Geo Metro powered Middy - Build Log

[pete c]

Sounds like an awesome project and should be a blast to drive.

Was checking out a little kubota triple they use in lawn tractors. 600+ cc, 16 hp. if you really kept the weight down and very aero, that would be a great engine and should deliver well over 100 mpg. I also read that you can turbo charge those things. That should get it above 20 hp.

The only trouble is, you have a long commute and being in wyoming, i suspect half of it will be into a 40 mph head wind. And then there is the fact that you are a jumbo sized S.O.B.. Kinda hard to make a small aero container to house an NFL tight end sized dude.

If you had a 15 mile commute and were a midget, i'd say go for a small tractor engine.

[Talon]

I want to stay on topic, but Sven7 wanted to see the Brat, so here it is. Short lift, lots of fender trimming and wheel well "hammer mods". I actually drive it a bunch in the local bad lands around here. I don't bash in it, just wander around looking at rocks and stuff. I didn't want it tall and tippy, so a 2 inch lift is all it has, but I don't get stuck. Rattle can camo.

TALON §

[pete c]

That thing is hideous. I love it!

[Talon]

Here's where I need some help. This vehicle is going to have about a 7 foot wheelbase, and about 5 foot track. The center section of the frame is 3 foot wide, the "roll bar" looking thingy in the back is 24 inches wide at the top. The windshield is going to have to be flat laminated glass, 24 inches wide. Also, the radiator(s) is(are) going to be in the rear, so I'll need an opening for that on the side(s).

I was initially thinking cycle fenders on the front for simplicity, but enclosed makes more sense, if I can make it strong enough to support about 18 inches from the frame out to the wheels without too much bracing.

I am attaching a quick sketch. How would ya'all wrap this shape in fiberglass?

(I am needing to finalize the windshield frame at this time so I can finish the frame, so rough it fine, mostly the angle.

TALON §

[JackMcCornack]

Originally Posted by Sven7

... and who would daily drive a kit car?

I do (I've got 100k+ on mine), and Talon's going to (and commuting in Wyoming, his miles are going to add up fast), and we're doing it the hard way--kit cars where we have to create the kit first.

To me it's ecomodding to the extreme, where instead of modifying an existing car for improved economy, we modify an existing pile of steel tubing for improved economy. Anyway, lots of folks have, or intend to have, kit car daily drivers...

Originally Posted by Sven7

I'm planning to build a daily driven EV kit car, so this build will be informative.

...including you!

Kit cars and homebuilts tend to be pretty spartain, and they're sure not everybody's cup of tea for daily transportation, but a round trip between my two shops is 328 miles...$35 in my Miata, $15 in my streamlined Locost; it's a difference of about a grand a year after taxes. Besides, I like the attention.

(Sven7, if that was a rhetorical question, please ignore my literal response.)

[pete c]

Talon, as it is going to be a single seater. I think you should go with open wheels. Why make it wide enough to enclose them? That is a lot of frontal area.

[Talon]

What will open wheels do to the airflow around the front compared to the smoother, but larger frontal area of enclosed front wheels? I guess the front wheels could be almost completely enclosed in the fender, like an Aptera. . .

Quick sketch from above, using a "rubber ruler" scale. . .

It is actually the windshield angle and where the bottom of the windshield meets the body that I am needing to finalize so I can finish the frame.

(I sure wish the snow would go away so I can pull the front spindles and steering rack off of my donor.)

TALON §

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Talon

The windshield is going to have to be flat laminated glass, 24 inches wide.

Why? I'm pretty sure that (unlike the tempered glass used for side windows) laminated windshield glass can be cut. So once you have an approximate shape, visit your local salvage yard and find a windshield close to it. You might get away with just slicing a section out of the middle of one.

I am attaching a quick sketch. How would ya'all wrap this shape in fiberglass?

As upright as it is (I'd prefer lower & more of a semi-reclining seating myself). I'd look at the Mercedes "boxfish" car for some inspiration: Mercedes-Benz Bionic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Talon]

A buddy and I chopped the top of an old Ford once. We tried cutting the windshield 3 times, all of which failed. We ended up using a full size windshield and dropping it down into the cowl. We tried both sandblasting and an abrasive wheel on an angle grinder. Ow well, maybe it can be done, I just haven't had much luck with it.

You are right, it does look kinda tall, however it is actually a bit wider (36") than it is tall (32") through the body. It will have the wheels out another foot on each side, so there is a really exagerated "coke bottle" shape to it, and the wheel base will only be a foot or two longer than the track. At roughly 38-42 inches tall, it won't even reach the middle of the grill on a lot of the jacked up "compensation" trucks around here. I have even though of a "visibility pod" like the "California Commuter" so I don't get run over. . .

That Boxfish shape is a lot to think about. Almost verticle front would be nice for a grill, but I won't have one in the front. The windshield bottom is almost at the front of the vehicle, I can work with that. Cool. Thanks for the feedback.

TALON §

[Talon]

I got the windshield support angle sorted out and welded in. I was studying the Boxfish car design, and went with a steeper angle than initially planned, but nearly matching the concept car angle. I then did a little doodling over the picture, just to see how it will tie together visually, and it is going to be a bit weird, but I think I can pull it together to fit the "not too ugly" goal.

I also got a chance to see my engine/tranny. I didn't pick it up yet for space reasons, but soon. It is a bit rougher than I expected, but I plan to rebuild it anyway, I'm not building a used car.

TALON §