the underside and updates their numbers.

Everyone else rotates through for a 5-minute walkthrough when Mr. McAteer calls your team. When you're not at the lift, work on your deliverable.

CHOOSE YOUR DELIVERABLE

Check Canvas for full descriptions. Pick one:

Option A: "Post It" — Write a real FB Marketplace ad for your vehicle or parts.

Option B: "Cause of Death" — One-page forensic report on what killed your car and why.

Option C: "The Rescue Plan" — Step-by-step plan to make it run on $500, or argue why it's unsaveable.

SUBMIT ON CANVAS BY THURSDAY

Your submission needs three things: photos, completed worksheet, and your written deliverable. Self-assess using the rubric before you submit.

EXPECTATIONS

• Phones are cameras and research tools. Not entertainment. NOT IN THE COMPUTER LAB. NO PHONES IN THE LAB!

• Lift area: assigned group plus rotating observers only.

• 60-second group update at end of period.

AUTOS | MANUFACTURING AGENDA | 05.04.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: A car sits in a junkyard. One person sees scrap metal. Another sees a business opportunity. What's the difference between those two people?

TODAY: FLIP or STRIP

You are being assigned a vehicle from the CVHS salvage yard. Your job: decide whether to flip it (fix and sell whole) or strip it (part it out and sell the pieces). Then defend your decision with real numbers.

This is not a worksheet. This is a business pitch. Highest profit margin wins.

HOW TODAY WORKS

1. Pick a vehicle in the scrap yard, first come first serve. One car per group.

2. Yard inspection (20 min). Go to your vehicle with your partner. Open the hood. Check the tires. Look underneath. Document what you see.

3. Research and build your case (20 min). Back inside. Phones and Chromebooks. Price parts on eBay Motors, FB Marketplace, RockAuto. Check KBB and Edmunds for whole-vehicle value. Every dollar needs a source.

4. Final pitch (2 min per team). Stand up. Tell us your vehicle, your call, and your numbers. The class can challenge any number you can't defend.

THE FLEET

1. Cadillac SRX (white, mid-2000s, luxury SUV, dual exhaust)

2. Ford Explorer (white, 2-door, ~1995, body-on-frame)

3. Subaru Forester (red, late 90s, AWD boxer engine)

4. Subaru Outback (bronze, ~2012, PZEV, best condition in the yard)

5. Chevy Malibu LS (green, late 90s, paint fading, bumper damage)

6. Ford Escape XLT (gray, V6, tow hitch)

7. Chevy Spark (silver, ~2014, subcompact, 1.2L engine)

TEAMS

Pairs. Trios if odd numbers. One vehicle per team.

THE RULES

• Every dollar must have a source. Screenshot it, link it, or it doesn't count.

• You must physically inspect the vehicle before making your call.

• Your pitch is 2 minutes max. No slides. Just you, your numbers, and your argument.

• The class can challenge any number. If you can't defend it, Mr. McAteer strikes it.

• Highest profit margin wins. Not revenue. Not enthusiasm. Margin.

WHAT YOU TURN IN

One completed Flip or Strip worksheet per team. This is today's grade.

RESOURCES

KBB.com | Edmunds.com | eBay Motors | FB Marketplace | RockAuto.com | NHTSA VIN Decoder (vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov)

EXPECTATIONS

• Closed-toe shoes for the yard walk. Safety glasses if you're opening hoods or looking underneath.

• No wandering. You go to your vehicle, you come back inside.

• Phones are tools today, not toys. If I see TikTok, the phone goes in the basket.

• This is a competition. Act like it.

AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING AGENDA | 04.30.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: A customer tells you their brakes are squealing. What questions do you ask before you touch the car?

TODAY: THE DIAGNOSTIC FILES (Day 1)

A customer just walked into your shop. Something is wrong with their car. They don't know what's broken. That's your job.

You are the service writer. Read the complaint, diagnose the issue, source the parts, estimate the cost, and explain the repair in plain language. This is how a real shop operates and it uses every skill you have learned this year.

This week you can earn a donut. Two passing Repair Orders or one completed shop cleaning job. Details on the project brief.

HOW TODAY WORKS

1. Pick up a Complaint Card and a Repair Order from the front of the room

2. Read the project brief on page 1

3. Start with File #1 and work through the complaint card

4. Fill out the Repair Order using the lab computers for research

5. When you finish a file, move to the next one

Start with File #1. They get harder. Quality over speed.

WHERE YOU WORK

You are in the computer lab for the entire period unless Mr. McAteer pulls you for an oil change. If you get pulled, your file pauses and resumes when you return.

THE RULES

No phones. No AirPods. If they are visible they will be confiscated. Use the lab computers for all research. Manufacturer forums, RockAuto, O'Reilly, AutoZone — these are your tools.

GRADING

Each completed Repair Order = one daily grade. Minimum two files completed over the project period. A thorough File #2 beats a rushed File #4.

EXPECTATIONS

✓ Working the entire 90 minutes ✓ Repair Order progress visible when Mr. McAteer checks in ✓ Real parts, real prices, real part numbers, verified fitment ✓ Customer explanations written for a real human, not a mechanic

AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING AGENDA | 04.28.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: What information do you need to know about a vehicle before you can buy the correct oil and filter for it?

TODAY: OIL CHANGE DAY

Two bays. Two oil changes. One per bay.

