falconvan Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 I talked about this a bit on one of my other threads and some guys expressed an interest in following the build. It's going to be a three wheel reverse trike using a 2.2 Dodge engine and FWD auto trans with a single rear wheel and tandem seating. If there's some interest, I'll keep the post going. Not a huge start but I had my son start putting the engine together since I had all the parts sitting there and he's been bugging me to start on this. We're going to put the drive train together and start tossing some ideas around for a frame design. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodFru2u Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 Interesting project, I'd enjoy seeing how it all works out. Good Luck ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ194950 Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 2nd. that! Posts in OT as the work progresses makes sense to me. Love your unconventional projects but they are Mopar related. DJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deathbound Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 Definitely will be watching this one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timkingsbury Posted March 10, 2015 Report Share Posted March 10, 2015 I talked about this a bit on one of my other threads and some guys expressed an interest in following the build. It's going to be a three wheel reverse trike using a 2.2 Dodge engine and FWD auto trans with a single rear wheel and tandem seating. If there's some interest, I'll keep the post going. Not a huge start but I had my son start putting the engine together since I had all the parts sitting there and he's been bugging me to start on this. We're going to put the drive train together and start tossing some ideas around for a frame design. Lol.. Love it.. I am sure you have seen the CanAm reverse trike.. and Just a bit of cool background to check out.. 1) the first sticking a big mopar in a motorcycle. I did a series on my blog http://p15-d24.com/blog/17/entry-65-as-promised-the-story-of-the-worlds-fastest-flathead…-motorcycle-part-1/ http://p15-d24.com/blog/17/entry-66-as-promised-the-story-of-the-worlds-fastest-flathead…-motorcycle-part-2/ http://p15-d24.com/blog/17/entry-67-as-promised-the-story-of-the-worlds-fastest-flathead…-motorcycle-part-3/ 2) not that you will necessarily get any ideas, but this "wild ass" ride has a 4 cylinder automotive engine and is definitely an inspiration. http://customrodder.forumactif.org/t2345-road-dog-1965-william-wild-bill-gelbke 3) Next up, I will try and find some pictures.. A Spring Carlisle last year a Motorcycle shop made a large reverse trike. I am sure with the inspiration coming from the CanAm as he has made a number of traditional trikes. I spent a bunch of time talking with him as what became clear was the reverse trike was the way to go, but getting the front axle operating properly was the challenge. I am definitely interested in what your up to. Are you thinking on having the front wheels actually drive it ? The key for me for the reverse trike or a motorcycle using an automotive engine is the frame. My overall interest is a little more than a passing interest.. My grandfather had some involvement in the Plymouth Motorcycle, and starting with him, then my Dad, and no me have thought about doing an update from the Plymouth Motorcycle Concept.. aka The Chrysler Motorcycle. To the point that I have actually got the engine, which is as light as a flathead Chrysler can be. A modified bell housing, and auburn clutch and pressure plate and a modified and lightened 3 speed transmission. All together its over 100 pounds lighter than a stock setup.that being said, it is still heavy. Your concept will be without question lighter. What has slowed down my project is the frame... and I have thought of doing a version like the Plymouth motorcycle from the 30's, the reverse trike and even thought about a bike, but putting a side car on it.. So far the bike builders I have talked to had project estimates just about the size of the economy of some 3rd world countries.. Ok maybe a bit of an exaggeration. Defiantly interested in your plans.. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted March 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2015 Cool stuff! This will be more car based, basically a convertible two seater car with one seat behind the other, front wheel drive and one wheel in the rear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted March 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 You know, I really do love my son but is it just me or are today's youth unable to finish anything they start? He bugged the crap out of me to get going on this thing and wanted to help but I got about 4 hours of work out of him and now he's too busy to mess with it. This is after I dig all the stuff out of the boxes, buy several parts, and make a day's trip to the boneyard to get a bunch of little stuff we were missing for the motor. And of course its spread all over my workbench so if I want space back, I have to put the motor together and get it out of the way. Oh well, when I was 24 I was kind of flighty too, I guess. Anyway, here the short block is together and the head tore down so I can get it resurfaced. Having a clean painted motor on the stand isn't all bad, maybe I'll start on a chassis once this is done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted May 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2015 I decided that with all the small parts I'm going to need and Missouri's law of documenting all the parts origins on a specially constructed vehicle; what I needed was a parts car with a clear title. I found this 1985 Omni for $175; clear title, and believe it or not the motor runs pretty good after just a battery and some fresh gas. Got it from a local car club member; it was his son's car in high school. His son died in 1994 and the car sat under a tree ever since. Actually less than 100,000 miles on it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TodFitch Posted May 2, 2015 Report Share Posted May 2, 2015 . . . I found this 1985 Omni for $175; clear title, and believe it or not the motor runs pretty good after just a battery and some fresh gas. . . . Actually less than 100,000 miles on it too. Omni? Don't remember the Dodge name for that body style but the Plymouth was a TC3/Turismo. Same running gear as the Omni/Horizon but different body. On my '82 TC3 with the 2.2l engine the timing belt would jump and need to be replaced about every 70,000 miles. Fortunately there is clearance between the the pistons and valves so when it happened you did not need to replace/rebuild the entire engine. Had about 185,000 miles on mine when, at dusk and in the rain, a UPS truck and I decided to occupy the same bit of pavement. The UPS truck won. