Were to find Cyclecar body style ideas?

[WarrenInDe]

I'm new to metal shaping and thought a cyclecar would be a good "learner" project. My sons seem it would be a good thing for me to build also!

I'm looking at it as a good father son project and a first step to maybe building a car with/for my son in a few years.

I'm looking for ideas for body styles. I would probably be interested more in a "street rod" type style than the style body Tinman and the others are working on. I guess that older style is where cyclecars started so that's what most have done.

What other type of bodies would look good as a cycle car?

Thanks,
Warren

[Tinman]

We are using the Stevensons formula that calls for the 17 " Honda motor cycle wheel. I guess it is kind-a up to you what you want to build. :P The wheels will be the determining factor. I think that 32 roadster or a "T" roadster would look cool. So as a search engine type in ( cyclekart ) and look what the Stevensons did. You can download the adobi versions of the fromula.

[Richard K]

Do a google search on "Harry Miller". Harry Miller and his draftsmal Leo Gossen built a series of beautiful race cars in the 20s. They are lean cars with an abundance of handsome details.

If you build one , I would like a ride!

[hsr]

Originally Posted by Tinman

So as a search engine type in ( cyclekart ) and look what the Stevensons did. You can download the adobi versions of the fromula.

I am gathering parts to build a Stevensons style cyclekart. I searched all through their site and any other site with related information that I've found. Didn't find anything to download, but did read the specifications page.

I'm not looking for plans, but I do have a couple of questions that I've been unable to find the answers to I am hoping someone will take the time to answer:

1. The front axle uphill angle (from leaf seat to king pin).
2. Caster and camber angles.
3. Width between the frame rails at the leafs and at rear axle.
4. Any additonal insight on attaching the hub to the rear drive wheel.
5. Plywood thickness.
6. Are the wheels soley "fronts" off the Honda?

Thank you in advance.

[Gonejunking]

Hi Jeff
If you read the spec page at Stevensons site, and look at the pictures, you should get a good feel for the size of the cars.
On the one I am building here are some of the spec's

Front axle 45 deg up bend, 14.5" outside to outside of the springs
3 deg toe in, 5 deg castor, 10 deg camber

frame rails 84" long

body 14" wide at front axle, 20" wide at seat back.
1/2 inch ply, grill shell 7075-0 .063 made over hammerform

17"x2" wheel, (Honda fronts) $25 each at Bent Bike, tires $10 each

Dumpster diving has built most of this car. I'll be done with it in about 2 weeks, and total cost will be under $250

The first 2 cars will be very locost, then on to the real fun of building the 3rd body out of aluminum.

[hsr]

Jeffrey,

Thank you for responding.

I'd sure like to find a few of the dumpsters you're diving into!

Bent Bike, is that bent-bike.com in Lynnwood WA?

What type of cars are you patterning after?

Thanks again,

[Gonejunking]

Hi Jeff
Yes Bent Bike in Lynnwood Wa.
I think I cleaned them out on 17" rim's, but they get more all the time.
If you look at BMI web site, they sell a new 17" rim with brakes for $35.
I'm building a MG TC style car. After reading about the car's on this site and Stevenson's, I decided to use a rear axle off a MTD riding lawn tractor. I found one at the swapmeet 2 weeks ago for $15, and then stopped at a garage sale on the way home and found a Brigs 5.5hp vertical shaft, electric start, in good running condition for $5.
Hold it, other way around. Found the Brigs first, then found the axle. Axle is from an early 70's MTD, manual drive/spider gears, and disc brake. 2 flats for bolting to the frame. It screamed cyclekart when I saw it.
If I can find some compression software, I'll post some photo's.

[hsr]

Jeffrey,

Hmmm. I have an old Snapper rider out in the shed. It has an 8hp Tecumseh vertical with electric start. The rear axle is too narrow, but I could sleeve and extend the shafts. It's a clunky fricton drive unit with a band brake. Weighs a ton.

I know speed is NOT the object of a CycleKart, but even my new CubCadet only does ~7mph. What do you expect of your MTD setup?

If you want to email me the photos, my address is j_mirch@yahoo.com

Thanks,

[Boogiemanz1]

Jeff, how much difference in diameter are the bike wheel/tires in comparison to your Cub Cadet? The larger the tire increases your gear..........or you cold run a jackshaft between the motor and transaxle and increase your speed with a sprocket change..........john

[Gonejunking]

Hi Jeff, John
The rear end is too narrow, but you have to look at the whole picture...... To make this work, you have to have something bolted to the wheel to get power to it....... Hub....
I'm making my hub's with shaft extensions on them to get the width that I need, also the extensions will go to the bearing mounted on the frame, so that the wheel loads are transferred to the frame and not the rear end.
To get the speed out of this, the drive pulley's will be changed and if needed a jackshaft will be added. I hope to get 25-30 mph out of this car. I'll know more this weekend after I test drive it.
One thing to remember...... I'm building this as simple and cheap as I can. I have 2 boy's that will most likely crash these cars within the first 2-3 hours, but because the first 2 will have mostly wood bodies, they will be able to fix them, themselves. The 3rd one that I'm building, will have the aluminum body, that one is for me!! It'll get the drivetrain like the Stevensons and Tinman's car.
I've taken photo's of the build, but I still haven't got the compression software so I can post them. Maybe I'll loosen my grip on a few greenbacks tonight and buy the software!