Twin engined cars - a question

[GMR]

I have an old mid-engined Lancia Monte Carlo that was tail-ended by a drink-driver a while back. Since it's not original I had the slightly mad idea of perhaps dropping a pair of motorbike engines into it for fun, but I haven't any idea on how I would connect the drive-couplings of the two motorbike engines to drive the car.
If anyone has suggestions they would be greatly appreciated???

[justinbaker]

[love machine]

Right, I suggest that instead of driving the back wheels or 4 wheels via a take-off box, you get 2 transverse engines a la twinny mini. Get something like a VR6 (whatever those cheap barges are at scrapyards with VR6 engines) and mount the suckers up. Gear linkage shouldn't be too hard, get your throttles right by buggering about with the quadrants. Loads of testing required but you'll get it right. Personally, I don't like the idea of bike engines in heavy cars, you need something with torque.

Most twinny owners are laxxers and cop out on the drag strip, I reckon the real test is getting one to handle right and that involves minimising the huge understeer by a combination of suspension geometry, as well as throttle response.

I have given this an immense amount of thought and reckon I have something worth saying, if you're seriously considering building a proper twin engined car, give me a shout. Sadly my project is at the design stage as my mono-mini keeps changing its engines.........

[eliot]

I'm sure ive read somewhere that twin engined cars aren't road legal in the UK.

[kevinday]

eliot said:

I'm sure ive read somewhere that twin engined cars aren't road legal in the UK.

How come there are road registered twin-engined cars then?

[slinky]

I would recommend looking into the Autograss world and possibly talking to the likes of Z-Cars..

There are plenty of twin bike engined cars on the autograss scene, from Fiat Cinquecento's with a pair slung between the rear wheels to custom built specials with a pair of bike engines...

Drop me a line if you want any more details..

slinky
http://587racing.com

[eliot]

kevinday said:

eliot said: I'm sure ive read somewhere that twin engined cars aren't road legal in the UK. How come there are road registered twin-engined cars then?

On the Scrappy races program, one team built a twin engined black cab (chaos cab) and they wern't allowed to have to engines for road use, they bolted it in when the needed it.
I agree, there have been several twin engined cars made - might just be worth clarifying the details though.

Eliot.

[chuntington101]

i thought there was a road legal Z-cars mini with two engines driving the rear wheels? and what about Z-cars Z100wr project, thought the was legal? then there is the twin engined ultima, suppries suppries, again built be Z-cars!

Chris.

[Pigeon]

eliot said:

kevinday said: eliot said: I'm sure ive read somewhere that twin engined cars aren't road legal in the UK. How come there are road registered twin-engined cars then? On the Scrappy races program, one team built a twin engined black cab (chaos cab) and they wern't allowed to have to engines for road use, they bolted it in when the needed it. I agree, there have been several twin engined cars made - might just be worth clarifying the details though. Eliot.

They had to SVA that taxi and that couldn't be done with two engines in; I suspect that the road-registered twin-engined cars are still running on their original registration and haven't needed to be SVAed.

[simonrockman]

No, the right engine for that would be out of a defunct Lancia 8:32.

Simon

[Fatboy]

simonrockman said:

No, the right engine for that would be out of a defunct Lancia 8:32. Simon

Definately - or perhaps a chevy small block

[OverBoost]

http://media.putfile.com/ferrolividLo
poor car

[GMR]

Thanks for the input guys! I was more looking for a hypothetical 'how-to' on connecting 2 bike engines & gearboxes into the drive-shafts, and whether it should be done with two diffs and if any problems may arise if so doing?

The Thema 8.32 idea would be very nice indeed, except I highly doubt I'd ever find one now plus I know someone who did that very mod about 15 years back & I really want to do something unique!

The car will be quite lightweight but I take the point on the torque advantage from a bigger engine as opposed to bike engines - I just fancied the idea of a high-revving pair of bike engines behind my ears you know???

[GMR]

Oh, and it's a mid-engine configuration so I was thinking that the bike engines would be side-by-side and both hooked into the rear wheels only!

[slinky]

GMR said:

Thanks for the input guys! I was more looking for a hypothetical 'how-to' on connecting 2 bike engines & gearboxes into the drive-shafts, and whether it should be done with two diffs and if any problems may arise if so doing?

As per my earlier post, check out the Autograss scene.. there are HUGE numbers of cars running twin engines..

Might be worth placing a call with Chris Allinson (sp?) at Z-Cars to see if he can give you any advice.

HTH,

slinky

[chuntington101]

have you seen this months kit car mag (or it might be the other one)? its got a F1 esc car in the using 2 side by side bike engines. look pretty neat and may bive you ome ideas as to how to contect them together!

i do remember a sprint and hillclimber doing a smilar thing! theyu ran 2 busa engines (complete with boxes) and then put the outputs on to a a joining shaft and then had a take off onto the diff on the drive shafts! complicated but effective!

also look at the Z-car twin engined mini. they had the engines facing opposit ways but i think they ran a simlar (if simpler) setup!

thanks and keep us posted,

Chris.

PS. got any pics???