Slow progress but progress (DIY two seater tadpole trike, 9hp Honda diesel)

[user removed]

That panel forming was a first for me other than banging out rough shapes for rust repair panels. After having done it and looking at some of the utube videos of people shaping sheet steel and aluminum and thinking it over for a few days I think I can make shaping tools out of wood that will minimize the distortion of the hammer maybe even eliminate it altogether.

I have always enjoyed figuring out how to do something without just "buying" my way out of it. When I retired from working on cars, I still had some of my original SK Wayne wrenches that I bought in 1969. I never understood why I needed $30K in tools to get the job done. Now I pick up stuff at yard sales for pennies on the dollar. The wood I am going to use to shape these panels was given to me by the last next door neighbor when they got the house inspected by the seller. Probably $200-300 worth of lumber and all I had to do was drag it over under my front porch.

Pics when I have it done.

I also need to cut the metal with my angle grinder, not with shears, and the 4 double 8foot flourescent lamps make the distortion look worse than it is. Irregardless, thanks to those who commented on the distortion. I want the finished product to be functional AND asthetically pleasing.

regards
Mech

[freebeard]

What I learned from the little hot rod mags in the 50s was to use a 'shot bag', a leather pouch full of lead shot (instead of the carpet). Not that I've ever done it. It's kind of like a dead-blow hammer, in reverse.

Lots of little taps instead of one big smack.

[user removed]

I'm thinking a foot operated press, top piece being convex, bottom concave, with matching surfaces, very shallow bowl and you step on it, about 2 to 1 leverage, so at least 400 pounds applicable. More force, move the fulcrum. We'll see.

regards
Mech

[freebeard]

Low Pressure Press Forming - Tech - Street Rodder Magazine

I remembered reading about this in the magazine, and Google found it for me online. Wow, 2009.

[user removed]

Metal Fabricator's Handbook - Ron Fournier, Sue Fournier - Google Books

This is good (and probably old) information on shaping compound curves in sheet metal.

regards
Mech

[Sven7]

Looking very good. It's going to be your very own Citroen Cochinelle!

[freebeard]

Your being too modest. This is still one of my favorites:

[Varn]

maybe I missed it, but how does it drive?

What are you going to do about noise?

How do you plan on seeing overhead traffic signals?

[user removed]

Drive;

It's powered by a 2011 CBR250R engine and transmission and will have a shift lever between the seats with the clutch lever attached to the shift lever. Steering and brakes are VW with disc upgrade at the front and a harley caliper and rotor at the rear, both controlled by a foot operated master cylinder, probably a VW dual chamber type. Foot gas pedal of conventional configuration. Both gas pedal and shifter-clutch controls will be connected to the original CBR 250R controls by push-pull rods maintaining the factory controls to a connection point.


Noise abatement;

Sound deadening material on the inside of the body panels, insulation over that, then an interior made from luan (thin plywood) with aluminum connectors screwed into the structure for rigidity.

Visibility:

Va requires one outside mirror. I plan on mouting one just behind and above the windshield, a 14 inch wide angle panoramic view mirror , behind an aerodynamic cover. The top just behind the mirror will be clear lexan as well as most of the gullwing door surfaces, with additional panels behind the rear roll bar. Visibility should be exceptional including traffic light observation.

regards
Mech

[user removed]

Not much work done on the trike, but I picked up some tools for metal shapeing and built a bench.

Vise
Piece of railraod track
Bodymans dolly

Also reorganized my tools. I've been accumulating them at yard sales and flea markets. The piece of track and dolly cost me $2. The vice was $35. The bench was left over lumber given to me by myneighbor when he moved out.

regards
Mech

PS Sendler, I think you have access to a cbr 250 wiring diagram, let me knowif you could help,it would make wiring a lot easier or I'll have to buy a $100 shop manual, which might not be a bad idea.