Lead Crew: Abe, Atticus, John

These three volunteered. They are running point on today's oil changes with Mr. McAteer supervising. If you are not on the lift, stay out of the way and find productive work (see below).

IF YOU STILL NEED AN OIL CHANGE

Talk to Mr. McAteer. He has loaner vehicles that need oil changes done. If assigned a loaner, you will be given the make, model, and possibly the VIN. Your job is to source the correct components before touching the vehicle:

• Correct oil weight and quantity (check the owner's manual, not Google)

• Oil filter (correct part number for that engine)

• Crush washer (if applicable)

This is the real-world workflow. Nobody hands you parts in a shop. You look them up.

Mr. McAteer disposed of 86 gallons of waste oil on Friday. We have plenty of capacity.

EVERYONE ELSE

If you are not actively involved in an oil change today:

• Finish your Consumer Car Packet

• Upload missing photos to your Engine Teardown Portfolio on Canvas

• Work through self-paced Autos modules on Canvas

• MIG welding practice. Lincoln and Zeph are helping Mr. Kirsch move and install the new powder coating oven today, but they will be available to help anyone interested in welding get started once that job is done.

Were you absent Monday? Pick up the worksheet from Mr. McAteer and fill it out before doing anything else.

EXPECTATIONS

• Bay crews: slow, methodical, double-check the drain plug torque. Do not rush.

• When a car is on the lift, Mr. McAteer is on high alert. He will bite instead of barking today. Zero horseplay. Zero exceptions.

• Everyone else: pick a task, stay in your space, stay productive.

• Be productive and responsible today. That is the entire ask.

• Phones away unless you are looking up part numbers.

AUTOS AGENDA | 04.23.2026

Today's Reality Check

• One lift. Floor and bench work get priority. If your plan needs the lift, see me first so we can sequence it.

• Oil changes first. Three left this week: Brandon's and Kaiden's vehicles, plus one more I'll be working those during the block, so work the plan on your worksheet while you wait for your check-in.

• Brake lab is next. One vehicle, likely my Prius or truck. It starts as soon as those three oil changes wrap.

Translation: the sooner those oil changes are done, the sooner everyone gets the brake lab demo. Help where you can, stay out of the way where you can't, and use the wait time on your worksheet and Canvas.

If you wander or leave class you will be marked absent.

Today's Flow

1. Grade check. (5 min) Open Synergy. Know your number.

2. Pick a project. (10 min) See the What you can build menu below. Pick one. Mark it on your worksheet.

3. Worksheet. (15 min) Handwritten. Complete sentences. Legible.

4. Work time and 1-on-1 grade check-ins. (rest of block) I'll be running the three remaining oil changes (Brandon, Kaiden, plus one more) and pulling you for grade check-ins between them. Rotation order is on the whiteboard. When I call your name, bring your worksheet and your Canvas tab open.

5. Brake lab kicks off the moment those oil changes are done. One vehicle, likely my Prius or truck [CONFIRM: Prius vs truck]. The faster the oil work wraps, the more demo time we get. Pitch in if you can help, otherwise stay productive on your own work.

6. If you finish your assigned work early. Default options (in this order): Consumer Car Packet, Engine Portfolio uploads, self-paced Canvas modules. Not your phone.

What you can build

Colton's peel-out trike and Abe's headache rack were the big swings, big effort from them.

Below is the everyday menu: manageable, finishable, take-home.

• Magnetic parts tray. Bend a sheet-metal pan, set magnets in the floor. (Easy)

• Wall hooks rack. Flat stock bent and welded to a backing plate. (Easy)

• Bottle opener. Wrench, spark plug, or scrap bar with a tacked lip. (Easy)

• License-plate frame or key rack. Cut, drill, weld, paint. Take it home. (Easy)

• Mini fire pit. Square base, four legs, fire plate from scrap angle. (Medium)

• Sheet metal toolbox or tray. Lay out, cut, bend, weld or rivet. (Medium)

• Shop stool or creeper rebuild. Tube frame, welded seat or board. (Medium)

• Brake rotor fire pit. Scrap rotor, legs, flame cage. Cast iron, ask first. (Stretch)

Optional extension: sheet metal rose. See the handout. Talk to me if you want in.

Safety

• Closed-toe shoes. Eye pro for any tool work. Long hair tied back.

Not sure how to use a tool? Ask before you turn it on. 

AUTOS AGENDA | 04.23.2026

Real talk from Mr. McAteer: Both my kids are sick and my daycare is closing today. I'll be on campus by 9 AM with donuts for students who are where they need to be, doing what they need to be doing. Treat your sub like a guest in our shop. Help each other out. Patience and quiet good behavior are noticed and appreciated.

If you got an email from Mr. McAteer with a lab assignment -- you're in the Metals shop with Bob. Work on the project named in your email. Mr. Kirsch is next door. Shop closes when Bob leaves; no one inside after that.

What you're doing today:

• Watch/Listen to the first 30-40 minute engine teardown -- I Do Cars on a 268,000-mile Chevy 6.2L V8 that finally died. You see exactly what happens when someone skips maintenance for a decade. This is a good passive experience while you get all of your Canvas work completed/corrected and submitted. Grades are due THIS Friday morning. Missing work will go in as zeros.If you think there is a mistake on Canvas send me an email.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhqQGcmpI6c

Oil Change Lab update: Deadline pushed to next week. Work on it today if you're ready, especially if you took photos under the lift during Oil Change Day -- pull those off your phone and drop them into your writeup. No pressure to finish today, but use the time if you've got momentum.

