V8 trike build.

Morrisman · Oct 28, 2023

Farside said:
I'd suppose the bellhousing bolt pattern of your engine must be carried on into the present day (or recently) which would surely make finding a suitable box easier.
Or adapter, and fit an RX-8 manual box, which will take the power. Relatedly, did the RX-8 ever come with an auto?

I have heard about this box before, and I've also heard guys in the US drop Chevy motors in MX5s running the stock gearbox and rear axle, without any problems. I shall do research.

Morris · Oct 28, 2023

How much extra work would be involved to fit a different gearbox?
You will need a flywheel, clutch, master and slave cylinders (don't forget brackets etc) chassis mods, new prop, shifter plus all the other issues that will inevitably crop up. All for a gearbox that might live with the torque. The cost will be similar to rebuilding the auto but set you back months.

Morrisman · Oct 28, 2023

Morris said:
How much extra work would be involved to fit a different gearbox?
You will need a flywheel, clutch, master and slave cylinders (don't forget brackets etc) chassis mods, new prop, shifter plus all the other issues that will inevitably crop up. All for a gearbox that might live with the torque. The cost will be similar to rebuilding the auto but set you back months.

Yes, it could well be more hassle than just getting the th350 rebuilt.
I’ve put the valve body to soak in some citric acid solution this morning, I’ll see if it is savable and maybe have a go at rebuilding the box myself. A full kit is not too expensive. A front pump should be fairly easy to obtain.

I’ve just had my driveway relaid and widened, in fancy blocks, so I’m pretty skint at the moment.

Blobber · Oct 28, 2023

I have got a 4L30E stashed away that I bought to go on the back of an LS1 but it never happened, supposedly rebuilt built but we all know what that can mean! your more than welcome to try that but it does need a standalone ECU

Morris · Oct 28, 2023

That's not a very strong transmission, they were used on four and six cylinder stuff.

minimutly · Oct 28, 2023

Morris said:
That's not a very strong transmission, they were used on four and six cylinder stuff.

Matters not, it’s squirting a trike plus rider down the road...

Morris · Oct 28, 2023

minimutly said:
Matters not, it’s squirting a trike plus rider down the road...

I get that. I'm not a gambler, I like to know it definitely won't break. With a lightweight transmission on a torquey engine that's not a given. But it's not my decision.

Blobber · Oct 28, 2023

My mistake, its a 4L60E

jsf55 · Oct 28, 2023

4l6oe is a tidy box for a trike, but it would have to be the same length and a stand alone control which isn't cheap and a decent torque convertor cause if it came out of a truck you wouldn't stop it pulling in gear !

Morrisman · Oct 29, 2023

Blobber said:
I have got a 4L30E stashed away that I bought to go on the back of an LS1 but it never happened, supposedly rebuilt built but we all know what that can mean! your more than welcome to try that but it does need a standalone ECU

Chances are it's too long for my application. And I don't even have a prop shaft to shorten, the output UJ connects direct to the rear diff U.K. Thanks for the offer though.

Blobber · Oct 29, 2023

Morrisman said:
Chances are it's too long for my application. And I don't even have a prop shaft to shorten, the output UJ connects direct to the rear diff U.K. Thanks for the offer though.

No problem, if you need any dimensions let me know

Morrisman · Oct 29, 2023

Well I think I've lined myself a Powerglide up now. 50lbs lighter, 2 speeds, a bit simpler, and will fit where the th350 goes.

Norsk · Oct 30, 2023

Morrisman said:
Yes, it could well be more hassle than just getting the th350 rebuilt.
I’ve put the valve body to soak in some citric acid solution this morning, I’ll see if it is savable and maybe have a go at rebuilding the box myself. A full kit is not too expensive. A front pump should be fairly easy to obtain.

I’ve just had my driveway relaid and widened, in fancy blocks, so I’m pretty skint at the moment.

I rebuilt a TH400 years ago,I bought a kit with a CD rom (see it was ages ago) and borrowed an old laptop to play it on when I was underway. Its really not that hard to rebuilt an auto trans but I would suggest contacting the supplier of the kit and tell them what the kit if for. I bought a "tow pack" clutch set and it towed beautifully but unloaded it shifted pretty hard.

Morrisman · Nov 2, 2023

Handbrake lever suitably modified, gives enough cable travel to tighten up on the brakes now. Still a bit spongy but once the pads are bedded in it should be better…. hopefully.

Morrisman · Nov 4, 2023

A bit more dry build.
The bed is in place, electrics box has had a coat of the chocolate paint. I need to find a way of securing the lid on, which is also the passengers seat.

Some sort of latches or locks required to secure it, but so it can easily be removed to access the electrics which will lurk inside, some day.
I shall have a main power shut off tucked out of sight, somewhere around this box, with a removable key, so all power can be isolated easily.

.

Morrisman · Nov 12, 2023

More silliness, more cubic ££, and I now have a Powerglide sat on the garage floor. It's a 2 speed, and what I really wanted to use when I started the project, as it's a bit lighter, a bit slimmer, and a bit stronger than the 3 speed. It has been rebuilt and has a th350/400 input shaft fitted, so there's a bigger variety of torque convertors available. I need a flex plate and torque converter and then it can go into the frame, and the build can proceed.

Oddly enough, the th350 slip yoke I already had, for the output shaft, fits perfectly. I was sure they were different sizes, so that's a few quid saved.

I've fitted the cooling fans, and the radiator is having rubber strip glued on anywhere it will contact metal, and that's ready to go in. I may spray the fans whatever colour the body is eventually, make them blend in a bit rather than stick out like dogs danglies.

Slowly, but surely.... :thumbup:

Cobbler · Nov 12, 2023

I have a torque converter & flex plate in the shed from a 4.6 Range Rover, is that any use to you. It’s my son’s but I don’t think he will ever use it, I can check for you if it fits your needs.

Morrisman · Nov 12, 2023

Cobbler said:
I have a torque converter & flex plate in the shed from a 4.6 Range Rover, is that any use to you. It’s my son’s but I don’t think he will ever use it, I can check for you if it fits your needs.

Thanks, but I doubt it will fit the two different sets of Chevy splines internally.

jsf55 · Nov 12, 2023

Give Adam Sayers a shout mate, he might know for bits ?

Morrisman · Nov 27, 2023

Hardly done anything recently, but fettled the welds and put a coat of chocolate on the main set base frame. Did some finished welding on the numerous exhaust pipe bits.
Today I knocked up some 'captive nuts' to rivet to the seat bases so they can be bolted down. A bit over kill, some 8mm Rivnuts would have sufficed, if I had any... :whistle:

I broke out the Tig for a little stainless practise, quite pleased with the results, though they'll never be seen again once the seats are upholstered.

Something I saw on Youtube, the guy was explaining most beginners go far too slowly when tig welding, and that you need to get in there with the heat and move along, so the job doesn't get hotter and hotter and start basically burning up the metal. I've only show 5 of the 8 nuts here, for that reason...... :ashamed: