February 19, 2013 - UTI-Norwood Volunteers to Test Engine of Truck Restored by Students from Silver Lake Regional High School Automotive Department
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Photo Caption: Bruce Moulthrop, automotive technology instructor at Silver Lake Regional High School, watches as the engine of a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado truck his students worked on for over a year to rebuild is tested on a dynamometer at UTI-Norwood. |
In November, UTI-Norwood (www.uti.com) was proud to invite instructors and students of Silver Lake Regional High School in Kingston, MA to the UTI campus to test a completely rebuilt and restored 2001 Chevrolet 2500HD Silverado Pickup 4x4 on the UTI dynamometer, commonly known as a “dyno.”
The test was a surprise for the students, who were excited to see their own truck on the dyno test bed when they walked into the UTI-Norwood automotive lab for what they thought was a tour of the school’s automotive technician training facilities as part of a school field trip.
The dyno measures an engine’s torque at different engine speeds (rpm), and the dyno’s computer uses this recorded data to calculate a corresponding horsepower figure. A dyno is often used by automotive technicians for engine tuning and diagnostics, and is used at UTI-Norwood for training. The students’ truck was able to match the results of other trucks in the same class, which is a testament to the hard work put into the lengthy rebuilding process.
In October 2011, Silver Lake High School automotive technology instructor Bruce Moulthrop started working with nine freshman and sophomore students to take apart and restore the 2001 Chevy truck. The project was borne from the students’ own drive and desire to experience hands-on learning and was done completely outside of school hours – afternoons, weekends, and over school vacations.
“Every component, nut, and bolt of that truck was removed and dismantled,” says Bruce Moulthrop. “When the truck was completely apart and the room was filled with individual parts, I turned to my students and asked if they thought they could put it all back together. Without hesitation they all said ‘Of course!’ And they did it, through dedication, cooperation, and passion for the work. It was a remarkable learning experience for all of us.”
The automotive technology students from Silver Lake High School were joined by five students and their instructors from Bristol-Plymouth Vocational High School’s Automotive Collision Technology Program, who helped with the restoration work on the truck’s body.
For more information on UTI’s Norwood campus in the Boston area, visit the website and stay connected on Facebook or Twitter.
