On Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:01:19 -0700 (PDT), stryped
wrote:

Would it be possible to build a trike using the engine and transaxle
out of a front wheel drive car. With the radiator and everythign
behine the seat?

I have seen trikes before that did this, but the engine was backwards.
(Radiator was at the rear end of trike.) Why would this be?

I would love to build a trike but most are vw based and those engines
are becomming scarce.

You can move the radiator just about anywhere it will get enough
airflow (scoops and ducts count), and if you use an electric fan
instead of an engine driven one it's easy.

For radiator hoses you make up hard lines out of mandrel bent heavy
wall steel tubing (think muffler shop) or brazed copper pipe. Then it
only takes a short chunk of straight radiator hose (Gates Green
Stripe) at each end to connect the hard line to the engine block and
the radiator.

The big problem on a trike is keeping the center of gravity in front -
it's hard. You have to put all the weight you can toward the front -
the battery, fuel tank, etc.

Put wheelie bars on it to make sure you stay out of the hospital,
at least temporary ones till you are darned sure they are not needed.

And you can reverse the power train, but a reverse ring and pinion
gear or other dodges have to be available from a parts source.

-- Bruce --