Why this matters: Module 05 is about keeping the car you already own or will own. The video is the consequence of not doing it. Apply the lesson to your actual vehicle, not some random truck in the video. 

AUTOS AGENDA | 04.21.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: ChrisFix named 10 mistakes car owners make (yesterday's video). Pick the ONE you are most likely to do -- or already have done -- and write the one change you will make so you do not do it again. Be honest.

OIL CHANGE LAB -- SMALL-GROUP ROTATION CONTINUES

One or two cars on the lift today, same as every day this unit. If today is your rotation, you are on the lift. If it is not, you are on portfolio work, Module 05 Keep It Running, or shop help. Deadline for the Oil Change Lab writeup is Friday 04/24 at 11:59 PM -- either you have already done yours or you still owe it.

TODAY'S SCHEDULE

1. Journal and rotation call (5 min)
Mr. McAteer calls today's lift pair. Everyone else picks up where they left off yesterday.

2. Main work block (75 min)

• On the lift (today's pair): real oil change. Document every step for your own writeup -- you are working on it while you work on it.

• Owe the Oil Change Lab writeup? You are in the bay today -- watch, ask questions, help the rotation pair when asked. Involvement is how you earn the credit.

• Already turned it in? Module 05 Keep It Running on Canvas. Maintenance schedule for YOUR portfolio vehicle: annual cost estimate, three red-flag symptoms, one thing a shady mechanic tries to sell that you do not need.

• Caught up on everything? See Mr. McAteer -- small-engine projects, haul-off crew, oil collector drain, or shop sweep.

EXPECTATIONS

• NO wandering. Leaving the Autos shop, Metals shop, or Kirsche's lab without Mr. McAteer's permission = absent. Ask first.

• Phones and AirPods: allowed in the Autos shop ONLY for students in good standing. Not in Kirsche's lab. Not in Metals. Pocketed or in the basket at the door.

• Closed-toe shoes, safety glasses, gloves when handling fluids.

• Clean your station before you leave.

AUTOS AGENDA | 04.20.2026

KEEP IT RUNNING -- MODULE 05 OPENS TODAY

Thursday was Oil Change Day. Today is the follow-through. Module 05 is where we stop asking "how do I buy a car" and start asking "how do I not kill the one I just bought." This is the difference between owners who pay $300 a year and owners who pay $3,000 a year.

HEADS UP -- OIL CHANGE LAB DEADLINE MOVED: The Oil Change Lab assignment is now due Friday, April 24 at 11:59 PM. If you already submitted a writeup, you are locked in. If you did not, you have this whole week to finish it.

TODAY'S SCHEDULE

1. Video hook: ChrisFix -- "Top 10 Mistakes Car Owners Make" (5 min)
Fast-paced walkthrough of the common mistakes that turn a cheap car into an expensive one. 6.6M views.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkn-K2noClw

2. Mini-lecture: the three intervals that save your engine (10 min)
Whiteboard. These are the only three you have to memorize:

• Oil and filter: 3,000-5,000 mi (conventional) or 7,500-10,000 mi (full synthetic). Miss it and you are cleaning sludge out of your engine, if you can.

• Tires: Rotate every 5,000-7,500 mi. Check pressure monthly. Uneven wear means bent parts, not just old rubber.

• Brake fluid: Flush every 2-3 years. Nobody does this. Nobody, until the pedal goes to the floor.

3. Video 2: Rainman Ray's Repairs -- "Severe Engine Sludge, Neglected Oil Changes" (4 min, we play a clip)
A working tech pulls the valve cover off a neglected engine. The cam journals are drowning in black tar. This is what maintenance is actually preventing.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czeUsE2WspU

4. Module 05 launch on Canvas OR shop work (60 min)

Track A -- if you still owe portfolio work: Open Canvas. Work through Module 05 Keep It Running. You are building a maintenance schedule for YOUR portfolio vehicle. Key outputs:

• Annual maintenance cost estimate for your vehicle

• Three red-flag symptoms you can catch before they become $2,000 repairs

• One thing a shady mechanic might try to sell you that you do NOT need

If you finish Module 05, jump to Module 06 When Things Go Wrong. Oil Change Lab is open through Friday -- if you are behind on that, this is your window.

Track B -- if you are caught up on the portfolio, the shop needs you:

• Two new small-engine projects just came in. See Mr. McAteer for assignment. These are real teardown, diagnose, and rebuild jobs, not practice blocks.

• Haul-off crew: Mr. McAteer has his truck here today for the extra-fluids haul. Two students can help load used oil jugs, antifreeze, and gas cans. Gloves required.

• Oil collector drain team: John needs 2 volunteers to drain the oil collector tank. Signups are first-come.

• Shop sweep and hose-out: Whole shop gets swept. If the weather holds, we hose the bay floor before Tuesday. Weather call happens at the top of the period.

5. Grade check and wrap (10 min)
Every student pulls up their Canvas grades. If you owe Insurance Decoded (Module 04), get it turned in today. If you have questions about Module 03 Real Price Tag, see Mr. McAteer -- the point value was corrected to match the rubric.

6. Exit ticket (1 min on the way out)
Tell Mr. McAteer one thing you will do BEFORE Tuesday's class to keep moving: a module to finish, a file to re-upload, a project you committed to.

