Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard
I think making a 4 wheeled car into a trike would be a big problem -- the wheel geometry is just too unstable. If you want to make major modifications, go for a narrowed rear track; similar to what Dave Cloud did to a Metro to turn it into the Dolphin.
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Hey Neil,
I am going to have to disagree with this statement. 4 wheeled vehicles that are made out of a unibody chassis are difficult to convert and can be dangerous however 4 wheeled vehicles that have backbone chassis are very safe and easy to convert into a reverse trike.
As far as wheel geometry being to unstable that can not be more untrue. 3 wheelers with the single rear wheel design can be extremely stable even better in some cases than 4 wheelers if properly designed. A triangular shape is extremely strong and stable geometrically. Keep the center of gravity low and the weight bias toward the front of the reverse trike and you have the recipe for a very stable sports car handling vehicle.
I would not go with a narrowed rear track for many reasons. Some of those reasons include some of our basic principles of ecomodding.
#1. Less mass = better acceleration Newtons 2nd law overal weight can be greatly reduced eliminating one tire, wheel, brake, and suspension assembly can reduce curb weight dramatically. Frame weight can also be reduced the body can be lighter also due to more of a triangular shape rather than a rectangular shape. The engine can be lighter also do to the less mass. Add all that weight elimination and you have a car that weighs much less than the dolphins 3000# curb weight.
#2. Rolling resistance is reduced by 25% roughly with one less wheel! Again vehicle weight will also reduce rolling resistance. Narrower tires can also be utilized to even further reduce rolling resistance.
#3. Aerodynamic drag is reduced by the 3 wheelers natural teardrop shape. The Dolphin despite having 4 wheels did do a good job of reducing aerodynamic drag!
#4. Lower polar moment of inertia is also possible.
A 3 wheeled version of the Dolphin could be made much lighter out of a 4 wheeled car. It would also have better range and performance if carefully designed.
GreenHornet :-)