Mid engined trikes

[Alan56]

I have a question concerning a mid-engine VW trike. I know some people who have built them and they have used 2 different methods. The first involves using 2 transaxles in line with each other, while the other method uses a single (older model) transmission with the axles reversed. Is the first method used simply to make a longer wheel base? The reason I'm asking is because two people I know used that option and had nothing but problems, while the ones that used a single unit reported that they operated flawlessly.

[rhino 2]

Welcome , Allen... I can't help with your question, But there are many in Trike-Talk who can and I'm sure they chime in soon...

Again....WELCOME...

[Alan56]

Thank you very much for the welcome!

[paws]

Hi Alan! Welcome to TrikeTalk from west Texas!

[Alan56]

Welcome back from Northern Oklahoma!

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Yes the extra case is an extension to move the motor forward and out from under the seat and into the wind.

If you do not use the extension you need to use all the cooling fan and tins. It is possible you might could scoop and duct enough air like a formula v does. But it would be more tricky to do.

With the extension and engine leading in the wind you can (ever so barely) run without the fan and tins. You probably will not pull a trailer or go wide open uphill all day. But it does work.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Above is mine with the extension....albeit heavier duty built as I am pushing considerably more hp than normal.

Here is an internet friends no extension with full type 3 fan and tins.



Here is another internet friends with the extension. He has gotten it to the point he can pull a trailer with it.

[Alan56]

Thanks for all the info. My confusion is clearing.

[DeathBySnuSnu]

Whether u use an extension or not.....the transaxle mods are the same.

If you use the fan housing whether it is under the seat or under the tank.....the engine mods are the same.

If you use the engine without the fan then you must duct or direct the air flow as needed for either one. With under the seat being more difficult to do. Also no low speed parade or city driving. You could modify a set of love jugs to blow air in the right place and ride some city.

If you know folks having trouble with an extension......then they are missing something in the set up.

An under the seat with the fan intact and working would be the easiest to build......straight up....use mostly stock vw parts.

An under the tank with extension and fan intact and working would be a nearly normal vw engine. But all the custom design and machine work to make the extension. There is not a place to buy these parts, YOU have to make them from scratch. So that does take a level of skills there.

An engine without the fan will have to be .0015 to .002 inch looser in the cylinder bores. Be full flow oil mods. Hoover airplane oil mods help too. Large oil cooler. Large oil pump. Big cams and big carbs also help it run cooler. So the engine has to be built to specifications other than stock or anything you can find in a repair book.

Of course on any mid set up you will have to design and build your own rear suspension.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Welcome to the Gang from Western Colorado.

[Trike-Man]

Welcome to the gang …. I plan on building a Midship Corvair Trike ….. So I'll be trying to follow along ….. I have Questions so …. We can Muddle this thing trough together ….

[vwbug72501]

Midship Corvair setup poses it's own set of problems if you are planning to use the Covair transaxle. When building a midengine VW transaxle, the ring gear has to be flipped over to give the correct rotation to the final drive. Otherwise you get 4 reverse and 1 forward gear. You can't flip the ring gear over in the Corvair transaxles. The Corvair engine rotates opposite of the VW engine so you can use a non-flipped ring gear VW transaxle to get 4 forward and 1 reverse gear but you will be placing the load on the back side of the hypoid gears. This will affect trans life. I believe you can flip a Corvair stick trans upside down and it will work but you can't flip the auto trans upside down due to valve body considerations.

[Trike-Man]

Midship Corvair setup poses it's own set of problems if you are planning to use the Covair transaxle. When building a midengine VW transaxle, the ring gear has to be flipped over to give the correct rotation to the final drive. Otherwise you get 4 reverse and 1 forward gear. You can't flip the ring gear over in the Corvair transaxles. The Corvair engine rotates opposite of the VW engine so you can use a non-flipped ring gear VW transaxle to get 4 forward and 1 reverse gear but you will be placing the load on the back side of the hypoid gears. This will affect trans life. I believe you can flip a Corvair stick trans upside down and it will work but you can't flip the auto trans upside down due to valve body considerations.

So I didn't make it out there to play this afternoon …. But in reading this ….



I Have a VW trans-axle …..



If I and turn the trans axle over around so input shaft is facing inward that gives Me a automatic to sell …. and all I have to do is get a adapter plate to mount the trans-axle put the corvair motor on it ….. I will look at mounting options …. the Corvair motor has a back motor mount & springs if I can just get them hooked up to a Cycle frame ….