1962 Buick 215 Aluminum V8
So I had this idea when I was a kid of building a motorcycle using a small automobile engine, and even though I am older and should be wiser, I am not. I still want to build one. Originally I wanted to use a 3.5 Liter aluminum V-8 engine, originally developed by Buick and later sold to Triumph and Rover. The same engine was used in the TR-8 and in the first V-8 powered Rovers (Land & Sedans). 3.5 Liters may sound like a big enough engine for a car now, but at the time (mid 1960's) it was minuscule. Muscle cars were using 427 cubic inch behemoths. 427 cubic inches translates to 7 Liters, twice the size of the little V-8 I had fantasies of using.
Nothing ever came of my idea, but several other people have been bitten by the same bug and gone off and actually built them. There is even a company building and selling them. They are monstrous brutes and I imagine they would be a thrill to ride. They have got to be heavy, though, and that means you have to be careful with them, especially at slow speeds.
The main motivation for using a car engine in a motorcycle is cost. Car engines are mass produced in far greater quantities than large motorcycles. You can get a great deal more power for a lot less money. Another advantage is reliability.
Factory produced motorcycles are built like airplanes. Everything is light weight, specially designed for this one purpose, limited quantities, and very expensive. Highly stressed machines like this require fastidious maintenance. One little error and a five thousand dollar engine goes up in smoke. On the plus side you get a high performance machine that will fly through the curves, compete with jet aircraft for acceleration, and stop on a dime.
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| Jame's Air Trike with a Geo Metro engine. |
Update December 2015 Replaced first missing picture with YouTube video. Replaced last missing picture with a similar one.
most 600cc and bigger motorcycle engines make 70 HP and more and are much lighter....and actually meant to fit in a motorcycle. the only reason to put an car engine in a bike is to be.....well, weird.
ReplyDeletehi, I.VE RECENTLY INSTALLED AN AUSTIN A30 800CC MOTOR INTO A ROYAL ENFIELD FRAME MY FRIENDS WONDER WHY I GUESS BECAUSE IAM A BRIT MACHINIST LOVE OLD VEHICLES AND IT WAS FUN
ReplyDeleteHi Guys;
ReplyDeleteI have a 1969 bike with a Ford 2ltr inline 4 cylinder engine. It drives with a centrifical clutch to a 90 degree gearbox, to convert to a chain-drive. It rides on 13 inch car tires and wheels. It's a big cruiser type motorcycle that is slightly larger than a HD Road King. Kids toys just get bigger when you "grow up" !
Hey, I would love to see your bike. Pic please?
DeleteAnonymous: we need a picture!
ReplyDeleteHi Guys;
ReplyDeleteI am thinking on putting a 4 cylinders car engine with manual gearbox on a bike frame.
But i was wondering of how could i shift the gears without losing contact with the steering bar.
Do you have any idea?
Just connet 125 cc bike gear box with crank shaft .
DeleteOriginally motorcycles used hand shifters. You could try that. Or use an automatic transmission.
ReplyDeletehands off to the bike builder
ReplyDeletedont give up
ReplyDeleteuse aluminium car engine across the frame
fit pre unit gearbox and either a extended input shaft or a idle shaft.
use the original clutch.
you then have foot change like all bikes should be and a hand clutch.
it does work.
i built bsa a10 extended frame,honda 750 front forks, reliant (dont laugh) 700cc engine,extended input shaft
no problems getting it taxed etc or insurance
Built a chopper using a Subaru 1800 boxer-engine, with an automatic gearbox. Will never use an automatic on a bike again though. Way too scary. Made a trike using an 1800 Subaru as well, using a manual box. That was far better to control
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! Using a Subaru engine and gearbox would mean minimal drive train work. A sprocket and a chain, eh?
ReplyDeletejust completed a bike using imprezza turbo with auto box.
ReplyDeleteit will be street legal from tomorrow.
i'd love to post some pics but dont know how!
Clive Edwards
I m going to put suzuki 660cc 3 cylinder 12 valve car engine in a bike with gear box of 125cc 5 speed and a clutch box can any body tell me will it works good or not i m woking on it
ReplyDeleteThe Suzuki engine could produce 60 some HP. 125cc bike engine produces about 10. More horsepower means more torque. The gearbox might work for a while, but if you try to put 60 horsepower through it (by giving the engine full throttle) it will disintegrate in short order. Question is, do you want it to run once? Or do you want it to be durable?
ReplyDeleteHhhh i stock on it how i will put the gear box of a motorcycle that can be shifted just like bikes?
ReplyDelete