starting my 3.8 v6 super charged trike build

[irmagoo]

,,,Looks like a mess to me ,,,GOOD LUCK !!!!!!!

yap it does and is a mess it this stage I would guess there is still 50-75 wires that I don't need... but it looks worse than it is ..
all the engine control wiring is intact at engine end as well as ecm end. harness plug for engine/ecm is intact and its good....but for some reason the guy I got it from cut all the transmission plugs and wiring out of the harness why?? I don't know and he doesn't either !! so now all I need to do is see if the fuse block hanging in the mess is useable it has 2 cube relays that I could use to power up ecm and fuel pump and fuses enough for trike I think... if its more trouble than its worth i'll cut it out and buy a after market fuse / relay block...then need to spend a few hours labeling all ecm wirers that have been cut that I need for my application-ecm power and ground circuits etc...not worried sense I sorted out trans wiring-that was bugg'n me for sure... maybe I should be worried we shall see!!
magoo

[slick rick]

Sometimes it harder to fix anothers screw up than it would have been to start from scratch . One thing about it when it's done should be a very good running and dependable set up . Keep us informed , I'll be watching wish I was around to give you a hand , believe I'd learn a lot .

[Steven3472]

When I do my custom projects I use http://www.painlessperformance.com/ to get new wiring harness that come pre marked for the motor that I'm using.

[irmagoo]

When I do my custom projects I use http://www.painlessperformance.com/ to get new wiring harness that come pre marked for the motor that I'm using.

thanks for the info Steven3472!!..
I think I have a handle on it now, the engine wiring is ok it was the trans that was a mess.. the 3800 series gm v6 cars had a computer that did both engine and trans. with same computer.. didn't know painless did them..
I have zero experience with it so its a challenge for sure! if it doesn't work out.... i'll check them out for sure! thanks again..
magoo

[irmagoo]

well I have been working on frame...I got 6 new dorman subframe mounts( rubber isolator type) to mount between engine/trans cradle and trike frame...started trike frame with section over and around engine/trans.. its wide I think its to wide 59 inches!! I am working on moving struts inboard about 2 inches on each side, if I can accomplish this then I can narrow the top loop and if I notch the 2x2 tubing that's around outside perimeter 1 inch in at strut location and box it,,...this would narrow the rear section of trike by 6 inches down to 52" o.d. that easier to live with i'll snap some pics in the am and post them,,,
magoo

[Steven3472]

can't wait to see the pics thanks, also what is the ideal width in general for trikes thanks.

[irmagoo]

can't wait to see the pics thanks, also what is the ideal width in general for trikes thanks.

hi steven 3472
I don't think there is one ...its kinda like ford/Chevy thing..
someone out there can maybe come up with a better answer
but, for me I drew this up so that I could pick up strut mounting points with no mods to what I had ,,, I knew it was going to be wider that I wanted for the look I'm going for I want fenders over tires not just a wheel well on side of body if that makes sense to you..... but welded up top loop and mounted it to get a looky-see... well it would make rear section too boxy for my taste so I will modify the mounting on strut to wheel hub assembly and narrow top loop I'm going to tell you something I would have never admitted when I was younger ... had my wife look at drawing as I didn't think I liked it ...well she told me then that I would be changing it by looking at drawing!!
I said you may be right but its worth a look!! not going to fly!!
1. shot of frame from front
2. 59 inch wide now
3. a look at strut mounting now
4. a look at the isolation mounts rear.
5. a shot of front mounts, and you can see that the frame drops down to make the front section of frame same height as engine cradle...
I will get a few shots of this after I narrow it ..
later magoo

[Steven3472]

looking good, will you be putting in a cross brace after for the struts and I like how you did the bushings for the dampening.

[irmagoo]

looking good, will you be putting in a cross brace after for the struts and I like how you did the bushings for the dampening.

yes I will use cross bracing between the struts.. what you see is temporary the finished stiffener will bolt in place..i drew up brackets for off setting lower strut to wheel hub mounts(2&1/2 inch per side) i will fab them up tomorrow and narrow up the top loop. I need to install radiator and fans so I can figure my air inlet to cool rad.. I'm anxious to bend up some tubing and get this look'n like a trike but it all has to be done and cooling the engine is a priority !! unfortunately I have other work to do around here too, so it will take a while whose "honey-do list" don't go away by their self!!
magoo

[slick rick]

,,,Still watching and learning ,,makes me want to mate a v6 up to mine even more . Your doing a great job of explaining your process too . Keep it coming you seem to have interest in this build ,,know I am .

