Reliant gearbox to VW

[reliantman]

Andy.
How long is it from the diff to the head stock on a typical Manky trike? I think I have made my frame too long, and want to keep it in proportion.

[tony b]

overall length should be around 8 feet,the prop should be around 8"and the down tube from the headstock should be almost verticle,the more verticle it is ,the easyer to mount the origional rad,.

[reliantman]

I'm not worried about the rad as I'm using a Beetle lump, but I want to keep the trike short, and it looks too long. The frame is only tacked at the moment, so there is no problem cutting it up.
I think the Mankey trikes are just right, so would like to have my frame the same length. I am using leading link forks though, and won't have to worry about how long they are.

[tbone]

Doug, if it helps, i`ve got 56" from the front of my axle tubes to the centre of the headstock. Similier to the triple M design, the main frame (straight bit) extends to the back of the gearbox, with short rails from there to the axle.

[reliantman]

Thanks tbone.
I have 61 inches from diff to headstock, and could easily lose six from the front end to bring it back.

[tbone]

Re measured mine, from the diff flange to the headstock, at the same angle you marked on your pic is exactly 4 feet.

[reliantman]

Mines five foot 1 inch ( the frame, that is), which leaves me plenty of room to play with. I wanted to have the foot rests behind the engine but the rear exhaust headers are going to be in the way.
Looks like I will have to have fowards instead.

[Hagar]

Reliantman , use the frame in the 1st photo ..... no matter how much bling you hang on it the frame in the 2nd photo it will always look like a shopping trolly  ......... 


  ..  Hagar  ..   

[reliantman]

Probably be cheaper.

[tbone]

Your engine/box combo is slightly longer than the reliant one, which i rekon is about 32" overall, so your frame will have to be slightly longer too, by the time you shave 6" off though, it should be close enough. Will be interesting when Andy reads this and measures theirs as i suspect no two will be the same?

[reliantman]

I doubt if they are.
I'm planning on a very short prop, or none at all. It's not been completely worked out yet as my next job is to get some 6mm plate for the engine/gearbox adaptor, and the length will be adjusted to that.
I need to have at least a two inch gap between the VW bellhousing and the front of the piggy gearbox bellhousing because the VW clutch arm is in the way.

[trikerpete]

Hi Reliantman.
                      Is that a Reliant gearbox mounted onto that VW engine? An interesting combination, you'll have to let me know how you did that. Ive often thought about a forward mounted VW engine as my rear engined VW is a tad light on the front.
Cheers
Pete

[reliantman]

I'm using the bellhousing off a VW Type25 (Vanagon) watercooled gear box because it comes in a smaller unit than the older type one casing. I did look at using the beetle case but it would have made the whole lot 45 inches long, too much for my frame.
I have the drive shaft out of a beetle trans, and am hoping to make an adaptor which will slide over the reliant gearbox input shaft, if you get me.

Or you could go Swedish.

[trikerpete]

so are you telling me that the "clean bit" between the gearbox & engine is only 10" long?

[tbone]

Take another look at the first picture Pete, it shows the van bellhousing then a gap for the adaptor plate that he still has to make. I think what doug is saying is, that by using that combo its 10" shorter than using the beetle case.