EXPECTATIONS

• NO wandering. If you leave the Autos shop, Metals shop, or Kirsche's lab, you tell Mr. McAteer first or you are marked absent. No exceptions. Bathroom passes are one at a time.

• Laptops open only when directed. During the videos, laptops closed, eyes up.

• Phones face-down during mini-lecture.

• No one leaves without doing the grade check.

• Shop work requires closed-toe shoes, safety glasses, and gloves when handling fluids.

• If you are ahead, help someone who is behind. Your grade does not go up by gatekeeping.

• Short week: Mon, Tue, Thu only. Make it count.

AUTOS AGENDA | 04.13.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: What is one thing you learned from the Vehicle Inspection Day that surprised you? What would you check first if you were buying a used car tomorrow?

TODAY'S PRIORITIES

1. Self-paced Canvas module work (Chromebooks, 35 min)
Open Canvas and check your module progress. Work through the next uncompleted assignment at your own pace:

• 02 -- Everything You Should Check Before You Buy (25 pts)

• 03 -- The Real Price Tag (40 pts)

• 04 -- Insurance Decoded (25 pts)

2. Grade check and catch-up (10 min)
Conferences are Thursday. Check your current grade in Canvas now. If you have any missing or incomplete assignments, this is the time to fix them.

3. Short week reminder
Tuesday is early release ODD (60 min). No school Thu-Fri. All work is due before the break -- submit what you have.

EXPECTATIONS

• Open Canvas and check your module progress

• Work through the next uncompleted module at your own pace

• Ask Mr. McAteer if you need help with loan calculations

• All work is due before the break -- submit what you have

• Push in your chair and clean your area

Have all of the above finished? Still want into the autos shop? There is a ton to be cleaned and organized. Let Mr. McAteer know and he will unlock the shop for you. 

AUTOS AGENDA | 04.09.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: What's the difference between a mechanic who inspects your car honestly and one who doesn't — and how would you know?

VEHICLE INSPECTION DAY

You are performing a real multi-point inspection on a real vehicle — the same process every shop in the country runs before handing you a repair estimate. By the end of today, you will know how to read the form that separates informed car owners from easy upsells.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE SHOP — Grab:

• Your printed Field Guide + pen <-------  LINK HERE LINK HERE LINK HERE

• Flashlight

• Tread depth gauge OR a quarter (coin method works too)

No vehicle here today? Pair up with someone who does. You both inspect the same car — you both fill out your own guide.

⚠️ Nothing leaves the shop without being returned at the end of class. You check it out, you check it back in. ⚠️

Tier 1 — Eyes Only

Exterior walk-around, tires (visual), body panels, lights

Student lot — assigned vehicle

~20 min

Tier 2 — Hands On

Under the hood (fluids, belts, battery), brake check, bounce test, tread depth measurement

Student lot — assigned vehicle

~30 min

Tier 3 — Consumer Challenge

Research your vehicle's maintenance schedule, estimate repair costs, practice filtering upsells

Inside — Chromebook/phone

Remaining time

Minimum standard: Complete Tier 1 + Tier 2 and the Final Assessment page.

TREAD DEPTH — TWO METHODS

• Gauge: Insert into the groove, read the measurement in 32nds of an inch. Record it.

• Quarter test: Insert Washington's head down into the tread. If you can see the top of his head, tread is at or below 4/32" — that's the ⚠ WATCH zone.

EXPECTATIONS

• Self-paced. Open your guide and start.

• Rate every item: ✔ OK / ⚠ WATCH / ✖ NOW

• Can't check something (need a lift, need a tool)? Write why — that's the whole point of learning the limits of a parking-lot inspection.

WHEN YOU FINISH TIER 2 → Come inside. Start Tier 3 — Consumer Challenge at the back of your guide.

BONUS (Extra Credit): Check tire pressure on all four tires + spare using a tire pressure gauge. Compare to the spec on the driver's door jamb sticker — not the tire sidewall. Record actual vs. recommended in your guide.

CLEANUP & TURN-IN (Last 5 min)

• Close all hoods.

• Return all flashlights, gauges, and tools to the shop.

• Turn in your completed Field Guide — this is today's grade.

💡 The difference between a $400 brake job and a $1,200 brake job is usually not the brakes — it's whether the customer can read the inspection form.

AUTOS AGENDA | 04.09.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: What's the difference between a mechanic who inspects your car honestly and one who doesn't — and how would you know?

VEHICLE INSPECTION DAY

You are performing a real multi-point inspection on a real vehicle — the same process every shop in the country runs before handing you a repair estimate. By the end of today, you will know how to read the form that separates informed car owners from easy upsells.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE SHOP — Grab:

• Your printed Field Guide + pen <-------  LINK HERE LINK HERE LINK HERE

• Flashlight

• Tread depth gauge OR a quarter (coin method works too)

No vehicle here today? Pair up with someone who does. You both inspect the same car — you both fill out your own guide.

⚠️ Nothing leaves the shop without being returned at the end of class. You check it out, you check it back in. ⚠️

Tier 1 — Eyes Only

Exterior walk-around, tires (visual), body panels, lights

Student lot — assigned vehicle

~20 min

Tier 2 — Hands On

Under the hood (fluids, belts, battery), brake check, bounce test, tread depth measurement

Student lot — assigned vehicle

~30 min

Tier 3 — Consumer Challenge

Research your vehicle's maintenance schedule, estimate repair costs, practice filtering upsells

Inside — Chromebook/phone

Remaining time

Minimum standard: Complete Tier 1 + Tier 2 and the Final Assessment page.

