EA81 conversion into trike type 3 auto

Tristan, might be closer to 28mpg around 9.7 L/100kms. far cry from 13L/100kms.

My trike has a lot of wind drag too, far more than say a beetle or modern car.

The histroy of the engine is brief. It is out of a 1992 Brumby - 19 years old and owned by an elderly mechanic from Wodonga

Rex McCartney Motors

14 Hovell Street
Wodonga VIC 3689, Australia
‎
(02) 6056 1197

Rex owned the Brumby for 17 years and recoed the engine fully about 80,000 kms ago maybe less (he cant recall). The only shortcut he took was to put rings in it that dont lock, meaning they rotate and that's ok but every two months or so as you start it, it will give a puff of smoke as the rings are lined up. He told me it wont go through oil.

He was right and I sensed his honesty. It would have been a lot of work if he wasnt.

I was a little disappointed with the output. It has the weber, exhaust that is I'd suggest pretty free flowing, the balance pipe, electronic ignition, new 8.8mm leads. But that ride on Thursday was the test because it was frustrating knowing that when you squeezed the throttle is would cut out. Being able to floor it and see how she performs was magic.

The exhaust howl over 4000 rpm is something else! And for it to run up to 110kph in second is a handy gear.

Perhaps this account is how I feel.

_________________________________-


The leather of the gloves seem like a part of your skin as you slide your fingers through them. But this is all automatic, all the minor actions as you prepare yourself for some fun. For your attention is frozen on a yellow three wheeled wonder called a trike. Big deal some might say. For me “tweety” is a big deal.



But what others think and say makes no impact as you finish waving that fleecy lined cloth over the chrome of the twin headlight peaking above the girder forks. You had the dream all night but now its reality, its happening as you slide your butt onto the seat. You feel just millimetres from the ground but the custom roof is actually higher than common cars.
You give the throttle a squirt and that Subie 81 engine fires into life, rumbling, a soothing jiggle down to your nuts….oh yeh!. The jiggle turns into a throb from that twin 'erect' exhaust each of the four tail pipes emitting its own throbbing gurgle but in unison.



You allow it to settle to a nice idle then finally your wife has arrived and you both ride off. The Subie flatty sounds a bit loud as the trike weaves towards the windy tarred road at a hamlet called Boho ahead then a burst of throttle and we are away. The higher the revs the quieter that engine becomes. Knowing the trike is highly unlikely to ever roll, with all that weight down low, you set about flaunting with the bends….oh wow! . You approach a bend that you know is uphill as it straightens and has an advisory sign of 25 kph….you take it at 50 then at the apex you pull that throttle hard on and the kickdown to second is instant that causes the front wheel to want to lift…..yeeehah!. You know if it does lift the trike will cease turning so its perfect…..the fact is that too much power and rear end weight on a VW trike needs more concentration for this reason, but the ea81 is just right- measured power, controllable response, not heavy- spot on.

The trike remains in second and as you climb that hill about 300 metres long you reach 100kph and the engine howls at around 5000rpm with a delight you haven’t felt for decades. At the top of the crest the throttle is backed off and third is automatically selected but even though this little gem of a motor is only 1781 cc you get a small shove in the back leaping you forward a bit- oh nice.
You pull up in your garage. Its dark now and the green led lights above the engine shine on that motor reminding you of what you have. An engine not remarkable but adequate, reliable and simple. You take a moment to back off the timing 2 degrees to end that little pinging you got ascending that hill and grab that fleecy polishing cloth to place on the chromed headlights….then you back off- its done, its just what I wanted…and no need to polish anymore at this time.

Tweety is resting.

if you see me riding with the van on tow hail me down Tristan. I'll take you for a spin. Tony

That was an amazing account and I'm a little envious. I'm over that way every so often. The life of a border dweller. Have to travel somewhere to get anything done 😁 I really like they yellow too. It's sort of like the 1970's Ford yellow to my eye. Stands out but not at all harsh.

I'm really curious about how your towing goes too.

thanks Tristan. if you are coming over we are only 45 minutes from Sheppaton or 1 hr 20 minutes from Cobram.

I enjoy writing and have been so stoked with the result. am getting 31 mpg now or 9l/100kms compared to 13.

That shade of yellow is Safety Yellow a gel coat colour.. same colour as the speed advisory signs on the road. To think I was going to have hot pink non metallic. reason was I always liked pink Toranas when I was younger. glad I didnt.

have towed the van a few kms. tows well. we are going away for 3 days soon. will post the result, economy etc.

good to see it s working well , interesting power figures just had 2 of my busses dynoed 2080 type 4 stock heads dual webers 77hp @wheels and 2110 dual 44's 96hp@wheels but man your fuel consumption kills mine , I suppose you get that with a bloody light trike ..nice one 🙂

yeh Klaus re consumption. and my auto zaps a lot of power out of it.

Also compared to a Subaru Leone automatic. gear ratios much the same, diff the same ratio, only difference is the tyres. mine runs a whopping large 275/60/R15, leone standard is 175/70/R15. 20% smaller. trike weighs 600 kgms max, leone 1100 kgms.

So at 100kph ea81 is revving at 2900rpm. leone probably 3500. Its close to perfect but when these tyres wear out soon I'll revert to the previous size 295/50/R15 5% less in circumference and rev a little higher. At the moment the trike will peak in second at 130kph- way too high for my needs. Also overtaking at 100-110kph you can feel it isnt as responsive as it could be. just a small change I'll do. it'll still be 15% higher geared than the leone.

Economy is important to me so 31 mpg is great.

you got impressive hp out of those engines.

Firstly I'm happy to mention "Tweety" trike won January trike of the month in 'trike talk' USA.

For those interested the story of my trike roof, its design, engineering etc is to be read in Roadrider "cruiser and trike" magasine coming out soon in newsagents. Is at the printers today 9/1/2012.

This will be my second story published, the first being the trike close to as it was when purchased.

So a third story mentioning the subaru ea81 conversion to VW type 3 automatic along with other mods like the windscreen, functioning heater, tyre options (psssst! Tweety is to get whitewall tyres to essentuate the "Rod" look in about 4 weeks time...on order) will be a third story for their consideration.

I have a long term plan to write a story on campers and small caravans for trikes and motorcycles.