Hooked

[lasso]

Well (deep subject), guess I'm hooked. Going this weekend to pick up another VW Trike, this will make 3. One is in pieces, it may get built, one is about 90% finished. This one is running and driving, with a 1800 cc dual-weber set-up. Traded a couple shotguns for it. Fellow just said he was tired of messing with it, I'm more than willing to take it off his hands. Wife has finally figured out where to find me, in the back yard messing with these things. She told me as long as I don't start mumbling in German its OK. As soon as i can, will get some pics posted. Everyone here has been great help.

[Bikerbozo]

Sounds like fun. I wished I had more time to mess around with projects.

[ea81slush]

each to their own with trikes but I fell in love with the VW style trike a few years back. My then wife said those words "its me or a trike" it wasnt her...

So I saved up and got my dream machine. For me that ly back feel with 90% weight on the rear wheels allowing grip that wont cause you to lose it on a bend is breath-taking.

its also personal preference as far as engines go. In Oz we have a guy (VW conversions - John Sharman) who has 120 engine adapters to fit onto VW transaxles. So I went the Subaru ea81 Brat engine. Its so smooth revving, starts easier, easier to maintain etc. am very happy with it.

I also have a 3 speed auto with mine. allows you to keep your hands on the bars.

and the roof, sunroof, the screen, got airbag suspension on the rear, just love riding it.

Anyway enjoy your trikes.

[B-2]

Can you give me the info on the guy that has the vw conversions kits. And is the Subaru ea81 engine air cooled I have not really looked at one so I am not sure. I have heard a lot of good things about them, are they very much more to build than a vw. I am just getting started building my trike, I have a vw trans axle & am going to get started bending tube for the frame after X-Mass. I am thinking about getting a new Vw motor but if the Sabaru motor is not that much more I may go that way.
Thanks Bill

[ea81slush]

He is in Queensland Australia and sends adapter kits world wide.

He is at : Home Page he prefers you to ring him but if you email expect a couple of days before he replies.

Subaru engines are water cooled and you need a good radiator system because they are prone to overheat.

I dont want to criticise VW engines. I understand why VW enthusiasts are crazy about their engines. They have that simpicity and air cooling. But they were not my prefered engine and the VW engines in Oz are getting costly to repair. If I was to modify mine it would require a lot of cash and I wasnt prepared to do it. So I sold my 1916cc twin weber engine for $3000 and spent $5000 total to fit a Subaru ea81 engine. I bought my engine off an old mechanic that reconditioned it 50,00mls ago and did a thorough job.

Read my conversion at:

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/vw-ba...onversion.html

But to sum up your questions....If you locate a very good running Brat/Brumby in Oz engine with good compression you are on the way. The adapter kit cost me $600 Australian plus postage. Its made with accuracy and was easy to fit.

You'll need a new rear main seal kit, some heat proof silicone, custom exhaust.

The Brat engine is pushrod so no timing belt to replace, tappets adjusted every 30,000 mls or so. There are two improvements you might need to consider-

1/ the distributer if it has points then upgrade to electronic. Eitehr way make sure the shaft isnt worn...if it is get it fixed or replaced.
2/ repalce the original Hitashi carbie with a Weber 32/26 mechanical twin throat. You will need to block of nearly all of the thousands of vacuum pipes coming into the manifold but its worth the effort.
3/ use iridium spark plugs. they are not cheap but last 40,000 mls or more and no gap to worry about.

The positives-

1/ the ea81 engine seems to rev our much better witha slight increase in torque and power. Maintenance is much less. My economy improved 40% with the Subaru engine.
2/ the weight of the Subaru ea81 engine is about the same as the VW engine. Means that no engine mounts are needed. The ea81 is also more compact meaning a bit more room for exhaust.
3/ The ea81 revs nicely and smoothly. I have a 3 speed VW auto and took it out for a run today.

Revved it out in 2nd gear and reached 70mph no problems (275/50/15 tyres.) In fact the tyres are too large and will revert back to the 295/50 15 tyres soon.
4/ A positive for me is that in our cold climate two small Kawasaki radiators at the front of my legs will provide a nice heater. This is posible with the VW engine but you need heat boxes- hard to come by and expensive, that take heat from the exhaust surrounds.
5/ Parts are cheap. Although rings and bearings are harder to source now but how often do you need them? And the micro aircraft industry uses the EA81 a lot so rings should become easy to come by eventually.
6/ The Ea81 can last a long time. Some say due to the lighter weight of my trike 1300lb compared to the Brat 2100lb it will enver wear out.
7/ Once the radiator set up is achieved it wont overheat. My VW engine, when towing a camper would overheat and I'd have to slow down. Again this might be due to the engine itslef and other VW engines may not ahve had that issue- check with the many VW owners here and ask them if their engine ever overheats. I really am careful not to make claims against VW engines when it could ahve been issues ONLY with my engine.

Negatives:

1/ You'll need a custom exhaust. Expensive. Also you need a connecting pipe between them just after the heads.

I picture below shows you this. This makes a really nice exhaust note.
2/ Depending on your laws you might need an engineering certificate
3/ Radiator issues. I used a Toyota MR2 radiator altohugh an Alfa one might have been smaller. read my conversion and see what I had to do. Under the seat area you need two thermo fans. Even then air had trouble gettign in there. So the 2 small radiaotrs up the front will fix that issue for good.
4/ A lot of owners that convert to Subau go for the later engines- the EJ series. I wnet Ea81 for a few reasons- simplicity (likely easy to fix on side of the road), no ECU, 6 wires only but many more with EJ, timing belts on EJ....overall jsut much more complicated (for me). An EJ18 or EJ20 would be a nice engine. Its up to you.
5/ If you discard the flywheel....done if you have an auto gearbox...then you at the same time discard the timing marks.

I recently found with the help of a top buddy with a ea81 engine also that 8 degrees BTDC the common timing mark is where the notch on the crankcase pully meets with the block halves. If you dont reaalise this then you have to time it by ear.

Thats my view. Personally I am very happy with the Ea81. But if you want to melt tar get an EJ20 or EJ22 if you dont have engineering concerns that flaunt the law.

Good luck B-2

[lasso]

That is a good looking ride. Went this weekend and picked up the paint for my body and gas/gauge tank. Its a dark blue with silver metalflake. All the wires are run for the engine and the body is ready to re-set to finish welding out. She's coming together a lot quicker than i thought.

[B-2]

Thanks for the info I have not started bending tubing for the frame, because I want to do a lot more lookiing to see what engine I want to use.
You have a really good looking Trike.
Bill