TREAD DEPTH — TWO METHODS

• Gauge: Insert into the groove, read the measurement in 32nds of an inch. Record it.

• Quarter test: Insert Washington's head down into the tread. If you can see the top of his head, tread is at or below 4/32" — that's the ⚠ WATCH zone.

EXPECTATIONS

• Self-paced. Open your guide and start.

• Rate every item: ✔ OK / ⚠ WATCH / ✖ NOW

• Can't check something (need a lift, need a tool)? Write why — that's the whole point of learning the limits of a parking-lot inspection.

WHEN YOU FINISH TIER 2 → Come inside. Start Tier 3 — Consumer Challenge at the back of your guide.

BONUS (Extra Credit): Check tire pressure on all four tires + spare using a tire pressure gauge. Compare to the spec on the driver's door jamb sticker — not the tire sidewall. Record actual vs. recommended in your guide.

CLEANUP & TURN-IN (Last 5 min)

• Close all hoods.

• Return all flashlights, gauges, and tools to the shop.

• Turn in your completed Field Guide — this is today's grade.

💡 The difference between a $400 brake job and a $1,200 brake job is usually not the brakes — it's whether the customer can read the inspection form.

AUTOS AGENDA: 4.07.2026

DAILY JOURNAL

What is the most important tool in an engine rebuild kit, and why? Think about which single tool you would miss the most if it were gone.

TASK 1: TOOLBOX CERTIFICATION

Your engine group is assigned one of the six red toolboxes. You will empty it completely, audit every tool against the Master Tool List (20 required tools), rate each tool's condition, and flag anything missing or damaged.

1. Empty your toolbox onto the bench. Sort by type: sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, specialty.

2. Check each tool against the laminated Master Tool List inside the lid.

3. For each tool: mark present or missing, rate condition 1-5, write K (keep), R (replace), or M (missing).

4. Any tool NOT on the list goes to the Orphan Bin on the front bench. Log it on your Extras Table.

TASK 2: TOOL IDENTIFICATION

You will find tools that do not belong in your toolbox. Your job is to identify them before putting them in the Orphan Bin.

• Check the Mystery Tools reference on page 2 of your handout first.

• If you still cannot identify it, scan the QR code on your handout to open the Tool Identifier on your phone. Search by what the tool looks like.

• Tap "See Photos" on any tool card to see real images from Google.

• If you are still stuck after checking both references, ask a senior. They are auditing the teacher cabinet and can help.

• Correctly identifying a mystery tool by name and function earns +2 bonus points.

TASK 3: CLEAN, ORGANIZE, AND CERTIFY

Once your audit is complete, organize your toolbox for daily use.

• Wipe every tool clean with a shop rag.

• Arrange drawers: Top = sockets, ratchet, extensions. Middle = combination wrenches. Bottom = screwdrivers, pliers, specialty.

• Bonus Credit: Assemble a complete matching set of combination wrenches (8, 10, 12, 13mm) or sockets (8, 10, 12, 13, 14mm) from the same brand.

• Bring your completed audit form to Mr. McAteer for spot-check and sign-off.

EXPECTATIONS

• Stay with your engine group and your assigned toolbox for the full period.

• Handle all tools with care. Report anything broken or unsafe immediately.

• Use the reference materials (handout, phone Tool Identifier) before asking a senior or Mr. McAteer.

• Leave your station cleaner than you found it.

AUTOS AGENDA: 4.6.2026

SHORT DAY

DAILY JOURNAL: What safety steps should you take before you ever pick up a wrench when working under a vehicle?

SHOP NOTE

Atticus’s truck is finishing up on the lift — he’s wrapping his brake job now. As we move forward, more students will be rotating through hands-on brake work. Today’s video and quiz prepare you for that.

TODAY’S PRIORITIES

1. Watch Video (IN CLASS) → Watch the full ChrisFix brake replacement video and take notes.

2. Canvas Quiz (IN CLASS) → Complete the 15-question multiple-choice quiz on Canvas. Open-note, closed-internet, one attempt.

TASK 1: VIDEO — WATCH; TAKE NOTES

Watch: How to Replace Brake Pads and Rotors — ChrisFix

Link: https://youtu.be/6RQ9UabOIPg?si=u9B5O_rQMPeLEEtl

While watching, focus your notes on:

1. Safety — What precautions happen before any wrenches come out?

2. Sequence — What are the four major steps he outlines?

3. Lubrication — Where does anti-seize go vs. silicone paste? Why does the distinction matter?

4. Finishing — What must you do inside the car before driving?

Your notes are your lifeline. The quiz pulls directly from the video.

TASK 2: CANVAS QUIZ

1. 15 multiple-choice questions — auto-graded

2. Open-note, closed-internet

3. One attempt

EXPECTATIONS

✓ Every student watches the full video and completes the quiz today.

✓ Headphones in, phones on the video — not on anything else.

✓ If you finish early, review your notes. We’re doing brake work hands-on next.

AUTOS AGENDA: 3.31.2026

FIRST HALF

1. Open your sub work and Consumer Car Packet — show Mr. McAteer both.

2. Get your Sharpie. Blue tape. Name on it. Bring it every day.

3. Atticus, John, Langston — continue your current project.

HALFTIME — Donuts.