[John Luciano]

Can u post a sketch of what you are shooting for .

[irmagoo]

Can u post a sketch of what you are shooting for .

hi john,
i'll give it a try....I'm not a artist though... through out my life I have drawn thing up so that myself or anyone in a metal shop could make them.. for me-it helps to write down everything I can first about project... what I have done to this point in draw the structural parts of the trike,, I draw it most of the time 1" to the foot so that everything is scaled the same on drawing so when you look at it you can see if it got the look your after that was how we-I knew I didn't really like the look as the wheel hubs were only 1-2 inch out side frame so wheels/tires would be buried in the body..
I have a concept in mind for lack of a better way of describing it i'll say if you compare trike bodies to trucks- "the body of trike I envision more like a step side than a fleet side "
I will play around with drawing the trike body
it this point I really haven't done it mostly because I haven't made up my mind if I will farm it out do it myself.. I know my limitations if I use metal but I have a couple of friends with talents that I don't have..
budget may make the call in the end
magoo

[irmagoo]

hi guys
its been a while but got some things done
1. shows strut mount stock configuration
2. shows offset spacer's I made
3. shows them together.
4. shows the narrowed top loop
I think I will be glad I spent the time and energy to do this to my project ...
59 inch down to 52 inches is a huge difference in width to me..
now I will rebuild upper strut mounts and move on!!!
magoo

[slick rick]

,,,,good job ,,,

[skuuter]

NICE......and yes, I'm betting narrower will equal better. What thickness are Your offset spacers made from...???...just curious.....Thanks.....

[irmagoo]

NICE......and yes, I'm betting narrower will equal better. What thickness are Your offset spacers made from...???...just curious.....Thanks.....

hi skuuter,
they are made from 4x1/4 inch flat stock,,, it fully boxed and was a pain in the lower extremity's,,, but in the end its a part that I don't want to fail for sure!! its heavier than the mounting built on strut so should be good to go...
I should add that it the end I will weld to strut also but probably new struts through!!
magoo

[skuuter]

hi skuuter,
they are made from 4x1/4 inch flat stock,,, it fully boxed and was a pain in the lower extremity's,,, but in the end its a part that I don't want to fail for sure!! its heavier than the mounting built on strut so should be good to go...
I should add that it the end I will weld to strut also but probably new struts through!!
magoo

I also wondered if You were gonna' eventually weld them.....I always hate to make "suggestions" on Home Built Projects here, but since You brought it up.......yes, I personally think this would be the way to go.....

[irmagoo]

I also wondered if You were gonna' eventually weld them.....I always hate to make "suggestions" on Home Built Projects here, but since You brought it up.......yes, I personally think this would be the way to go.....

skuuter any advice is welcome
i have a plan but its not chiseled in stone,, this part of a build on a project that you've never done before can be a hand full.. i don't mind changing things up a little to build a safer, slicker rig for sure. Most of this delay in the build was just because i have a look that couldn't done with out building trike much wider than i had in mind from the jump. But I've never built spacer for struts i was contemplating building upper a-arm's that would have caused a lot more work than this solution i think its sound (the strut spacers that is) we will see in time!!! any advice appreciated !!
magoo

[Dragonponics]

Great build I will fallow this one I have a 04 impala I wrecked and have been thinking of doing the same with it just didn't know where to start

[skuuter]

skuuter any advice is welcome
i have a plan but its not chiseled in stone,, this part of a build on a project that you've never done before can be a hand full.. i don't mind changing things up a little to build a safer, slicker rig for sure. Most of this delay in the build was just because i have a look that couldn't done with out building trike much wider than i had in mind from the jump. But I've never built spacer for struts i was contemplating building upper a-arm's that would have caused a lot more work than this solution i think its sound (the strut spacers that is) we will see in time!!! any advice appreciated !!
magoo

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