I want to build a unique midengine trike with a stock turbo 1.9 TDI with just a mild street ported head but set up like the old school 1.6 turbo Rabbit without the electrconics. I am wondering can a TDI engine and OD autotrans be turned 90 degrees and use the then rear facing half shaft for the front section of a drive shaft to a corvette rear suspension? Can I use the now front facing inner axle bearing hub minus the bearing, plugged into the trans and lock it down so it never spins and run the engine power out through the other now rear facing half shaft? Mating a corvette driveshaft and a VW half shaft should not be to wildly difficut. I plan to use an old school super bug 4 lug bug left front hub with a disc brake so I can run a 15x4 polished center line wheel and a stock 155 R 15 front tire. I will make a left front half axle that threads onto hub spindle and locks the spindle nut in place and is threaded for an outer axle nut to attach the wheel assembly to the girder style front end. I'm thinking 18 x 7 center lines on the rear with tall 265 or 275 75 R 18 street tread tires on the rear. I'm hoping to see close to 100 mpg at cruising speed with a K&N filter and Z max which states a 10% mpg increase. I'm planning some long rides with a small flat trailer to carry some plastic totes for clothes, fishing/camping gear and such, and a roof top tent on top of my gear.. So if anyone knows TDI AO transmissions who can clue me in please do.
TDI trike build
- Thread starter Slyfox
- Start date
PradoTDI
Veteran Member
By fixing one transmission output and forcing drive through the other one you'd be putting all your power through the spider gears in the differential, which seems less than ideal. You'd probably be better off pulling the diff out and welding up the spider gears to turn it into a spool, then leaving the front output flange to spin.
03Golfer
Veteran Member
My thoughts exactly. The spider gears in some diffs have been known to weld themselves together or blow up from excessive wheel spin. I would also recommend spooling it.
noob_tl
Veteran Member
Not only this, but if you lock one side of an open diff the other side runs at 2x speed.
This leaves a question; what holds the empty bearing cup in? Just the snap ring does not seem wise.
This leaves a question; what holds the empty bearing cup in? Just the snap ring does not seem wise.
I found another way to solve my tranny problem. I found an adapter to mate a VW 1.9 to a TH 200 R4 OD automatic. As thats for a V8 power level it should do just fine behind a 1.9.
PickleRick
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2017
- Location
- Greenville sc
- TDI
- 87 4 runner BHW swap, 2011 A3 tdi, several b5.5 bhw's.
The th200r was mated to the olds 350 diesels, that's pretty good news in what's likely a better match stall converter than that of a gas motor.
If it fails, there's lots of upgrade parts available for them.
If it fails, there's lots of upgrade parts available for them.
Not only a better stall speed but also a lockup converter in a trans built for lots more power and torque than a 1.9 outputs, and a bit longer chassis will help should I wish to pulll a small light teardrop trailer on exteneded trips.
I want to keep my seating position close to the front so stupid long handlebars are not required. Something about over the main body of the trans and just behind the bell housing.
jimbote
Certified Volkswagen Nut
I like watching those guys, but the machines keep getting more and more deadly looking.