sean951
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| posted on 8/8/05 at 08:58 PM |
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new project
im pretty new to the forum as of posting, but i come here allmost everyday veiwing various threads. i keep up with most everyones builds (kb58, Alan
B, sgraber, ect.), and cant wait for updates. i want to think all of you guys for the wealth of knowledge you provide. pretty soon im going to start
with my own build, well after a lengthy research phase at least. the plan is to build a semi-tube frame bike powered honda N600. im actually going to
pick one up without an engine on saturday. im shure i will have loads of questions, but ill start with one. i was throwing around some ideas of how to
simplify my project, and wondered if i could use the front half of a locost (modified to suit) in my frame. basicly just want it for the suspension. i
figured if i had to make it less wide i could take some lenght out of the width of the tubes. keeping the wishbones the same size. i know i will have
to design my own rear suspension, but im wondering if i can borrow some from the locost at the front to simplify the build. any reason this wouldnt
work? thanks guys,
Sean
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kb58
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| posted on 8/8/05 at 09:09 PM |
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Welcome to the asylum. The right way to answer your question is for you to make a model of what you have, then pick where you want the roll centers
to be. In fact *the* first thing to do is read several design books so you know what you want. Here's my compiled list, and I especially
recommend the ones by Staniforth:
http://www.kimini.com/Reference/index.html
(It isn't easy to give you a good answer without knowing all the dimensions of your frame.)
Mid-engine Locost - http://www.midlana.com
And the book - http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/midlana/paperback/product-21330662.html
Kimini - a tube-frame, carbon shell, Honda Prelude VTEC mid-engine Mini: http://www.kimini.com
And its book -
http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/kimini-how-to-design-and-build-a-mid-engine-sports-car-from-scratch/paperback/product-4858803.html
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robinbastd
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| posted on 8/8/05 at 09:12 PM |
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Why not save the weight of a fourth wheel and build a trike? That way you might get some performance from your little engine!  It would also save
rear suspension related head-scratching.
Before I amassed my collection of Toyota 4age engines and associated rusty stuff I'd thought about grafting locost front and bike back ends.
Look...............
http://www.grinnallcars.com/content/scorpion_III/basics.html
Hope this helps!
Ian
Only a dead fish swims with the tide.
http://smuttygifts.com/
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sean951
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| posted on 8/8/05 at 09:17 PM |
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Thanks for chiming in, i wanted to say that your project is a huge inspiration to me. ive spent hours looking at your website. your right to, i think
i need to read some of those books and i will probly answer my own question, and clear up a few things. ill check out if there are any of those books
at the local library. thanks
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sean951
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| posted on 8/8/05 at 09:19 PM |
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trikes are really cool, especially the t42. but this is going to be based on a 4 wheeled car, its about the size of a mini, so i dont think it would
look right with one wheel sticking out the back
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sean951
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| posted on 9/8/05 at 12:50 AM |
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allright, i bought prepare to win, tune to win, engineer to win, and competition car suspension. well see how far that gets me. im pretty sure after i
read those i will be much better off than i am now. thanks for having that list kimini. used your links too
[Edited on 9/8/05 by sean951]
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kb58
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| posted on 9/8/05 at 01:13 AM |
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Glad I could help and thanks! Expect to refer to those books about a 1000 times, and to read them over and over.
About the engine, if you're going to all that trouble to build a car, you really should consider a larger displacement motor. The amout
of work to build your car either way will be the same, but the performance completely different. A 600cc bike goes okay, but stuff it into something
weighing 5x as much and it'll be a slug, as in, no torque. How do you plan to handle reverse? Quaife has a nice expensive solution for
that.
At one time I was very enchanted with bike engines but gave them up due to the low torque and no reverse. IF you can keep the weight down though
it'll be great. (I admit I've never gotten a ride in a BEC, so maybe I'm full of it.)
Good luck and happy reading!
Mid-engine Locost - http://www.midlana.com
And the book - http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/midlana/paperback/product-21330662.html
Kimini - a tube-frame, carbon shell, Honda Prelude VTEC mid-engine Mini: http://www.kimini.com
And its book -
http://www.lulu.com/shop/kurt-bilinski/kimini-how-to-design-and-build-a-mid-engine-sports-car-from-scratch/paperback/product-4858803.html
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sean951
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| posted on 9/8/05 at 01:46 AM |
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im pretty much dead set on a bike engine, really the reason i want to do this project. i will be using one of the larger engines (busa, ZX12R), and
maybe even turbo. ive found two different specs on the weight of a honda N600, one is 1213 lb, and the other 1355 lb. im hoping to lighten it up a
bit, (lexan windows, all the carpet etc. gone, tube frame, hopefully lighter engine, maybe even some composite bodypanels) considering the car came
stock with 36hp, 170-280(turbo) should be enough. plus i just gotta drive a car that redlines at 13k rpm, and the sound! guess thats the real reason
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Sven
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| posted on 9/8/05 at 02:23 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by sean951
allright, i bought prepare to win, tune to win, engineer to win, and competition car suspension. well see how far that gets me. im pretty sure after i
read those i will be much better off than i am now. thanks for having that list kimini. used your links too
One I found very useful was/is Chassis Engineering by Herb Adams. Some pretty useful algorithms and such.
-Steve
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sean951
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| posted on 9/8/05 at 02:49 AM |
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thats next on my list, couldnt justify buying so many books at once. ill buy them in stages, those should keep me busy for a while.
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robinbastd
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| posted on 9/8/05 at 09:23 PM |
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CLUNK!!
The penny drops.
Sorry Sean,I thought that the Honda 600 thing was a bike,hence my comments about ditching a wheel and puny motor.
It's all so much clearer now. Doh!
Ian
Only a dead fish swims with the tide.
http://smuttygifts.com/
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sean951
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| posted on 9/8/05 at 09:33 PM |
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No problem, i didnt know what one was untill recently. it actually does have a bike engine in it, making an incredible 36hp, aircooled 2 cylinder.
good thing is their really, really light. i wonder how it compares in size to a mini, probly pretty close. heres a bad pic of one.
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robinbastd
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| posted on 9/8/05 at 09:38 PM |
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Love the sideways racing stripe!
Only a dead fish swims with the tide.
http://smuttygifts.com/
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sean951
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| posted on 9/8/05 at 09:42 PM |
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i'll post a pic of the one i pick up, its a bit more ratty looking than that one....like lots. lol, dont know about the sideways racing stripe,
looks as if there trying to holding the bonnet on with some white tape.
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Tralfaz
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| posted on 9/8/05 at 10:12 PM |
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Stripe
quote:
Originally posted by robinbastd
Love the sideways racing stripe!
Well you can get it pointed in the 'right direction' when drifting around a sharp corner.
T
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sean951
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| posted on 10/8/05 at 12:04 AM |
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good one, by the way.....hows the supercharger coming? still going to use it? chances are good i may be using an r1 engine in this project and i
could use the extra power.
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