Automatic trike

The 4.3 would be a great engine to work around. It's a 350 missing 2 cylinders. :p

The biggest concern is the mileage. 242K is a lot on a 4.3.

You would probably want to rebuild it/bore it.

I think that the Astro Van would work pretty good if it isn't one of the all-wheel drive versions.
 
I was planning on rebuilding
Did not think about the AWD issue though
Will have to find out

Thans
 
Okay here's my $0.02 for what its worth,
If the Astro can be had for real short $$, it might be a good engine to start with.
Little else in its parts will likely be good for your build, unless you have lots of discretionary $$ to play with.
If the 4.3 is what is in your heart, then a 2wd S10 or full sized 1500 pickup w/the 4.3 might be a better donor vehicle to locate as more of the running gear will be of use in your build than the Astro van.
The ratrodz trike chassis looks rugged and would make the project build out faster, but $9K is a bit high for budget minded folks.
I'd do the 4.3 but keep it simple with a carb vs injected induction & a TH 350 over the 700R4 for ease of maintenance & less in the wiring/electronics department.
Early 4.3's had rochester 4 barrels on some of the GM offerings.
Anyhow, good luck in your design, whichever way you choose to go...
 
I think an ideal candidate would be something like a late 80's early 90's Chevy Celebrity with the 2.8L engine. They had the entire ECM under the passenger dash and it is pretty small.

If you can find one of them you could grab the entire undercarriage with the engine, transmission, and wiring harness.

The 2.8 was a great engine with tons of power. I had a 92 Celebrity that I had chipped and that little sucker was fast!
 
I drove an astro van for 3 years. The 4.3 engine is tough and easy to work on. The van is rear wheel drive which is what you need for a chassis like you are looking at. At that price with what you have in mind I would say that is a great start. Just have the engine and transmission rebuilt before you start. Let us know how things go and remember PICS, PHOTOS, PICTURES along the way. And that is my 2 cents worth
 
My original plan was with a s10 but I don't see any more of them around here for my price range

I am still waiting for the other half of the garage to come free , I'm just looking around right now

I figured on the van I could use the engine, trany and rear end mainly
The frame I would build similar to the link i posted but I would not buy that one, that's way out of my price range.

I would also rebuild the engine, trany and rear end. Basically just need them to design around.

Still looking for the right donor. I have feelers out. This van was just the first in my price range.


Thanks for your suggestions and comments keep them coming. It makes me keep think of different scenarios
 
peteg59 said:
http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/5796768033.html

There are a few others needing one thing or another, around me.
Anything 02 or older that have been someones daily driver, are rusted to death up here.
Click to expand...



yep that would most likely work

I seen them before around here but not right now.

Maybe I will give it some time to see what comes up.
I am just itching to get started. Even though I cant get started until the MGB is gone
 
I have the 4.3 in my trike with a short 350 turbo with the lock up converter. I shortened up a old ranger rear end and have a 10 inch drive shaft. Plenty of power but super bad MPG lol. I carburetored it with a two barrel and HEI ignition. Its the older 4.3 with the roller cam and non vortec heads. Im really thinking of putting the tbi set up in it this winter but not sure as of yet.
 
I emailed the guy about his Astro Van but no reply yet.
My step son says he will have the MGB gone sometime in October so I will have the space to build
The Ol'Lady says I can spend $500 on a donor vehicle

I have been researching different types of suspension and frames.
 
rallsqh said:
I know you said 500 was the limit but for 200 you might be able to make this work. http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/5758141518.html
Click to expand...

The link is not working anymore but Richmond if kind of far away from me.
$$$ is tight so the less I can spend the better
Looking for the best deal that has as much as I need as possible

I have been looking in a 100 mile radius. I have found a few that would work but nothing exactly what I want
Maybe I am being to picky for the amount of money I want to spend.

I hope to have something by the first of the year so I can build during the winter.

I get the other 1/2 of the garage on the 20th

I do want to build a Mook Jong using that side of the garage first but that will only take me a weekend
I toyed around with building a cedar canoe first but my money would be better spent on the trike
 
joek99 said:
My Corvair trike with a Powerglide auto rides just fine
Click to expand...

that Trike really looks good!!

I have started on a 4.3 V6 trike. It will have a 700r4 auto trans. Im just waiting for a friend to take the body off the donor vehicle.
He was supposed to get it this last weekend but he had to work. I hope he takes it soon I want to get started.

My goal is to have it striped down my the beginning of summer and then have the basic frame built by end of summer
I think I will build most of the frame and maybe tie in the rear part (not sure yet)
I just ordered 24' of 2x2x3/16 for the main part of the frame. I pick it up Friday

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threads/35590-88-blazer-trike
 
Last edited:
A few years ago I saw videos of Oldsmobile Toronado powered trikes, they looked great. The Toronado had front wheel drive auto trans 425 cube engine. Great starting point. I think some versions of the Cadillac El Dorado of the same vintage shared the engine/trans type.
 
Ive got a 425hp Chevy trike finished out and ready to rock its on dallas craigslist at $12,500. It will any trailer ya can attach to it. Just look under Trike in motorcycles. :cool:
 
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