SECOND HALF — PICK ONE

A: Finish your Consumer Car Packet B: MIG welding practice — see Zeph, Lincoln, or Abe to get started C: Observe oil change and brake work in the Autos lab

Brandon + Mr. McAteer — oil change begins once the lift clears Atticus's truck. 2025 Honda Civic Si, 0W-20 full synthetic. Slow and careful.

RULES

• Pick a spot. Stay there.

• Phone away.

• Doors stay closed — fumes are bothering everyone.

TODAY'S VIBE: Slow. Steady. Careful.

Think I missed something? Send me an email — two programs and two little kids means things slip. An email gives me something to go back to.

AUTOS|FABRICATION | 03.30.2026

ASSIGNMENT AND INSTRUCTIONS ON CANVAS

AUTOMOTIVE FAB: 03.17.2026 |     St. Patrick's Day · Work Day

Today at a Glance

Format: Canvas Packet Work + Shop Prep Day

Note: Juniors are out for testing. We're using today to get organized.

Big Picture: We're prepping the shop to run both floor lifts and getting small engines organized. Today sets up tomorrow.

Your Options Today

Option A: Work on your packet. Engine teardown/reassembly documentation, portfolio entries, or any assigned written work. Heads down, make progress.

Option B: Help prep the shop. We need hands organizing the small engine area, clearing space around the lifts, and getting tooling squared away. This is real, useful work — not busywork.

Not Happening Today

Lifts — No new vehicles going up. We need the floor clear to reorganize and prep for running both lifts simultaneously.

Why? Think of it like this: you don't start cooking in a messy kitchen. We're cleaning the kitchen today so we can cook tomorrow.

Padlet Post — "Why I Love Cars" (Graded + Earns You a Cookie)

St. Patrick's Day bonus assignment. Post to the class Padlet:

👉 Why I Love Cars – Padlet

What to post: A link to a video, song, or image that captures why you love cars, trucks, engines — anything automotive.

Your post must include:

• Your name

• The item (video, song, image — linked or embedded)

• A short explanation of why you picked it and what it means to you

Rules: Keep it appropriate. You know the line. If you have to ask yourself whether it's okay, pick something else.

Why? Because every gearhead has that thing — a sound, a scene, a moment — that made them fall in love with cars. Share yours.

Complete it. Get a cookie. 

AUTOMOTIVE FAB: 03.16.2026

Journal Question

Why does a Honda Civic feel completely different from a Ford F-150 — and how does the frame design explain the difference?

Agenda

• Bell Ringer — Name 3 trucks and 3 sedans. What do you think is physically different about how each is built?

• Video + Discussion — Unibody vs Body on Frame – Explained (Engineering Explained)

• Guided Notes — Ladder frame, unibody/monocoque, crumple zones, towing capacity, NVH, EV skateboard platforms

• Canvas Quiz — 10-question self-graded multiple choice (due Thursday, March 19 before end of day)

• Wrap-Up — Which design would you choose for a vehicle you're building? Why?

Bonus: Do you like candy? Sit next to someone you don't know today. Get my attention and tell me who you are sitting next to and one thing about this person for a piece of candy. 

AUTOMOTIVE FAB: 03.12.2026

 DAILY JOURNAL: Why does your vehicle's owner's manual specify synthetic vs. conventional oil? What happens if you use the wrong one?

One Bay Today — rain has limited our lift access. Plan accordingly.

Oil Change Queue: Sign up on the whiteboard with your name. THEN Email andy.mcateer@corvallis.k12.or.us your specific year, make, model, and oil type (synthetic or conventional). If you don't know your oil spec, that's your first task today — look it up. Three oil changes max today.

If you're in the queue: Stand by. Mr. McAteer will call you when it's your turn.

If you're NOT in the queue, pick one:

• Mr. Kirsch's computer lab — work on your Auto Portfolio (Canvas)

• Carburetor troubleshoot — help the last engine group finish. Extra credit.

• Used oil management — organize oil containers + empty the extractor. Talk to Mr. McAteer. 10 extra credit points. New nitrile gloves are stocked — use them.

⚠️ If you are not in the shop or in Kirsch's lab, you are unaccounted for. Skipping is being tracked. Don't be on that list. ⚠️

💡 Use today's downtime productively — your portfolio is graded and due. Idle hands aren't an excuse.

UPCOMING DEADLINES:

• Auto Portfolio (check Canvas for due date)

AUTOMOTIVE FAB: 03.03.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: What is one thing you should always check before draining oil from an engine you have never worked on?

TODAY'S FOCUS:

Oil Change Demo Prep + Small Engine Relocation

CLASS ACTIVITIES:

Phase 1 - Filter Acquisition

One student team will be assigned to locate and acquire the correct oil filter for today's demo vehicle. This is a classic car and the filter is not a standard off-the-shelf part. Use the vehicle manual, cross-reference charts, or online lookup tools to identify the correct filter number.

While the filter team is working, the rest of the class moves to Phase 2.

Phase 2 - Clear the Bay

All small engines currently staged around the shop need to be relocated to free up the demo bay.

• Move engines to the designated storage area carefully - no dragging

• Keep engine components together and labeled

• Extra credit is available for students who help classmates finish incomplete engine work during this time

Phase 3 - Show and Tell Oil Change

Once the bay is clear and the filter is in hand, we come together as a class for a live, guided oil change demonstration on the classic car.

• Watch, ask questions, and take notes

• Every student will complete an oil change before the end of the year

IMPORTANT NOTES:

We are running one bay only until all motors are finished.

