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Re: [Tigers] Nano cars with motorcycle engines

To: "A. C. Tynes" <v8tracker@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Tigers] Nano cars with motorcycle engines
From: "Owain Lloyd" <owain.lloyd@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:12:45 +0100
its never going to be practical but you have to admit its fun:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6-_Hmjgjn7c

i discovered a few people have done what i'm planning....

On Wed, Jun 18, 2008 at 9:05 PM, A. C. Tynes <v8tracker@gmail.com> wrote:
> Cullen,
>
> I don't think it is a globally bad idea. There are, however, some additional
> difficulties and considerations in putting a modern bike engine in a car.
>
> Most bike engines and transmissions (Harleys and some of the other cruisers
> excepted) are designed for use as a unit, which means you either do without
> reverse or create a system of your own. Honda Goldwings, for example, use
> the starter motor to supply power to some sort of reverse gear arrangement.
>
> I don't think the lack of a reverse would necessarily be a bad thing in a
> race car, such as the Legends cars with motorcycle engines, but it could be
> a problem for an everyday car.
>
> Motorcycle engines (again with cruisers excepted) are also generally
> designed as high revving, low torque engines, especially the inline fours.
> Think 15-18,000 rpm for a street engine with max torque numbers less than
> half of max horsepower numbers. Again, it might not be bad for race cars,
> but lots of clutch slipping, shifting and thrashing for an everyday car.
>
> Most bike engines also have a throttle body or carb for each cylinder which
> complicates the tuning process a bit.
>
> Overall, I think a Honda VTEC 1600cc engine, for example, is a better swap
> than a 1300cc Hayabusa engine for a small car, but I would never discourage
> anyone from making any kind of swap.
>
> Don't get me wrong, I love motorcycles and ride about 10,000 miles a year.
> But, if I were to build a small car, I would be more likely to put a lightly
> stressed small block Ford in an old Geo Tracker that happens to be sitting
> around my house. Oh, wait - that is what I'm working on!
>
>
> A. C. Tynes
> New Orleans
>
>>
>> Just asking, not really looking for a debate, I just honestly don't really
>> know why its such a globally bad idea.
>>
>> Cullen
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