Thread: Mopar Reverse Trike

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Yes, here we go again. Planning yet another project before my wife's 48 is finished. There must be a 12 step program for this somewhere. BUT... Im committed to getting her's running and basically mechanically complete before I dive too far into this. Then we can start buying glass & rubber, putting interior together, getting some chrome redone, etc.

I've been checking out various three wheeled cars over the last several years and have really wanted to build one using a front wheel drive drivetrain. I'm planning on a tube chassis, single seater, center steer with one rear wheel and two front drive wheels. I picked up this Dodge 2.2 with a 2.5 roller head and an auto transaxle. I'll be a few months before I start putting the chassis together but since I pulled the trigger and bought the drivetrain I'm calling this the kickoff. Time to try out that tubing bender I bought a few years ago.

Should be a fun one!!!! As for the 12 step program, it don't work for Hot Rod Addicts!!!!!

It'll be interesting to see what you come up with.. Can't wait..

I have wanted to do a trike for years, but using the rear half of a motorcycle to drive in the rear and two steer wheels at the front. I know this has been done many, many times, but that doesn't keep me from wanting to do it too. I would be thinking lignt, light, light, with things like a wicker seat and maybe even using bamboo as the frame material.

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Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Should be a fun one!!!! As for the 12 step program, it don't work for Hot Rod Addicts!!!!!

Nope, this stuff goes to the grave with us.

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I remember you talking about this before and it definitely sounds like a cool build. I'm in for progress as you go. Good luck with it!

Originally Posted by techinspector1

I have wanted to do a trike for years, but using the rear half of a motorcycle to drive in the rear and two steer wheels at the front. I know this has been done many, many times, but that doesn't keep me from wanting to do it too. I would be thinking lignt, light, light, with things like a wicker seat and maybe even using bamboo as the frame material.

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Ok I hereby surrender the thread to Tech so I can watch him build a motorcycle powered bamboo rod! Tarzan Tech!

Whoops, maybe I should have just stood back and watched.

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I believe he has inhaled just a tad to much exhaust fumes....

OK, not a huge start but I had my son start putting the engine together since I had all the parts sitting there and he's been bugging me to start on this. We going to put the drive train together and start tossing some ideas around for a frame design.

And we're off! I can't wait to see what you guys come up with.

In to watch as I have too many projects to start an odd build too.

You know, I really do love my son but is it just me or are today's youth unable to finish anything they start? He bugged the crap out of me to get going on this thing and wanted to help but I got about 4 hours of work out of him and now he's too busy to mess with it. This is after I dig all the stuff out of the boxes, buy several parts, and make a day's trip to the boneyard to get a bunch of little stuff we were missing for the motor. And of course its spread all over my workbench so if I want space back, I have to put the motor together and get it out of the way. Oh well, when I was 24 I was kind of flighty too, I guess. Anyway, here the short block is together and the head tore down so I can get it resurfaced. Having a clean painted motor on the stand isn't all bad, maybe I'll start on a chassis once this is done.

Looking nice. I have to say, I have always had a hard time keeping on one project. It's something I've had to work on and isn't fixed yet.

I decided that with all the small parts I'm going to need and Missouri's law of documenting all the parts origins on a specially constructed vehicle; what I needed was a parts car with a clear title. I found this 1985 Omni for $175; clear title, and believe it or not the motor runs pretty good after just a battery and some fresh gas. Got it from a local car club member; it was his son's car in high school. His son died in 1994 and the car sat under a tree ever since. Actually less than 100,000 miles on it too.