Apparently I haven't started a thread in ~10 years but I wanted to document this build somewhere so I thought I'd get back into this forum! Here is the car I am currently building. It is based on the 1920s era French and English cyclecars (not to be confused with cyclecarts) but it is a bit more budget friendly. I have been working on it for a while and will try and continue to update this if people are interested. Stats: engine: 2x Norton 750cc Commando Engines transmission: Harley Shovelhead 'ratchet' 4-speed differential: home made chain drive frame: Model A front suspension: home made friction shock 4-link body: home made wheels: 21" Model A Ford steering: no clue — maybe you recognize it brakes: 1932 Rocky Mountain in front and Model A in the back
I'm all over this deal! Wow. You are one hard working dude. I've been thinking about this type of thing since my trip to England in '21, and meeting Duncan Pittaway. These things are so cool. I don't know jack about Nortons, but the whole build is much like I'd do it. What's your Wheelbase and F/R track widths? And how are you scribing those perfect lines on the blue Dykem? Love this thing. Good luck!
Your mechanical ingenuity is amazing. I’m totally impressed at the talent present on this build. Cool car!! This is what the hamb is all about.
Thank you so much for the kind words! These big projects can really drag on and it can be difficult to keep up the motivation/ momentum so I really appreciate it. For the Dykem— I cheat!! I work in a High School Makerspace and we have a CO2 laser cutter so take my CAD files, export them as DXFs, and just laser-etch those into the Dykem.
Right?? It's awesome to see kids learning how to machine/ weld/ CAD/ etc. Their desire to design and build things themselves really gives me hope! Plus, it means I have access to a lot of machines I can't afford otherwise ..
Been busy lately but I finally got the chance to work on the bearing hump. This bearing holds the jackshaft in place and needed to be raised up a bit so the sprocket would be above the bottom lip of the frame so I don't have to worry about it dragging.
I was also working on attaching the wishbone mounts. These are on the top of the frame rail. I have been trying to use solid rivets wherever possible. It's been a lot of fun to learn a new skill and aesthetically it really matches the 1920s mood better than TIG welding. Figuring out a way to hold the bucking bar in place when workin alone was difficult but I got it eventually!
The Jalopy Journal
