Thinking About A Sportbike Engine Swap in a Car...

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

It's a weight issue. Volvo's of the 60's are probably 1,000 lbs over the weight limit of 1400lbs. It is VERY hard to find a car lighter than 1400lbs, as even a Geo Metro is a bit too heavy to make the cut. So, the car MUST be tiny. Look up the Honda S600 to see how small it has to be (really interesting car, btw. Needle bearing crankshaft, revs to 11,000 RPM's and built in the mid 60's!)

As for the cars listed, some of those cars most people in the US probably have never seen as they were predominately used in Europe and the former Soviet block. Spridget= MG Midget/ Austin Healey Sprite. Zaporozhets is a Soviet people's car made by ZAZ, and the Fiat 500/600 is a Italian People's car of the 50's and 60's. I know about them due to extended periods of boredom and web surfing. If I had a life, I probably wouldn't.

 

[Larryg]

The only bikes that dont have the transmission as part of the motor are harleys and very old british bikes. Thats its. If I remember right that little itty bitty honda z600 was a 2 cylinder...... chain drive. So keeping a honda in a honda might just make some sense. You could also look for some sh*t box early suzuki car and rip her down to lose weight as well. Pretty sure they were made of tuna cans, aluminum foil and lego blocks. Someone asks you what it is..... well its a its a suzuki of course. Dont forget nearly all of these big bikes have turbo kits available along with nitrous. Or you could make it simple of just buy a used T-rex. Wont get any lighter or better handling than that. :wink:

 

[Uncletruck]

I think the Z600 had a regular 4 speed gearbox and front wheel drive, but the engine is very much "motorcycle." Here is a good set of pix of one:

http://www.honda600coupe.com/Jons_1970_ ... sedan.html

-UT-

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

The only bikes that dont have the transmission as part of the motor are harleys and very old british bikes. Thats its. If I remember right that little itty bitty honda z600 was a 2 cylinder...... chain drive. So keeping a honda in a honda might just make some sense. You could also look for some sh*t box early suzuki car and rip her down to lose weight as well. Pretty sure they were made of tuna cans, aluminum foil and lego blocks. Someone asks you what it is..... well its a its a suzuki of course. Dont forget nearly all of these big bikes have turbo kits available along with nitrous. Or you could make it simple of just buy a used T-rex. Wont get any lighter or better handling than that. :wink:

Just looked at a few more pcs, and it seems you are right. Dammit! THat leads to yet another question: Could you cut the transmission off the engine block and install a normal flywheel on the crankshaft of a bike engine, or is it a splined/cogged output that only works with a bike transmission? I know for the Hayabusa, you can get a engine block that allows it to be used with a car transmission from a specialist company in England. That's expensive though. The only other option would be a electric reverse, like a Goldwing has. It seems that is how they do it in the Smart cars with the 'busa engines.

Another option I have not put down to digital paper is the engine from a Honda Fit. it is very compact and lightweight, plus it would allow it to be an easier FWD configuration.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Well, I am now trying to attempt this on a 1:10 scale. I found a Trabant 601 body for my nitro TC3 R/C car on German Ebay, so I am trying to see if the seller will ship it to me in the US. I figure it gives me a 2 stroke diesel Trabant, so it's almost as good! If I get it, I will do it in light blue with a yellow roof, like I would do a "normal" Trabant (it was a factory color scheme). Now I just have to finish putting the chassis back together as I smashed the car at full speed (around 40+mph) 2 years ago in a Wal Mart parking lot on Christmas day. (NEVER use cheap batteries in your radio!!!)

 

[itsnotanova]

About the transmission thing, aren't some bikes shaft driven? If so, seems it might be cheap and easier to fab something up??

 

[jrm81bu]

What about a 4-wheeler set-up?

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Well, the 4 wheeler would probably not have a strong enough drivetrain for the weight of the vehicle. I did find an interesting part though. It's a reverser that works to reverse the direction of the transmission's output in a car application. The use is for the Caterham 7 with a CBR or Hayabusa engine. It's probably expensive though. The main issue with the whole thing is the transmission case that is integral with the engine block. If there is a way to use the engine to drive a different transmission, and a way to use a clutch, that solves the problem too. I also have the choice of an expensive block to convert it to an automotive application as either a 4 cylinder, or a twin Hayabusa (!) V8 with 500 hp. It weighs around 250lbs.

 

[jrm81bu]

Well, the 4 wheeler would probably not have a strong enough drivetrain for the weight of the vehicle.

We've pulled quite a few cars with 4 wheelers. Granted it would be fairly hard on it but thats what happens when you start modifying things. That's part of the fun right?

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I just had another though: SNOWMOBILE ENGINE!!! Similar characteristics to a bike engine, and available as a 2 stroke. I just typed in 600cc 2 stroke in Google and a new Skidoo 600cc snowmobile was one of the first things that came out. I have no idea about the power delivery, etc of this engine yet, but it may work out. It seems to have a shaft drive output, so it may be possible to route it to a belt to a Harley Davidson type transmission designed for a bike with a side car ( they have reverse) using a custom built primary. Alas, more reading is needed. If nothing else, this project gives me something to think about other than being alone.