Hello, Brand new member here. I want to build a motorcycle trike, I see V8 trikes everywhere and it just seems like overkill to me, to each their own.
My question is about the 3.8 V6 or some called it the 3800 series. I won’t be held to the automotive standard for smog so I was wondering can you remove most or all of the smog components? I will be setting this up in the same area a Vwin would be mounted, with a reinforced custom frame of course. How bare can you make that engine? Thanks for any input.
Yes you can remove the smog stuff. That is the least of your issues. You might want to look to a lighter engine with an aluminium block
Sorting the driveline… clutch to primary to transmission to the secondary to the wheel with the engine mounted sideways is big challange. That’s if you insist on Harley style cross crank mounting. The Boss Hoss bikes use an automatic transmission to a shaft drive style rear.
Mustangman, Thanks for the reply. I was interested in the 3800 because of reliability. Just looked up the weight, wow, you’re right.
Looking up engines that are lighter now.
Weight aside I would go with the 4.3L V6, it is basically a 350 with 2 cylinders cut off and the aftermarket is huge for them, and they may pretty good power and vey reliable and easier to find carb intakes and distributors for…
And if it doesn’t make it run or go faster it’s not needed… lol
Consider using a Subaru engine and automatic trans without the awd output or an Audi A4 longitudinal 4 cylinder (turbo or not) mounted to its auto trans and fwd drive and suspension. Smaller lighter and unique for a trike. Use a Harley front frame piece and forks. Custon fab in the middle.
With that thought, a complete 3800 drivetrain mounted transversely behind the riders in a bit of a “trunk” to cover it all up.
Everybody built a VW based trike in the '60s and '70s. You use the entire Beetle drivetrain as the rear axle. There’s gotta be some group around that still supports that. And there’s bound to be a million beetle motors / transaxles floating around, too.
Something you may never hear me say again, put an electric motor on/in it coupled to a VW based transmission… or just a plain boring electric motor set up like an EV…
Custom builder Ian Roussel did it to a Dune Buggy years ago…
Running the motor through the transmission would still give you the feeling of changing gears…
How about a GM 5.3L? They are quite a bit lighter than the LT1 and there are lots of builds that use these things. I am guessing there is a GM V6 that would bolt right up the same way the 5.3L V8 does if you would rather have a V6.