Let's Talk Cyclecars

This is by Martin Squires in England.

 

photo by S.B. via LeCyclecaristeBelge

 

it is with a heavy heart that i post; "noodles", my friend Pete, an outstanding artist in any media, fabricator, dreamer, visionary, a man with an amazing work ethic, sense of humor, a lover of his family/friends and all animals large and small....was killed this weekend when he rolled his morgan.....rear tire problem is suspected.

 

Very sorry.

 

So sorry to hear it. I only had one conversation with him here, but he sounded like a hugely interesting guy to know. I love the "castle" that he built.

 

Amilcar marc pic....

 

A tad OT, but has anyone finally developed / marketing an inline tranny / adaptor for Busa motors? Or Harleys for that matter? If I get a chance further down the line, I think I'm going to build a hot rod cycle car. Idears? Gary

 

Don't know of any commercially available. Can't imagine it would be hard to adapt a automotive trans though. I'm thinking maybe using a Dwarf car driveshaft adapter and machine a clutch disc center, that matches your trans input splines, to bolt on the adapter.

 

I think conventional wisdom involves a sprocket with a driveshaft yoke bolted to it. It attaches to the output sprocket of the bike engine/gearbox unit by a very short double-row chain. I've heard of VW transaxles gutted of all but 4th and reverse used as final drive units, which automatically raises the idea of using a taller ring & pinion and retaining 3rd as a general-use range and using 4th as an overdrive.

Come to think of it, any light 3- or 4-speed should do that job, if turned back to front in the manner porknbeaner has described (http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/building-your-own-od.182782/page-2#post-6364937). Light '70s/'80s 4-speeds must be practically worthless. Lose 1st to save weight; use 3rd as OD and 2nd as ridiculous highway idling gear.

 

Gary,what are they using behind the Harley motors in the new Morgans?

 

Further to my first query... and timely... a new copy of Automobile arrived today with a full page advert for the Polaris Slingshot, a 20K USD three-wheeler with inline drive that looks like it came directly from the GM Ecotec parts bin (ie Solstice / Sky). Heck, add a turbo or blower and that's the same powertrain I'm putting in my Model A!!! Still, that's a 280 lb engine and I suspect a Busa would weigh a lot less and sound cooler. Too bad about the gawd awful body shape. And why not an enclosed shaft drive swing axle? Perhaps a vintage GN style body could be applied? Still, the price is certainly reasonable when compared to a new Morgan clone, eh? Gary
More on the web. http://www.polaris.com/en-us/slingshot

 

They are using a Masda MX5 tranny but the problem is hooking it to the Harley. The engine cannot take the thrust from the clutch so Morgan added a thrust bearing and rubber cushion device between the engine and tranny.

 

Marc pic...

 

bolide pic...

 

8 Cylinder Ballot. Car pics by Marc.Engine pics by John Ballard. http://www.johnballardengineering.co.uk/

 

Electric Morgan 3 wheeler.Images via Morgans West.

 

Interesting 750 v twin engine with gearbox

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/V-TWIN-ST...pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item3f3e073ec7

 

So how far from your house is this...or Malvern?

 

1897 Leon Bollee from Isabelle.

 

1910 AC Socia ble from Isabelle

 

Thanks Adrian. The electric Morgan (indeed the mere combination of those two words in that order) was beginning to get me down!

 

Jean Reville's GNAT . First image by R. Wesley 4.16.35,second from BSAFWD.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=mYSJDZY7vXE

 

art by Jean-Marie Guivarc'h . http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities-2013.php

 

Renaud on Villard 350cc. Bol d'Or...via Marc

 

Cheret at the 1932 Bol d'Or.... Marc

 

That's no fun and not even nice looking.