vw trike help

[jayman]

hi all not sure if this be the place to post this or not
so the plan is to build a vw trike with the engine mounted in the front, i was just wondering what kinda
headache am i looking at lol, i have the trike frame alredy and a 74 vw with 1600cc
so im good there, i have a buddy with a shop and all the toys needed for the cut and weld, fab work exct....
i was on the swed site a few times, but cant seem to get on now
but yeh any hints or tips would be so very mutch apreciated on this
thanks very mutch

 

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Something like this?

 

[jayman]

Something like this?

View attachment 17612

yep same idea

 

[DeathBySnuSnu]

How big are you wanting it to be?
Your axle and cv joint set up on the later trans will be more difficult to set up.
It would be easiest to leave it full width.
Mine is a swing axle and is the narrowest width to start with and then is cut down 6 inches a side. Total width to the outside of tires is 48 inch.
My wheel base is 66 inch.
I was specifically building for small size. It is much smaller than a converted wing and just a little larger than a std 2 wheeler.

What amount of ground clearance are you looking for?
Mine is 3.5 inch (unloaded/no riders/no trunk) off the ground.
Again I was specifically looking for chopper like stance.
It would be easiest to go with the vw stance but that means that it will be approximately 6 inches taller.
If you go with full width axle and cv joint set up you could squat the rear down enough to get low like I like.

Just think about what you want it to look like in the end and work from there.
I went through a lot of "unnecessary" modifications just for the sake of appearance. I modded the oiling and linkages in my tranny so I could run it upside down.
So anything is possible, just matters how bad you wanna do it.

 

[jayman]

yeh ty very mutch, im thinking just using the the rear end axel exct...dont really want to be to high up same idea kinda the chopper style have a springer being recromed for
as far as length goes dont really want to long just want it to handle half deacent and look nice

 

[DeathBySnuSnu]

So look at drag bug stuff for shorter axles. Look at mid engine dune buggy stuff for swing arms and shifter parts.

- - - Updated - - -

With the engine in front watch your amount of trail. Stay real low, long links on springer maybe.

 

[jayman]

ok great thnx very much, btw thats a sweet ride you got there

 

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Thanks. I tried to make something a bit different.

What questions do you have?
Anything specific?

 

[jayman]

well to be honest im really learning as i go,
thats why my mechanic guys doin most the work
but i really like the idea of engine up front, just wondering if it would handle beter
than having it like most the other ones that have them hanging out the back end
i would kinda thnk it would
also wondering if the 1600cc gona push it along ok

 

[DeathBySnuSnu]

It is a big project for a first timer.
Hope your mechanic has plenty vw and suspension fabrication experience.

As far as handling goes....
A full size axle, rear engined, long enough not to wheelie, normal style, vw trike, handles fine.

If you build a mid engine comparable in size to a std rear engine and with proper steering geometry it may handle marginally better.

In my case I wanted something much smaller and more motorcycle like. Also I think it is better looking. Mine handles well enough but not ideal by any means. Most of my handling issues are due to HP vs size. Mine is severely hot rodded.

A stock 1600 pushes a trike just fine.

 

[jayman]

i just wanted to say ty for all the info you have shared with me
very thankful i will post some pics once we start goin to work on her
as far a my wrench goes, hes been building harleys since he was a kid
but he was the one who told me vw would be the way to go
he has done a trike before but it was the old way
and thats all you see here in my neck of the woods so
I want something that nobody else has
hey dare ta be differnt lol

 

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Hey no problem.
Want to see it happen.
Post up more specific questions as they come up.
Ever think of engine mods?
I was a hot rodder back in the day......and it shows.
My first job was a motorcycle mechanic.
I have been quite a few other things since then. But always something mechanical.

 

[jayman]

hmm engine mods...well was thinking porshe engine at first instead of the vw
but i dont think theyd be as cheap to pick up lol

 

[rbourne3]

I have some pics of a frame that someone else built using the torsion from an IRS bug mounted backwards to build a mid engine vw trike. these pics are all I have or know about it.

http://thebournes.us/midengine/index.html