Motorcycle engine onto a VW tranny??

nicanor · Post by **nicanor** » Thu Oct 25, 2001 7:03 pm

I've been thinking of different engines to stick in my project car. I also realized that the Honda Valrkries motorcycles are V6's and (I think) about 1500cc. This seems like a good matchup with my car and small enough to fin under the hood. Plus it's aircooled so no messing with radiators. Does anyone know if this is even possible?

Also I ran into a kit car with a VW tranny and a Harley engine: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/e ... 44&r=0&t=0

James2 · Post by **James2** » Thu Oct 25, 2001 9:13 pm

Man, that guy on ebay is on some serious drugs. $38,000.00 ??? For what? I could put a HD motor in a Meyers Manx and have the same basic thing for about 35000 less.

PapaG · Post by **PapaG** » Fri Oct 26, 2001 2:12 pm

I was just how much HP does a Harley engine make?

nicanor · Post by **nicanor** » Fri Oct 26, 2001 2:31 pm

I don't know much of anything about motorcycles, but what I've heard about Harleys are you either love them or hate them. Most people I know hate them since they require more maintance than most other engines.

I just want a Honda Valkrie V6 1.5 engine in my bug. I've heard people tow trailers with boats on their motorcycles with that engine. Anyone has any clues or suggestions? I'll email Kennedy Products to see if they have anything. But if there's one for Harleys only, I might consider going that route, but prefer another type.

James2 · Post by **James2** » Fri Oct 26, 2001 5:42 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by nicanor:
<B>

I just want a Honda Valkrie V6 1.5 engine in my bug. I've heard people tow trailers with boats on their motorcycles with that engine. Anyone has any clues or suggestions? I'll email Kennedy Products to see if they have anything. But if there's one for Harleys only, I might consider going that route, but prefer another type.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

WHY put a hd motor in it??????????????? Less power, more cost, more vibration. I can see using the little 6 cylinder, that would be pretty smooth. But a HD is a big step down in performance, with a big increase in cost.

nicanor · Post by **nicanor** » Fri Oct 26, 2001 11:47 pm

Like I stated before, I'd rather not have a Harley engine but if that's the only motorcycle engine that would fit on my tranny then I might consider it. I don't really like Harleys to begin with will most likely not happen.

nicanor · Post by **nicanor** » Fri Oct 26, 2001 11:50 pm

I just got a reply from the seller of that auction and this is what he had to say about the engine mod fro the VW tranny:

we use a custom apt plate, they cost $2500.00 each when I order 5 at a time,
so building yours and making it work would cost min $10000.00

Umm...I don't think so.

wildsk810 · Post by **wildsk810** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 8:40 am

He's just a moron who can't fab anything on his own.

calereeves · Post by **calereeves** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 10:32 am

Seems to me all the adt. plate would be is a piece of 1/4" or so sheet, cut into the shape of the VW bellhousing, with the bellhousing bolt holes drilled, and the motorcycle bolt patter drilled in the center. Use VW clutch and figure out how to mate it to the motorcycle output shaft.?
cale
sounds like a cool project!
keep us posted

Ford_Nut · Post by **Ford_Nut** » Mon Oct 29, 2001 11:13 pm

Wouldn't you have to cruise at very high RPM's to get the power needed to move the wt of the bug?

dwestmodesto · Post by **dwestmodesto** » Tue Oct 30, 2001 1:22 pm

I was at the Hollister Bike Ralley this summer. Corbin had a prototype minicar based on their electric car, the Corbin Sparrow. The prototype of the car was running a S&S Vtwin, with a standard VW 4 speed trans from a beetle. The S&S is a popular replacement for the harley motor, it can be easily built up to over 100 hp. Corbin said their final product was going to run a audi automatic trans, but the prototype was easier to set up with the VW motor. I ride a Suzuki Intruder LC 1500. It has more HP and torque than my volkswagons. Air/oil cooled,
fun, fun, fun...

nicanor · Post by **nicanor** » Tue Oct 30, 2001 2:29 pm

I considered preordering their COrbin Merlin car. After a long thought I decided not to. They run $19k and will be available late 2002/ early 2003.

Maybe I should look into the SS engine instead.
http://www.corbinmotors.com/products_merlincoupe.html

Brutus · Post by **Brutus** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 6:39 am

Harley engines definately are low hp - digure 50hp or less for a stock one -might as well keep the VW engine. The Valkerie I understand - sweet modern engine - over 100hp, and mucho torque. The Harley engine had out dated technology when Porsche started his first beetle prototype and it hasn't improved much since!

The problem with the Valkerie engine - if it's like most motorcycle engines - the transmission is part of the bottom end casting - you can't separate the engine from the transmission.

That's why the harley conversion works so easy ($2500? I gotta start selling those myself) - the Harley engine and transmission are seperate pieces connected with a belt.

If you can figue out how to make it work - make three of everything, sell them and cover your costs!

Oh ya, I didn't see anyway on that e-bay harley/vw that air was going to get to that engine. Not saying it wasn't there, I just didn't see it.

fweem1970 · Post by **fweem1970** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 10:22 am

why waste your money on the moter cycle conversion when for half the price you could build a type 4 moter with the same or more torque and more hp and un like the type 1 its a very relible engin that can run 100,000 plus miles no probits a bolt on conversion only thing needed is a difrent fly wheel so if you want to know more check out http://aircooledtechnology.com/

blight · Post by **blight** » Tue Nov 20, 2001 7:31 am

speaking of harley powered cars has anyone seen these things? -I agree with fween1970
there are alot of alternatives,even to aircooled that seem more reasonable -but to each his own!