I have two old air cooled bike engines in the back shed. Both are old air cooled GS1000G's. Been toying with the idea of using them in my lotus
clone chassis. An engineer friend seems to think it shouldn't be a problem. His idea is to fit a large oil cooler, an electric fan, some alum
sheet around the cylinders like on a VW and then putting ducts in both sides of the bodywork. air would come in both from the normal grill opening and
the left side then be blown out the other side. These engines are tough as nails having roller bearings on the crank mains and rods. The oil pick-up
is in the center of the sump and we're thinking of maybe a acusump along with the oil cooler. We'd appreciate any thoughts or opinions.
[Edited on 22/5/05 by madman280]
Certainly possible. I would forget the idea of the tin shrouds around the cylinder blocks. These engines require an all over air stream to help cool
them.
Generally, I'm not fond of using toasters in cars, because they will run hotter than the later kettles, even with a larger oil cooler and their
life expectancy drops dramatically.
Having said that, the Legends run a 1200 Yamaha toaster, although they do get warm and are frequently fettled.
A good starting point for a toaster would be a 400mm x 275mm single pass cooler.
So if air cooled are toasters and water cooled are kettles, what are oil cooled Gixer 1100s etc, chip pans?
Deep fat fryers?
Thats a point, do they have / call them "chip pans" outside of the UK? "French Fry pan" doesnt have the same ring to it! 
Yeah, chip pan is fairly universal. My motocrossers used to smell like chip pans; burning Castrol R40. Truly one of the best smells in the
world....the mixture of Castrol R, freshly tormented earth and shredded grass.
And if you drop food down the inlet manifold you get a pressure cooker.
[Edited on 18/5/05 by clbarclay]
quote:
Originally posted by madman280
I have two old air cooled bike engines in the back shed. Both are old air cooled GS1000G's. Been toying with the idea of using them in my lotus clone chassis. An engineer friend seems to think it shouldn't be a problem. His idea is to fit a large oil cooler, an electric fan, some alum sheet around the cylinders like on a VW and then putting ducts in both sides of the bodywork. air would come in both from the normal grill opening and the left side then be blown out the other side. These engines are tough as nails having roller bearings on the crank mains and rods. The oil pick-up is in the center of the sump and we're thinking of maybe a acusump along with the oil cooler. We'd appreciate any thoughts or opinions.
[Edited on 18/5/05 by madman280]
Twin engined BEC
Way to go?
Mike
Hey us chip pan friers might be few and far between but there are some of us, and we are normal
quote:
Originally posted by mangogrooveworkshop
You could sell us the motors and buy a wet cooled jobby
Rorty posted this scarey picture in another thread:
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?acti
on=attachment&tid=26397&pid=215131
Being that I'm considering using a GS engine in my lotus clone, I was a bit concerned when I saw that picture. So I've done a bit of
research. I noticed that the rods in that picture are copper coloured and knife edged, something I've not seen on a modified GS before. I asked a
few others about it and someone mentioned that the prostock drag bikes use the GS engine, and they might be a product of Falicon engineering. Seems
they could be. http://www.faliconcranks.com/suzgs.htm
Then a google search for Dave Beck turned this up
http://www.eurodragster.com/news/features/dave_beck.asp It seems Dave is a British
Prostock drag racer and in the story he says the engines are 1650cc's and produce way over 300hp! So no wonder it broke like that. Makes me a bit
more comfortable in using a GS now. Thanks Rorty
[Edited on 23/5/05 by madman280]
An update:
Have made the plunge. I really have nothing to loose. I have the engines already, didn't cost much. A driveshaft adapter has been made up by my
machinist brother and a welder where he works. A oil cooler, electric fan and factory cooler adapter were donated to the cause. An engine is sitting
in the chassis awaiting mount fabrication. I figure I really don't have much invested, so what the hell, can always drop in the second engine or
switch to a water cooled one later. Will post the results if anyone is interested. Never know might make for some entertainment if all goes wrong.
CJ
[Edited on 23/5/05 by madman280]
what ever you do,
built allot of air stream through the chasis....
did you also think about traffic jam? for a couple of hours??
TKS
I've considered the traffic jam issue, hence the electric cooling fan, although living in a rural area, its unlikely I'll have any trouble. Looks like I'll have enough engines to keep it going for a while, I was given another GS engine today this one an 850. Seems they outlast the bikes, having roller bearings on the crank seems to make them bullit proof. Had a conversation with someone who had a full fairing and towed a trailer with an 850 for more than 50000 miles. Said his worse oil temp reading was 270F.
I'm jealous....people just give you bike engines?
Yup the 850 was just given to me. The guy thought the car was interesting. I'd done him a few favours in the past. He said it had been sitting in
his shed since the bike was wrecked and he wanted to clear out the shed. Needless to say I made sure to help him finish clearing out the shed and
hauled away some junk for him. Was a nice visit, a bit of work and a beer. He refused to let me buy even. Funny thing, I don't remember what I
had helped him with...lol..i know it was car related.
[Edited on 26/5/05 by madman280]