Ultimate projects

[Angusdog]

Okay, so most guys (who can build stuff - which makes a quite small subset of humanity...) have ideas of what they'd like to build. There are a lot of clever, clever people out there who drop motorcycle engines into minis, build choppers and so on.

While I'd love to have my own tank (obviously), what I'd love to build is a commuter. Not a sports car, as everyone could build a supercar. Just grab the plans for a race car and make it road legal. There's some skill in that, but usually next to no innovation, in my view. No, what I want to build (when I get time and money) is a small, efficient and fun to drive commuting vehicle.

It would have some weather protection, be snappy to drive but top speed is likely to be around 120kph (70mph? The open road speed limit in NZ is 100kph). And it should look cool. It needs to be light as the best powerplant I can think of is a motorcycle engine of around 600cc, no more. And the best design I can think of is a reverse trike with a chromoly frame, roof windscreen and other panels to keep the worst of the weather out. Styling a little like the Ariel Atom, but with 80mpg potential.

A bit like these guys. Some good ideas, nice execution, although some look fatally flawed. For example, the Roopod looks too lightweight to carry a motor and two people. I'm not sure but the design looks like the motor mounts to the swingarm, chain drive to the rear wheel, but the swing arm is too weak in my view.

Having said that, he's aiming for the 100mpg challenge, so that explains the lightweight. And his design is sound otherwise and his welding looks pretty nice.

I thought about using a motorcycle motor driving forwards through a shaft to the front wheels, using primarily mini steering components. This will avoid the issue of driving through a small single wheel at the rear although much more complicated that driving the rear wheel.


Anyway, I've got too many projects to even consider starting this, but it's nice to have something in your head when mowing the lawn or walking the dogs, and I wonder what other projects guys would do, assuming a reasonable time & money budget.

 

[the snooper]

looks good to me stick a nice v8 in there and see who or what could catch you power to weight ratio

 

[Angusdog]

Ah ha - there you go! That's the issue. I am very much in the Colin Chapman "add lightness" school, rather than the brute force school. It would be an interesting comparison, but I think there's more thinking required for lightweight (which aids handling and driveability). A bit like halfway between a go kart and a Ariel Atom, but with less power it would be a fun car and not a race car. The constraints are easily as much as a race car, but requiring different outcomes.

 

[the snooper]

what about electric motor driven, powerd by a generator a bit like the diesel electric trains good acceleration small engine

 

[Angusdog]

Yup, and I'd consider it if I had any electrical ability. There are other advantages too, like a lot more flexibility with the drivechain - motors mounted in the wheels, site the generator where it suits (offset the weight of the driver), optional 'silent running' mode if it had batteries. Sadly, it really is electrickery to me...

 

[pedrobedro]

You could use a combined engine and swingarm unit like a Suzuki Burgman or Yamaha Majesty to simplify your drivetrain that way you could have anything from 250cc to 650cc. Driving the front wheels would be complicated because to maintain some drivability on the road you would need a front differential.

 

[M@tt]

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassin...iest Quad Ever: Wazuma Packs 500bhp V12&mid=0

+ Looks Cool
+ Size
- Weather Protection
- Fuel Economy
- Likelyhood of Death

proabably about the same size as a smart car, probably a bit quicker to

 

[Angusdog]

to maintain some drivability on the road you would need a front differential.

I thought about using a diff from a quad bike (2 a penny in NZ) mated to probably mini driveshafts, if I went down the FWD route.

And that Wazuma is just lethal.

However, the point of my thread was to see what other guys would build given the freedom, a reasonable budget and time. For example, there's a guy in Aus who built a 1/4 scale sherman tank (the body was wooden). There was a guy in NZ who built a quad bike for the road with a turbo impreza motor. Mark Evans builds primarily kits of trikes, helicopters and plans, whereas I like designing a vehicle. My retirement will ideally be spent making stuff, testing it and then moving on to another project.

 

[HOUNDMAGNET]

That car looks like fun and a brilliant project.

If i had the time,and more importantly the money id build an alloy fishing boat about 20 - 25 feet long and about 7 feet wide.I would like it powered by an inboard diesel engine or a jetdrive (expensive)!
I have seen plans available but id like to design my own version.I already have a few sketches on paper and one day will model these on the computer.The biggest design problem for me would be,i am no naval architect and would need help with the hull design.
The construction would be from alloy plate,all migged together with horizontal stringers for strength.A problem there is that the best versions have the panels routed to shape rather than plasma cut,as router cut plates have better edges.
I suppose it shouldnt be too expense to get that done as i could give the g code files to someone with a large gantry router/cutter...probably cheaper than a cnc plasma cut.
Oh well,ill keep working and dreaming for now...lol

 

[Drains]

would like it powered by an inboard diesel engine or a jetdrive (expensive)!

Jet drives are ten a penny in NZ too. Can't move for them and the quad bikes. Plenty aluminium as well. It's the place for you Houndmagnet!

Angusdog - my current ideal project would be to combine a hi-ace with a hi-lux, for a forward control bombproof last-for-ever hilux van, if you get my drift.

 

[Angusdog]

Have you ever seen a Mitsubishi Delica? Not sure if they were ever imported into the UK, but it's a Mitsi L300 van body on a Pajero chassis. Quite popular in the Pacific region, and I'd love one too, as I can afford or justify my most favourite offroader, a Landie Forward Control. There's one for sale here which was a NZ Army ambulance, and he's also selling a Hagglund and an Abbott self propelled gun. And that's why I keep buying lottery tickets

Jet drives and quad bike chassis...hmmmmmmm, amphibious moster machine in the making...

 

[malcolm]

Frank Costin sprung to mind from the original post. The low drag efficient vehicles were a love of his. http://home.clara.net/peterfrost/tryaneii.html

 

[pointer2null]

if you want high MPG I wouldn't choose a motorbike engine - most are set up with power in mind and not fuel economy. My fazer engine is 599cc and does about 60mpg, chucks out 100BHP but runs with a high compression ratio and a very rich mixture. The new Toyota aygo (?) has a 1000cc engine and equivelent MPG.

 

[Angusdog]

Yeah, motorbike engines are kinda crap when it comes to economy. However, the all up weight would hopefully not much more than a litre class sportbike so it wouldn't need the torque of a car engine. The more I think about it, a rear engine driving the front wheels through a quad bike diff, mini suspension at the front, and a mini trailing arm keeping the back end off the floor. Hmmm, need to work out the workshop requirements for the chassis contruction...

 

[oz.]

Have you ever seen a Mitsubishi Delica? Not sure if they were ever imported into the UK, but it's a Mitsi L300 van body on a Pajero chassis. Quite popular in the Pacific region, and I'd love one too

Ive worked on one of these... not nice to work on because of the placing of the engine.
If you need to do anything to the top of the engine you have to remove the drivers seat then remove the access panel. Then if you're really unlucky (we were) you still can't get at where you want! engine had to come out.