The trike (motorcycle) continued

GPster · March 16, 2006, 04:49:19 PM

I have a friend that was involved in a motorcycle mishap. She was riding on the back of a motorcycle when it went down in a slow curve. She and the driver got up and dusted themselves off when she got hit head-on by the next motorcycle in the pack. She is paralized from the arms down. Before I started driving we had that in common and talked about 3 wheelers. She asked me if I would use some of my ideas and build her one. I said yes with the stipulation that she had to be able to drive a car first. Well I'm driving and so is she. Not only that but she has finally got a court date in August with the insurance company (it's been about 4 years and she didn't die). So this question to qualify some of my ideas. The GEOs between '84 and '95 (?) show the 3 cylinder 1 liter motor and I seem to see them with an automatic transmission. They are FWD are they not? Is the automatic transmission serviceable? Do they make a carburated engine? My thought is to start with a FWD assembly and use it in the rear with the steering locked. Maybe shorten the axels to bring the tread width in (maybe do away with the suspension and make it a "Hard Tail") and undersling it so that a wheelchair can sit on its wheels in front of the engine/trans/rear wheels. I'd also like to think carburator for cable operated throttle and no high pressure fuel pump in the tank. I'm taking her to dinner tomorrow night to eat with a bunch of our "Biking" buddies and if the subject comes up I'd like to have some ideas for her. I haven't checked our library yet if they have any GEO repair books but if someone knows of a site on-line for them or any other ideas for a small traverse engine/transaxel assembly you could point me in another direction. GPster

Sean · March 16, 2006, 06:54:33 PM

I don't think any of them were carbureted, but I may be wrong. I do know that the Geo "Storm" was a pretty good runner for what it was. I test drove one when they first came out in '90.

unklian · March 16, 2006, 08:45:22 PM

When Ed Roth did the Stealth 2000,
he used FWD Geo running gear,mounted in the back,
with MSD ignition,and an S&S carb.
That way he didn't have to screw with the factory
computerized electronic ignition and EFI.

No idea how much of the transmission is computer controled.

unklian · March 16, 2006, 08:48:36 PM

Also check out the Trike forum on Chopperweb.net

http://www.chopperweb.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=50

Glen · March 16, 2006, 10:01:10 PM

A guy here in AZ has bolted a GEO motor to a Suzuki Samurai trans to convert to rear wheel drive in a Track T. His plan is a Turbo with a carb setup.

It is not rolling yet......Tony might know more about the status of it.

GPster · March 16, 2006, 10:40:16 PM

Quote from: "unklian"Also check out the Trike forum

I looked but there certainly isn't anything there to ride from a wheelchair. Also checked out the Stealth 2000 but I suppose I'll have to find a magazine article on it to see those particulars on carb and ignition. Looked at about 200 entres of the 660,000 hits for GEO Metro on the best of the WEB and didn't find anything educational so I guess I'll have to revise my question. Maybe I could use a Subaru and do the Ultra-lite 2 cylinder conversion to the motor. GPster

unklian · March 16, 2006, 10:49:58 PM

You are charting new waters,so there won't be
a whole lot of information available.

The carb on Roth's Stealth was just a regular S&S sidedraft
carb like on a lot of Harleys.Perhaps not the very best choice
for a car motor,but good enough for his needs.

I think the rad mounted beside the motor,above the transaxle.

After watching Russel Mitchel riding his rigid trike through downtown Detroit,I'd seriously reconsider the rigid idea for this one.

GPster · March 17, 2006, 12:08:29 AM

Quote from: "unklian"After watching Russel Mitchel riding his rigid trike through downtown Detroit,I'd seriously reconsider the rigid idea for this one.

Thanks for that little bit of information. I know early Harley side cars only sprung the body and the wheel was solid to the frame and the only springing on an early "hard tail" was just for the seat. I was playing in my mind with just springing a set of rails that the wheels for the wheel chair would be locked in. It seemed like a good idea. GPster

GPster · March 17, 2006, 09:11:29 AM

OK, lets open up this question a little. Give me an idea of a small FWD powerplant combination with an automatic transmission that is traverse mounted and carburated. Horhey, add 1 wheel to your current thinking. GPster

sirstude · March 17, 2006, 11:24:01 AM

My dad's first 2 Geo's were carburated. So they did make such an animal. I don't remember what year they were though.

Doug

48ford · March 17, 2006, 01:16:26 PM

Quote from: "GPster"OK, lets open up this question a little. Give me an idea of a small FWD powerplant combination with an automatic transmission that is traverse mounted and carburated. Horhey, add 1 wheel to your current thinking. GPster

This may work,
I was thinking ,A pontiac fiero(spelling) thay were rear engine,and I think independent rear swing arms,and they came with an automatic tranny.
I know this is outside the box,but it may be a way out.
Anyones Ideas?
Russ&Irene

enjenjo · March 17, 2006, 05:03:13 PM

Ford Festiva had a small engine, was available with an automatic trans, and used a carb. The Geo had a TBI injection, so a carb should be easy to adapt.

GPster · March 17, 2006, 09:04:53 PM

That's a good idea. Not as large as most but it is a little bigger than the GEO 1 liter mill. Thought about the Plymouth Horizon and maybe I could only use 2 cylinders. Had supper with her tonight and she never mentioned it. Maybe I'm safe for a while. Most of the Fieros around here the owners think they're worth a bunch of money because they were "one-offs" Of course everyone that has one also has a second one to use as a parts car. GPster

unklian · March 17, 2006, 09:44:39 PM

The Fiero transaxle is the same as any other latemodel GM FWD.
The only difference is the steering being locked,and the monting cradle.

One consideration will be the shifter.Some FWD transaxles would not
be suitable because of how the shifter housing expends sraight out the back.I know the Fiat 128 was link this,and I thing the old Minis as well.
Of course,they were also manual transmissions,but something to keep in mind.

GPster · March 17, 2006, 11:57:24 PM

Quote from: "unklian"The Fiero transaxle is the same as any other latemodel GM FWD..

I remember reading that Fieros were put together with off the shelf parts. If thsi project materializes it will need to be an automatic. It's a shame so much Corvair hangs behind the axel. They had a powerglide type trans and were air cooled. GPster