Cannot afford materials or do not have a vehicle? That is not a problem. Just let Mr. McAteer know and he will provide the car, the filter, the oil, and the drain plug washer. No excuses, no stress.

END OF CLASS

Return all tools to proper locations. Sweep your area. No safety glasses = no shop access.

AUTOS AGENDA | 03.02.2026

MONDAY — ALL PERIODS

DAILY JOURNAL: What's the difference between maintaining a vehicle and understanding a vehicle?

PORTFOLIO LAUNCH

We are moving to Mr. Kirsch's computer lab today to begin building your Autos Fabrication Portfolio on Canvas.

This portfolio is your professional record of everything you've done and learned this semester. Treat it like a résumé — because it functions like one.

Today's task: Set up your portfolio page, organize your existing documentation, and start uploading content.

NAME / CAR / OIL CHANGE STATUS FORM

Before you leave today, fill out the Name/Car/Oil Change Status Form completely. This tells me where you stand and who's ready.

FIRST OIL CHANGE — VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We start our first oil change tomorrow (Tuesday, March 3rd). I need volunteers — students who want to go first and set the standard for everyone else.

Sign up today. First volunteers get priority. Otherwise we change the oil on the Prius as an example, not exaclty exciting. 

AUTOS AGENDA | 02.24.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: If you could design a tool that doesn't exist yet to make engine reassembly easier, what would it do and why?

🎬 QUICK VIDEO TO START We're kicking off with a short clip on the physical and chemical processes inside a small engine — combustion, compression, heat transfer. A few of you were still fuzzy on this, so watch closely. Understanding what happens inside the engine makes reassembly click.

▶️ Small Engine Processes — YouTube

LAST WEEK OF REASSEMBLY This is it — our final week putting engines back together. Engines go back together correctly or they don't run. Refer to your teardown photos, your portfolio notes, and each other. You have limited tools and limited experience, so collaboration is not optional — it's the strategy. Ask questions. Share what you figured out. If your table partner is stuck, help them. If you're stuck, speak up.

No loose parts left on benches at the end of class. Every bolt, gasket, and spring belongs somewhere — find where.

SELF-PACED CANVAS MODULES — NOW LIVE The new self-paced Autos modules are available on Canvas. This is your roadmap going forward — explore the layout and start working through content when you're not hands-on with your engine. These modules are how we move forward after reassembly wraps up.

PORTFOLIO REMINDER: Your Predator 212 Engine Teardown Portfolio is still live. If you haven't uploaded your teardown photos yet, do it today. Every documented part is worth points — do not leave them sitting on your camera roll.

Pro tip: Photos taken during teardown are 10x more useful during reassembly than trying to remember from scratch.

UPCOMING DEADLINES:

• Predator 212 Engine Teardown Portfolio — ONGOING, 100 pts (submit as you go)

• Self-Paced Autos Modules — now available on Canvas

AUTOS AGENDA | 02.23.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: If you could design a tool that doesn't exist yet to make engine reassembly easier, what would it do and why?

REASSEMBLY DAY

Today you flip the script — engines go back together. This is where your teardown knowledge gets tested for real. Refer to your teardown photos, your portfolio notes, and each other. You have limited tools and limited experience, so collaboration is not optional — it's the strategy. Ask questions. Share what you figured out. If your table partner is stuck, help them. If you're stuck, speak up.

SELF-PACED CANVAS CONTENT: I'm introducing the self-paced Autos modules on Canvas today. This is your roadmap going forward — explore it, get familiar with the layout, and start working through it when you're not hands-on with your engine.

PORTFOLIO REMINDER: Your Predator 212 Engine Teardown Portfolio is still live. If you haven't uploaded your teardown photos yet, do it today. Every documented part is worth points — do not leave them sitting on your camera roll.

UPCOMING DEADLINES:

• Predator 212 Engine Teardown Portfolio (ONGOING, 100 pts — submit as you go)

• Self-Paced Autos Modules — now available on Canvas

AUTOS AGENDA | 02.19.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: If you had to explain how a four-stroke engine works to someone who has never seen one, where would you start and why?

QUIZ DAY

Anatomy of the Small Engine quiz (30 pts). You have the full period. Handwritten cheat sheet allowed — half-page, your handwriting only. When you finish, go straight to your Engine Teardown Portfolio and upload what you have.

PORTFOLIO REMINDER: Your teardown photos exist on your phone or your table. Today is the day to get them onto Canvas. Open the Predator 212 Engine Teardown Portfolio assignment and submit. Every part you documented is worth points — do not leave them sitting on your camera roll.

UPCOMING DEADLINES:

Anatomy of the Small Engine — Quiz (TODAY, 30 pts)

Predator 212 Engine Teardown Portfolio (ONGOING, 100 pts — submit as you go)

Failed the quiz? Go back and see the correct answers here🔗.

AUTOS AGENDA  |  02.17.2026 

DAILY JOURNAL: What is the purpose of a cheat sheet — how does building one help you learn, even if you never look at it during the test?

Thursday's Anatomy of the Small Engine Quiz (30 pts) is your checkpoint — it proves you actually learned what you took apart. Mr. McAteer will walk through quiz format, cheat sheet rules, and expectations.

CHEAT SHEET RULES: Half-page, handwritten only. No printed/photocopied sheets. If it's not in your handwriting, it doesn't come to the quiz. ⚠️

LINK TO STUDY GUIDE 🔗

The portfolio has 0 out of 20 submissions right now. Your teardown photos and videos exist — they need to make it from your phone to Canvas. Use today's upload time and share this document with me.

