[rescue] Trannies (was jobops in Austin and Dallas)

[Sheldon T. Hall]

In Message: 5 From: "Kurt Huhn" <kurt at k-huhn.com> it is said ...

[snip]
> >
> > Depends on what you're building.  Car?  Bike?  Personally, I've always
> > wanted one of the Morgan three-wheelers with the JAP V-twin on the
> > front.....
> >
>
> Car.  Small two-seat, tube frame, fiberglass body, powered by a economic
> motorcycle engine.  I got the idea looking at Suzukis GSX-R/4 prototype.
I
> originally though I'd stick a giant S&S V-twin on the front, but how would
I
> power a differential that far away (it's gotta be RWD).  Then I got the
idea
> that a goldwing or valkyrie engine+transmission would be ideal, since
those
> are shaft driven, and the engine is low profile (making mounting it under
a
> low hood and partially between the driver and passenger much easier), and
> they have loads of torque.  I'll bet I could find one for seriously little
> money, too.

Hmmm.  I think you've just re-invented the Berkeley, though maybe theye were
FWD.  I haven't seen one since about 1964, so I don't remember.

Also, some class of SCCA racecars are build around motorcycle engine/trans
units ... Kawasaki 4 cylinders?  <mumble>400 class?  The cars they use at
the Malibu Grand Prix places are some kind of motorcycle-engined units, too,
but with a centrifugal clutch.  All single-seaters, though.  I think there's
some kind of miniature stock or jalopy oval-track class with motorcycle
engines, too.

Tertiaryily, ever seen the driveline layout on one of the original Honda
roadsters?  In-line engine in the front and the differential mounted to the
body right behind the seats.  Motorcycle-style chaincases from the
half-shafts back to the rear hubs, and the chaincases were the leading arms
of the suspension.

Or maybe get shaft drive _and_ a transverse V-twin with a Moto-Guzzi engine,
and make the bonnet tight enough to expose the cylinders....

ObSun: You could do the motor management computer with a Voyager!

-Shel