- Thread starter Morrisman
- Start date
Spark plug
Member
- Messages
- 4,062
- Location
- Durham, England
If you could figure a way to do the clutch, the engine mounted on top of the axle with a big toothed belt drive between the flywheel and diff would make a nice short trike.
Morrisman
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 8,792
- Location
- Staffordshire, England
Depends on how much throttle it was given at the time too. I can imagine it’s tempting to want to wind on the power with motor like this, but moderation is required until you get the feel of things. Mine will weigh well over 1000lbs, so not exactly lightweight. It probably won’t need more than 10-12psi in the back tyres too, if I go with 10” wide wheels.
Theres a youtube video of some guy riding his new ‘ crotch rocket’ out of the showroom, and then he tried to light up the rear tyre to impress his mates.... and the bike was totalled....
Morrisman
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 8,792
- Location
- Staffordshire, England
There are numerous connotations, using VW or Renault transaxles, so the motor is right close to the wheel position, engine in front, or even with the engine out back, wheelie machine. The Oldsmobile Toronado, front engined V8 car, would be an ideal candidates. Same with Cadillac, 500cu in front wheel drive...
But this layout is the look I have always wanted. I’m hoping that as it progresses it will look more ‘compact’, so I shall be disappointed if it doesn’t turn out right.
Morrisman
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 8,792
- Location
- Staffordshire, England
There doesn’t appear to be any shims or anything inside the lower brackets, they were bolted up tight on this one. If I need to do any alignment of the whole rear end I can probably shim the lower pivot spindles where they bolt to the back of my frame.
There’s only 6 bolts holding the whole rear end on.
On the original car there are trailing arms running back to the each lower arm, but apparently they aren’t used on lots of kit cars, Cobras etc, they just rely on the strength of the lower swinging arm.
richard8166
Member
- Messages
- 31
- Location
- Cambridgeshire
You are correct about how they are used on lots of kit cars. The rear end is plenty strong enough, and the rear trailing arms don't do what you think they do on the original car. On the original car, the differential is mounted to a cage, and the cage is mounted to the car with rubber bushes. The trailing arms help locate the cage and rear suspension in the car and I believe were set up to provide some small passive rear wheel steering effect at speed with cornering loads. On most of the kit cars the diff is mounted directly to the chassis, so the trailing arms can't really be used. If they were used, they would cause the suspension to bind at larger displacements.There doesn’t appear to be any shims or anything inside the lower brackets, they were bolted up tight on this one. If I need to do any alignment of the whole rear end I can probably shim the lower pivot spindles where they bolt to the back of my frame.
There’s only 6 bolts holding the whole rear end on.
On the original car there are trailing arms running back to the each lower arm, but apparently they aren’t used on lots of kit cars, Cobras etc, they just rely on the strength of the lower swinging arm.
jsf55
Member
- Messages
- 1,762
- Location
- Sunny Swansea
For your set up it will be fine, you'll never get all the power down in one big hitThere doesn’t appear to be any shims or anything inside the lower brackets, they were bolted up tight on this one. If I need to do any alignment of the whole rear end I can probably shim the lower pivot spindles where they bolt to the back of my frame.
There’s only 6 bolts holding the whole rear end on.
On the original car there are trailing arms running back to the each lower arm, but apparently they aren’t used on lots of kit cars, Cobras etc, they just rely on the strength of the lower swinging arm.
Morrisman
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 8,792
- Location
- Staffordshire, England
Lack of balls would be the biggest problem with me getting the power to the ground John.For your set up it will be fine, you'll never get all the power down in one big hit
That’s something I have pointed out to people on hot rod forums before, that the trailing arms move the rubber mounted ‘cage’ in corners and invoke a certain of rear steer. Nobody believes me, because I’m not one of the ‘names’ in hot rod circles.
Googling the Jag aftermarket set up throws up some extremely interesting and ignorant opinions on it all, some people have some weird ideas about engineering and suspension geometry. I’m no expert, but a lot of it is simple common sense.
Morrisman
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 8,792
- Location
- Staffordshire, England
pedrobedro
Man at Matalan
- Messages
- 13,058
- Location
- CX near Chesterfield
A bloke down the road from us had a Reliant based trike and he almost had to get off it to put the steering on full lock. It was the ugliest thing I ever saw.
Ali
Member
- Messages
- 1,866
- Location
- Cheshire
He always named his own builds, I think that one is Megalomaniac. There’s another called Captain P*n!s.I came across a photo of a Desperate Dan trike yesterday that appeared to have a big donut as a UJ. Not sure why, but i’m not about to argue against the logic of one of this countries most prolific trike builders.
(this wasn’t the trike with the donut)
View attachment 331647
I remember he mentioned having a Merlin engine he wanted to use for something. Shame he retired from it. Anyone know him?
Sorry to get off topic @Morrisman
Morrisman
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 8,792
- Location
- Staffordshire, England
That’s exactly what I hate.
I know of him, been on several forums together. He built a supercharged Indian to take to Bonneville, for land speed racing, using an engine he’s owned for decades, and had some adventures over there. Nowadays he just builds for himself.
I think Captain Penis was a rear engined bolide, with some four cylinder DOHV motor attached to a VW transaxle.
Morrisman
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 8,792
- Location
- Staffordshire, England
The first one is a 3 litre Essex Ford V6, and though it won trophies on a show field, I cant imagine it ever drove more than a few miles.
The second, Rover V8, I have seen that one in the flesh, it’s well put together and sorted.
The Essex: Hot legs?
And theres no way on gods green earth that tiny radiator cools that motor.
Arc Tourist
Member
- Messages
- 4,971
- Location
- Wales
Didn't know about that. At least its nice to know we have time to think about moving to another country.
