VW Trike?

[Ironheadziggy76]

I know this is a little out there, but a friend of mine is wanting to build a VW trike. :) Any particular engines out there to stay away from? Any preferred years? He's not looking to build anything fancy, just something for him and the pooch to cruise around on. He will probably build a small flat bed on the back. I have a couple of sections of 2.5" square tubing that has a wall thickness of 1/4" for the backbone that he spotted in my junky shop. I need to hide stuff better! :lol2

Anyone know of anyone who has owned one of these, or have any ideas, I'm all ears. I told him the first thing to do would be to see how he will get it titled and tagged, before he spends any money on anything.

What say y'all?

[bigTom]

I had a real good buddy that rode one (mostly in the winter) for years, until a BDC ran over it in Florida...He didn't have a car (in Spokane, WA), rode his Valk in the summer and the VW (with heat vents) in the winter...

His was 'kit' built. I have no idea where or even when he got it, but it was a road warrior for years. Good wheelie machine, too:)

[thomasroy]

http://btw-trikers.org/uploads/home.php

Is a web site he may want to go to and ask that question. The have a pic board with a lot of trikes and even a classfied sec.
thomas

[SidecarMike]

I know this is a little out there, but a friend of mine is wanting to build a VW trike. :) Any particular engines out there to stay away from? Any preferred years? He's not looking to build anything fancy, just something for him and the pooch to cruise around on. He will probably build a small flat bed on the back. I have a couple of sections of 2.5" square tubing that has a wall thickness of 1/4" for the backbone that he spotted in my junky shop. I need to hide stuff better! :lol2

Anyone know of anyone who has owned one of these, or have any ideas, I'm all ears. I told him the first thing to do would be to see how he will get it titled and tagged, before he spends any money on anything.

What say y'all?
I may know someone with one he doesn't ride anymore. PM me if your friend is interested in buying one.

[Ironheadziggy76]

I knew I could count on y'all! P^

bigTom, that's good to hear. I was thinking that the VW engines would be reliable, especially with the small load of the trike to pull around.

thomas, thanks for that link. There are some sharp looking trikes on there! P^

SidecarMike, I will ask him about buying one, but he is even cheaper than I am! :eek: Another thing is we have a gentleman here locally that owns a huge VW only salvage and repair business. He can probably pick up the running gear pretty reasonable.

After looking these over, I can't help but think one of these would look incredible if Blues Traveler built the body work for it! P^

[Zippo]

I know this is a little out there, but a friend of mine is wanting to build a VW trike. :) Any particular engines out there to stay away from? Any preferred years? He's not looking to build anything fancy, just something for him and the pooch to cruise around on. He will probably build a small flat bed on the back. I have a couple of sections of 2.5" square tubing that has a wall thickness of 1/4" for the backbone that he spotted in my junky shop. I need to hide stuff better! :lol2

Anyone know of anyone who has owned one of these, or have any ideas, I'm all ears. I told him the first thing to do would be to see how he will get it titled and tagged, before he spends any money on anything.

What say y'all?

Those 40 HP Volkswagen engines were a pretty good engine and darned easy to work on. I think they were available in the '61 or later Bugs (previously they were using a 36 HP model). There used to be a lot of kits available to hop up the engine - bigger psitons, sleeves, and blowers, etc but I don't know what's around anymore. Here's an image of a Volkswagen trike we saw last year:

http://www.zipsicle.com/vstar/pics/jettrike.jpg

And:

http://www.zipsicle.com/vstar/pics/jettrike3.jpg

[Mr. Guy]

That's funny. It would have to be someone from Oklahoma though. LOL

Guy

[Ironheadziggy76]

That is funny, a Blackbird trike!

[Zippo]

That's funny. It would have to be someone from Oklahoma though. LOL

Guy

Ha! Yeah. We stopped and talked to the guy briefly at the gas station. Very nice fellow. He built it himself. The whole handlebar/dash unit lifts up so that he can climb in and out of it. I can attest that the thing really scooted down the road and we had to work a bit to keep up with him. Very creative rig and very well built...

[tx_northstar]

I had several beetles in high school. Most were German but a few were made in Brazil. All after 1967 were 12 volt electrical. My 1967 had a 1500cc engine but I think in 1968 they jumped to 1600cc. My Brazil made beetle had the 1600. I don't know if there is a difference besides displacement but I would assume there are more 1600's out there to get parts from.

[Ironheadziggy76]

Zippo, and tx northstar, I'll pass that info on to my buddy. He was supposed to talk to the guy that has the parts yard but I haven't heard from him.

[jerseyst]

1600 or 1776 is the motor to go with. Titling might be an issue if you are building it yourself.

[thomasroy]

Ironhead ziggy76
There is a web site called Brothers of the Third wheel. http://btw-trikers.org/uploads/home.php which is mostly VW trike.
thomas

[Blues Traveler]

Years ago my best friend owned a custom paint shop. He painted many many bodies for something called a Stires Trike. Stires (Clyde Stires) would put any size VW motor you asked for but it seemed the favorite was a 1600cc. This seemed to be more than enough power since the trikes alway's seem to be very light in the front. Yep, that long springer front end made for a very light front end and would reach for the sky when unexpected.:eek: Eventually a more conventional fork was used with better results.

As for the year VW went to a 1600? 1967 was considered to be the best year for VW. First year 12 volt along with a 1600cc motor.

[Ironheadziggy76]

Thanks for the info guys, my buddy is still trying to figure out what style he is wanting. I'm trying to talk him into something that he can haul gear with like a little stake bed on the back with a place to haul his pooch too.