88 blazer trike

[rrunner]

Just tap on the eagles head and you can see my current ride.

 

[Fowler]

Just tap on the eagles head and you can see my current ride.

I like it!

 

[Fowler]

did some more work on the trike yesterday.

Need to finish up the welding today adding some gussets and braces here and there.

Sorry the low quality of the picture. The camera on my phone sucks

I left plenty of room around the engine on purpose.

My first trike (http://3fowlers.com/firsttrike.html ) did not have very much room and it was hard to work on at times. Also I am thinking of making a fold down hood like on old truck (not sure on that though)

 

[LarryA]

reply

bob..looking good....like your neck/engine bay bracing/dash mounting....nice combination of structure!

please take a front/rear pic if possible thanks, larry

 

[Fowler]

bob..looking good....like your neck/engine bay bracing/dash mounting....nice combination of structure!

please take a front/rear pic if possible thanks, larry

from left frame to right frame is 22 1/4

So I should be 11 1/8 center

Im a little off but not much

Measuring with my my homemade plumb bob

I also took measurements from different points on the frame to the top and bottom of the neck



Neck is just tacked in for I can adjust it one way or another if needed



I split a 2x2 square tube down the center, 1 on each side.

I was going to use a full 2x2 but it took up to much room in the center open spot.

 

[Gorilla]

Starting to take shape.

 

[LarryA]

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Bob...liking what you have done so far!

one more ? if i may.....will your feet go outside of the hinged hood, or is there room for your feet between the dash uprights?? curious! larry

 

[Fowler]

Bob...liking what you have done so far!

one more ? if i may.....will your feet go outside of the hinged hood, or is there room for your feet between the dash uprights?? curious! larry

outside the hood (if I even make a hood)

This shows about where my feet would go, this is a old pic so you have to approximate on the new pic with the dash uprights

I had to make the dash narrow on the bottom just for my legs would not rub against the dash uprights

 

[peteg59]

For what its worth, it looks cool with the engine in full view, IMO.:clapping:

I would see how much heat gets thrown onto you before hiding the mill from view, if that's your reason for a hood?

I'm sure you've already thought about this, but depending on how you engineer the cooling system, it might run a bit hotter with the mill in an enclosure...:Shrug:

 

[Fowler]

For what its worth, it looks cool with the engine in full view, IMO.:clapping:

I would see how much heat gets thrown onto you before hiding the mill from view, if that's your reason for a hood?

I'm sure you've already thought about this, but depending on how you engineer the cooling system, it might run a bit hotter with the mill in an enclosure...:Shrug:

To be honest the reason I was thinking of a hood was I thought it would look good. I was not thinking about the cooling of it.

I want to to look like a truck/trike

As far as the cooling I have a large radiator in back and have room for a smaller one in front if needed. Will connect them in series if I have both. I have seen this done and it seem to work well.

Got other stuff to do the next couple days but once I get time I am going to check the neck alignment again and weld it in place. Right now its just tacked in.

 

[rrunner]

Don't think you'll have cooling issues. My v8 has a rear mount radiator and is good at keeping the motor cool. My next build will have radiator up front, single seat, and a small truck box on the rear. Build is pending on parts acquisition.

 

[Fowler]

Don't think you'll have cooling issues. My v8 has a rear mount radiator and is good at keeping the motor cool. My next build will have radiator up front, single seat, and a small truck box on the rear. Build is pending on parts acquisition.

My radiator will be lower than my engine.

On my first trike (back in the 80s/90s) it had a serge tank.

Basically water flow was from engine to radiator to surge tank back to engine

Was thinking of doing the same on this trike.

How is your cooling ran, Where to you fill it?

 

[Fowler]

Last week I was getting off the trike and caught my leg on the seat.

I did not realize until the next day that I hurt myself.

I must have pulled a muscle in my hip because I have not been able to walk since Friday Morning.(no Friday night boxing last week)

It is getting better. I can at least put own pants on now.

Having a Jacuzzi is really helping with the recovery

Did not go to the doctor. I could go to VA but that has always been such a pain and they will just give me more drugs. I don't want more drugs.

So work on the trike and the other projects I have has been put on hold.

 

[LarryA]

A pro bull rider was once asked, what was the most important ability of some one in his business.......he replied, the ability to heal fast.

Heal fast Bob.

 

[rrunner]

My current trike with radiator in rear is a pain, to get the air out of the system I have to raise the rear high enough to get radiator neck above engine level. Run it and add coolant until it's full.

 

[Fowler]

My current trike with radiator in rear is a pain, to get the air out of the system I have to raise the rear high enough to get radiator neck above engine level. Run it and add coolant until it's full.

That's why I am adding the tank. It will be the highest point in the cooling system.

 

[LarryA]

did the same thing........a little more coolant capacity, plus surface area of tank gets rid of some heat also. Needed the tank for expansion area too.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Have y'all tried this? It is a spill free and burp funnel kit

We used these in the shop on the Imports, They were ALWAYS a pain to burp the air out of

I believe Harbor Freight has one similar now for a good price

 

[Fowler]

So I am up and walking around now.

I hope to work on the neck alignment this weekend

It at 35 degrees so that's good

It is only tacked welded to right now so I can make room to adjust it

I have the 2 adjustments I am concerned about drawn below

I ran a plumb bob down the center of the neck and that tells me the bottom of the neck is real close

Need to figure out if the top is center also.

Any tips on neck alignment?

 

[vwbug72501]

https://www.chopsource.com/frame-jig-neck-cones-1018-mild-steel.html

Couple of cones like these and a 3 ft length of threaded rod will allow you to precisely locate the neck geometry. Leave the cones and rods in while you weld up the neck so you can see any distortion or movement while applying welding heat. Weld up in a rotating pattern a little at a time so it doesn't warp.