UPCOMING DEADLINES:

Anatomy of the Small Engine — Quiz (DUE Thu 2/19, 30 pts)

Predator 212 Engine Teardown Portfolio (ONGOING, 100 pts — submit as you go)

AUTOS AGENDA  |  02.12.2026 

DAILY JOURNAL: What is one thing you have repaired or broken attempting to repair in the past? What happened?

VIDEO & DEMONSTRATION

Torque wrench overview video.

PROGRESSIVE DISASSEMBLY & DOCUMENTATION

After the demo, proceed with your own engine disassembly. Document before and after each step with photos. Record fastener types, torque observations, and gasket conditions in your portfolio.

⚠️  Clean your station and tools with the Simple Green and a shop ⚠️ 

AUTOS AGENDA  |  02.11.2026 

ODD DAY

DAILY JOURNAL: What does progressive disassembly mean, and why is documenting each step just as important as the disassembly itself?

VIDEO & DEMONSTRATION

Watch the YouTube clip, then observe Colton and Atticus demonstrate their completed rebuild.

PROGRESSIVE DISASSEMBLY & DOCUMENTATION

After the demo, proceed with your own engine disassembly. Document before and after each step with photos. Record fastener types, torque observations, and gasket conditions in your portfolio.

⚠️  DRAIN ALL FLUIDS before removing components. No disassembly without documentation. Phones for photos only.

AUTOS AGENDA: 02.05.2026

First Full Lab Day

DAILY JOURNAL: Why is it important to document each step of a disassembly—not just the final result?

YOUR PREDATOR 212 USER MANUAL

Today you receive your complete rebuild guide—everything you need to disassemble, reassemble, and start your engine.

Three Systems. One Goal.

• System 1: Disassembly — take it apart, document everything

• System 2: Reassembly — put it back together correctly

• System 3: Startup — make it run

Work at your own pace. The manual includes video references with QR codes. Use them.

📺 Foundation Video: How Four-Stroke Engines Work — watch this before you start tearing anything apart.

⚠️ Safety glasses required. No exceptions.

AUTOS FABRICATION: 02.03.2026

TODAY'S FOCUS

We begin the Predator 212cc Engine Teardown Portfolio — your major hands-on assessment this semester. Today is about understanding before doing.

TODAY'S SCHEDULE

1. Daily Journal

2. Whole-Class Video: Four-Stroke Engine Theory

3. Portfolio Setup & Document Copy

4. Phase 1: Pre-Teardown Inspection

CLASS VIDEO

We watch this together before anyone touches an engine. This builds your mental model of what's happening inside.

Briggs & Stratton Four-Stroke Theory

https://youtu.be/kMCfZL9HgSk?list=PL7vmZIIACYZkQ--jliVJFXR9KkBseJ_qs

⚠️ CRITICAL: PERSONAL DEVICE EXPECTATIONS

This project requires phone use for photos and videos. We are routinely breaking the no-device policy with permission.

Show respect to other engineering courses and Mr. Kirsch:

• Be professional and discrete

• Avoid the appearance of impropriety or social media usage

• NO AIRPODS — keep your ears clear

PORTFOLIO SETUP

Although you work with a partner, BOTH partners must make their own copy of the portfolio document. This is your individual grade.

1. Open the Predator 212cc Engine Teardown Portfolio

Predator-212-Teardown-Portfolio

2. File → Make a Copy → Save to YOUR Google Drive

3. Fill in Student Information (partner names, engine serial #, workstation)

4. Begin Phase 1: Pre-Teardown Inspection — Photos #1-3 and Assessment #1

AUTOS FABRICATION: 02.02.2026

50 Minutes | Sub Day

Pre-Assessment

Engine Station Setup — Pair with assigned engine, locate tools, organize workspace (remaining time)

📋 No disassembly today. Focus on preparation and documentation only.

AUTOS FABRICATION: 01.29.2026

Vehicle Documentation Day

Every vehicle in the program gets a reference card. Students without cars: you're meeting people.

DAILY JOURNAL: What's one thing about YOUR car (or a car you've ridden in) that the owner loves or hates?

⚠️ SAFETY BRIEFING — LISTEN FIRST

Moving vehicles today. Zero tolerance for horseplay.

• Cars move at walking speed only

• One spotter minimum per moving vehicle

• Engine ON = full attention, no distractions

• If you don't have a license, you don't drive

VEHICLE DOCUMENTATION

If you brought a vehicle:

• Fill out the Vehicle Information Card on YOUR car

• Information must come from the actual car — no copying, no guessing

• Find the VIN, check the oil, read the tire sidewall yourself

If you didn't bring a vehicle:

• You need to meet someone who did

• Partner with an owner, help them document, learn their car

• Your name goes on their form as inspector

• Goal: work with at least 2 different owners today

TA Station: TAs have OBD scanners. Bring your vehicle to them for a code check.

END OF CLASS

• Move vehicles to side lot (owner drives, spotter walks)

⚠️ No horseplay. No exceptions. ⚠️

Sample prompt: I just bought a used vehicle and I want the 80/20 on what maintenance repairs and anything else pertinent as a new car owner new to driving. I am driving 2003 Mitsubishi ecliplse rs. Include whats great and what people hate baout this vehicle."