COURSE INFORMATION

MECHANICAL TECHNICIAN

This apprenticeship teaches the Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours relating to vehicle mechanical systems ranging from vintage to Modern classics.

Duration: 42 months
Apprenticeship level: 3 (Advanced)
Attendance: Block Release
Location: Bicester Heritage or Brooklands Museum

Specific Knowledge

A Heritage Engineering Vehicle Mechanical Technician has knowledge and understanding of:

Appropriate heritage vehicle mechanical terminology and the history of vehicle technologies and their applications.
Inspection, assessment and preservation of the mechanical condition of historic vehicles.
Operation of historic vehicle systems safely and without damage to components and systems.
The principles of motive power construction, their application and operation; such as rotary, radial, sleeve-valve, in line, V, W, Broad Arrow, opposed piston, twin crankshaft, naturally aspirated and forced induction spark ignition and compression ignition engines, high and low pressure external combustion engines and historic electric motors.
How to lift, secure, service, maintain vehicle systems, investigate and rectify faults.
Chassis design principles, construction and historical use of materials and jointing methods.
Auxiliary systems such as cable and rod operated external or internal band brakes, hydrostatic brakes, pipework and pressure systems. Fuel systems including fuel types, storage and delivery. Damping, suspension and steering principles, design and use of liquids, fuels, coolants and oils (Vegetable and mineral).
Powertrain; such as cone or centrifugal clutches, chain, gear, or belt drive, pre-selector, sliding mesh and constant mesh gearboxes, fast and loose pulleys, fluid flywheels, torque converters, torque tube, open and final drive variations.
Electrics; such as magnetos, trembler coils, distributors, generators, current control devices and other power sources.
Re-manufacture of components: techniques and use of historic materials and processes including modern materials and techniques where appropriate.

Specific Skills

A Heritage Engineering Vehicle Mechanical Technician can:

Operate historic vehicles and systems safely and without damage to components and systems.
Conduct and record inspections and assessments relating to historic vehicles and systems taking into account the historic pedigree and use of materials & processes.
Produce technical drawings, use a range of measuring techniques including the use of metric and imperial measuring systems.
Implement plans to preserve, repair, disassemble, re-assemble or re-manufacture the range of historic vehicles systems and components.
Lift/jack, support and lower historic vehicles safely and without damage to chassis, components or systems.
Service, maintain and repair the range of historic motive power systems.
Service, maintain and repair historic vehicle auxiliary systems.
Retain originality of materials and apply/use preservation techniques where appropriate.
Re-manufacture components using hand skills, milling, turning, grinding and fabrication skills appropriate to the particular vehicle.
Use mechanical, non-mechanical & thermal jointing processes including riveting, glues, soldering, brazing, mig, tig, spot & arc welding.

DURATION

The typical duration will be 42 to 48 months. Timescales may vary depending on any prior qualifications and experience

QUALIFICATIONS

Apprentices will need to achieve level 2 English and Maths prior to taking the end-point assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement the apprenticeships English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3 and British Sign Language qualification are an alternative to English qualifications for whom this is their primary language.

COACHBUILDING AND TRIM TECHNICIAN

This apprenticeship teaches the Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours relating to vehicle mechanical systems ranging from vintage to Modern classics.

Duration: 42 months
Apprenticeship level: 3 (Advanced)
Attendance: Block Release
Location: Bicester Heritage or Brooklands Museum

Specific Knowledge

A Heritage Engineering Vehicle Coachbuilding and Trim Technician has knowledge and understanding of:

The use of appropriate heritage vehicle coach-building & trim terminology and the history of vehicle technologies and their applications.
How to inspect, assess and preserve the coachwork and trim condition of historic vehicles.
Chassis and Body construction techniques & materials: Repair, adjustment, removal and replacement of minor/major component defects.
The nature of mechanical, non-mechanical and thermal jointing techniques including bonding, hot & cold riveting, welding, braizing, solder, spot, annealing, hardening and tempering.
Forming, folding, lead filling, casting, fabrication & remanufacture of panels and structural components such as wheeling, shrinking, forming, pressing and production and use of bucks.
Principles of wood and composite framing & panel work.
The appropriate conservation treatments whilst preserving original components and structure.
The removal, replacement, refurbishment or re-manufacture of the internal and external trim components in a range of materials.
The repair and manufacture of bright work and castings, polishing and plating techniques, refurbishment of seat, frames and sub-straights, cutting / sewing / piping / quilting / use of adhesives and production of hoods, frames, head linings and upper environment trim.
Removal, replacement, refurbishment and re-manufacture of vehicle glazing.

Specific Skills

A Heritage Engineering Vehicle Coachbuilding and Trim Technician can:

Conduct and record inspections & assessments relating to historic vehicle construction and components taking into account the historic pedigree and use of materials and processes.
Dismantle, store and rebuild historic vehicles safely and without damage to components and systems.
Produce technical drawings, use a range of measuring techniques including the use of metric and imperial measuring systems.
Implement plans to preserve, repair, disassemble, reassemble or re-manufacture the range of historic vehicles chassis, panels and components.
Use historic building techniques such as ‘wheeling’ (panels being hand rolled).
Use all jointing processes including riveting, glues, soldering, brazing and welding methods.
Remove, replace, refurbish or re-manufacture the internal and external trim components in a range of materials including hoods, frames, head linings, and upper environmental trim.
Remove, replace, refurbish or re-manufacture the internal and external trim components in a range of materials including fabric, wood, metal and composites.
Remove, replace, refurbish or re-manufacture the vehicle glazing.
Prepare vehicles for handover to customers, transportation, exhibitions and display