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted May 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2015 Yeah, I had the same car. That little thing was really reliable. I hadn't seen this body style in the dodge version, either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merle Coggins Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 Dodge Omni 024 / Plymouth Horizon TC3 were virtually the same car with different trim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted May 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 Ok, I remember the 024 now that you said it. Man, hard to believe that was over 30 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted May 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 Got it in the garage today after evicting numerous wasp nests and stripped a few parts off. Still tossing several ideas around; I'm going to strip it down to the bare body and drive train and then start figuring how to build a tube sub frame for the motor trans that will make the body wide enough for tandem seating. Lots of thinking to do...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T120 Posted May 4, 2015 Report Share Posted May 4, 2015 (edited) Should be a fun project and will no doubt have interesting handling characteristics.You've probably seen the 3 wheeler Morgans and the kit replicars,albeit RWD and not tandem seating.Saw this Morgan replica at a show last fall fitted with a Moto Guzzi engine and some added bling.The fellow with the cap is the owner/builder. Also a link to a fun drive.. Edited May 4, 2015 by Ralph D25cpe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted May 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2015 Oh yeah, always loved Morgans; really classy looking ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted May 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2015 I got out the sawzall and trimmed everything down to the frame rails to get a good look at how the drive train and suspension mounts. The plan is to build a similar frame using 2x3 tubing. I'll be able to bring the frame rails in a few inches and duplicate the mounts for the drive train. The track width will stay the same with stock CV axles but I'll build tube upper and lower control arms and use a coil over shock rather than a strut. The cabin will be as wide as the frame rails and be center steer using a small manual rack; maybe something like a Geo Metro unit. Rails will taper in behind the passenger seat and use a single swing arm rear with a fairly wide tire. That's the plan so far...we'll see if it works out like I'm thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted May 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2015 I really wanted to take my 49 to the car show tonight but of course it rained most of the day and is supposed to rain all weekend. So I did some more chopping. Going to spend tomorrow on my 48; I got some parts in the mail today so I'm going to work on getting the exhaust on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted June 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Did a little more dis-assembly; I need to get rid of all the crap I'm not going to use and make some room. After some good advice, I think I'm going to use the front suspension as an assembly with the exception of a smaller manual rack, eliminating the strut towers and fabricating an upper control arm. Not sure how that's going to work yet but I've got some ideas. Also picked up some 2x3 rectangular tubing to start on a chassis as soon as I have the rest of the car stripped and out of the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted June 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2015 I trimmed everything down to the width of the unibody rails and will use this front section as a pattern to build the frame. Still have the rear section to cut up but wont be using any of it. As soon as its gone I'll have some room to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted June 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2015 OK, all the junk is cut up and gone so here's my starting point. I need to get some things done on my 48 but should be able to start mocking up a frame soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted June 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2015 I went ahead a roughed together the frame today; I just used the front unibody rails as a guide and will transfer over the existing engine mounts and K-member mounts. It narrows right after the drivers seat and has just enough room for the passenger seat at the small end. Swing arm for the rear wheel will mount to the narrow end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pflaming Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 Amazing, just wildly amazing! Seeing the dismantling of a newer designed car was very interesting to see. My road find Dodge truck has really opened up a fantastic new window of life for me, I needed something, what a window! I will be watching this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted June 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 Thanks, Paul. What kind of a Dodge truck did you get? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulu Posted June 11, 2015 Report Share Posted June 11, 2015 . . .how to build a tube sub frame for the motor trans that will make the body wide enough for tandem seating. ...... Tandem seating is narrow, one front & one rear like a bicycle built for two. You want side-by-side seating, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconvan Posted June 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2015 No, I do want tandem seating. Narrower body, less wind resistance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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