9 replies to this topic

[Sc426hemi]

Hello all,

 

after typing this up I realized it was mostly just me thinking to a key board. maybe something will come of it maybe not. we will see how bad I actually want it.

 

I am at a point where I need to decide to probably rebuild my stock 998cc motor or do a swap of some sort. I have been soaking up info in the engine swap section here and looking all over youtube and elsewhere. If I were to do an engine swap the most cost and time effective is obviously just a 1380cc motor. That can drop in with the least modification. But to better fit my desires for all things weird an S&S 143 cubic inch (that comes out to 2.34 liters for people who don't feel like mathing) would be a great idea. In theory. it comes out of the box at 160+ HP and 155+ lb/ft torque and according to my dad whose a big harley guy they are easy to crank up a little higher. but its pretty expensive, about 10 grand for the motor new might have luck finding one for 3 off a wrecked bike.

 

Thinking of the how to bit... its a very big engine. with an immense amount of custom one off parts it could be mated to the tranny already in the car but then it will stick through the hood and nobody wants that. I could mate it to a RWD transmission of some sort and run the power to the back mounting the motor much lower in the bay and leading to a potential ground clearance issue from the transmission itself. 

 

Or, probably the best idea is to stick it in the back with an original style 6 speed add electric reverse and have it rear engined read drive. This sounds the simplest to me but then another issue arises. It is an air cooled engine and that was fine for old 40 horse VW bugs but a big noisy powerful V-twin i don't know. I am sure cooling ducts can be made and various things can be routed and maybe have some fans to help.

 

Has anyone seen or heard of this being done?

[Sc426hemi]

also here is the link to the V-twin I am talking about

 

https://www.sscycle....-black-edition/

[Scousemouse]

Think you'd be the first , Then again WHY has it not been done before ?? (prob best buyin 2 engines,just to balance it out)   best of luck.

[mini13]

I think it would be horrible, theres a reason cares have mutiple cylinders, the morre the better in terms of smoothness and drivability

[Carlos W]

Are these air cooled?

[Sc426hemi]

Are these air cooled?

Yes. they are. All except the motor for the Vrod but with that one you can't separate the engine tranny with could be rather problematic.

[Sc426hemi]

I think it would be horrible, theres a reason cares have mutiple cylinders, the morre the better in terms of smoothness and drivability

You think it would be horrible just because of these two or is there something more your thinking?

[mini13]

having driven 2 cylinder cars, they feel like lawn mowers at low revs,

 

basically 2 cyclinders will have half the power pulses, so to make the same power you need to either spin twice as fast, or double the torque per pulse, lets face it a harly lumps not going to be a revver....

 

I would be looking at a 4 cyl engine, and something water cooled.

[Carlos W]

having driven 2 cylinder cars, they feel like lawn mowers at low revs,

 

basically 2 cyclinders will have half the power pulses, so to make the same power you need to either spin twice as fast, or double the torque per pulse, lets face it a harly lumps not going to be a revver....

 

I would be looking at a 4 cyl engine, and something water cooled.

It has to be water cooled. 

 

Getting enough air, especially to the rear cylinder is going to be a huge issue

[Shooter63]

As a man that has owned more than enough harleys in my time I thought I would let you know a few things about the engines, apart from the vrod which was a porsche design,all the harley engines are incredibly long stoke even making the a series look like a short stroke revver.
To add to this the big end is a knife and fork job running roller bearings, which brings it's own problems of spalling at high revs, the oil pumps can't take more that a few minutes at +5500rpm as the evacuation side is poor. For my money I would use the x wedge as Morgan do in the same plane across the wheels, and rear wheel drive it, again a bit like Morgan but with 2rear wheels or not if you fancy a triked mini.

Shooter