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Originally I was also thinking of a downdraught - I have FOUR DCNF's in my garage from a 302 Ford project. Originally the lump was in a GT40 and had Tecalemit Jackson FI - what a pile of pooh. Fortunately the manifold arrangement was exactly the same as the Webers. Another "what if" project. Anyway - that was before I found the Turbos I thought were lost !
Without giving too much away - the turbo will live behind the rear cylinder - in the space currently occupied by that fuggin uggerly frame. I'm thinking of using the same siamese system as my CR [ to save on development] than hang a vertical up to the Turbo inlet.
I MIGHT just use the big bore siamese MAC system I have and - WRAP IT !!!!!!
The IHI turbo has a nice waste gate exhaust, which can be seperated from the main exhaust [ flame thrower ! ]. Fortunately the 2 Turbos I tripped over in the garage clear up are fitted with spindle seals, so I can use them in suck through mode.
That puts the intake from the Carbs very neatly just under the single seat without making the intake too long. Imagine an underseat exhaust system - but as an intake !!!
That also makes the intake plumbing very simple and allows for a small plenum.
I have been soaking both Turbos in WD40 for the past 3 days - one wa already free and spun nicely with no obvious problems - the other one has had water sat in it at some stage. Should have one good one out of the pair + spares.
I'm still hovering between a Special and a "Willow" style. That said, If I win the 535 Virago I'm bidding on - that would be a nice compact lump for a Willow homage.
Side draft, cool....but where are you planning to stash it? It's not a compact carb though I am fan, had a set on a Celica once...
I've secretly had my eye on a 40 IDF; downdraft could be perched sideways between the cylinders on fairly simple manifold(s). I like these too, ran a pair on a quick Karmann Ghia I had in highschool
Here's the stash I've been able to rescue so far from the garage. There's a large box of Turbo manifolds, hoses, etc. which I've yet to unearth ! I'm also looking at a large SU carb - 1 3/4" or 2". Doesn't have the looks of the Weber [ not bad though ] but IS very simple [ and cheap ] to set up and maintain. SU has always been the carb of choice for old brigade mechanical Superchargers.
I can't believe that 2012 is nearly HALF through .................... That's my schedule out of the window, for many and various reasons.
However, I now have a 2" SU for the Cafe-Creme Boardtracker'ish project and the TR1 mule is going down to the exhaust guy tomorrow - only 3 months behind schedule !
While it's away I'm sorting out the rest of the parts for polishing and passivating + I need to sort out which of the hubs I'm going to use [ XS500 / 650 ] and get them off for wheelbuilding.
My move down to the new workshops should be completed this month, although I will still be working on parts here in my house garage.
The "new" donor is up and running and I'll use that as a mobile test bed for the newly developed parts - rear shock, Hi-Po plug leads and progressive fork springs.
Beach let's get some pics please. You have got to step the pace. We're all eager to see some progress. Is this the same project over at the Virago forum?
yes I've flogged myself with a worn rear chain.........regrettably ill health and other side issues have meant that 2012 is half over [ 'ish ] and I have feck all progress.
That said, the reason I've posted is to get precisely the sort of response I've got from you - ie GET YER FINGER OUT !!!
Yes I'm posting on the Virago and DWMS racing forums. Although there are now TWO projects - the Cafe Racer and a Boardtracker'ish version.
Now that we're back under way, there'll be something worth photographing in the next few weeks. Thanx for your interest.
At last something positive under way ! here is the mule ready to be trailered down to the exhaust guy. 30 minutes later and it was in his workshop ready for him to perform his magic.
Note the newly acquired Vincent style 4" speedo. I'll have it refurbed with Cream face and Coffee Brown digits for the Cafe-Creme boardtrackerish project.
Inertia is a bitch to overcome and get moving, but once moving helps to sustain forward motion. That s nice way to say good to see you moving now get the finger out.
I hate cream and brown but that's just my personal taste. Love the big speedo idea. I was planning on using a 6" Polaris tacho on one of my projects for the same look.
Would be nice to dump that frame though, I have no idea how strong the motor is, but it would be neat to raise the motor a couple of inches by basically rotating the swingarm and motor around the rear axle to keep U joint angles in reason and replace the frame with a headstock bolted to both cylinder heads plus a swingarm attachment behind the motor with just enough tube connecting the two to make it really stiff. Light, strong and would look good too. You could style the frame to look like whatever period you want with a little ingenuity.
I've always loved the Virago but I've never seen the mono shock version all stripped down. I see so many possibilities, it could be anything from a cafe bike to a cool solo seat bobber. Sweet project.
I've always loved the Virago but I've never seen the mono shock version all stripped down. I see so many possibilities, it could be anything from a cafe bike to a cool solo seat bobber. Sweet project.
yes, a simple Duke style trellis frame would be relatively simple to do, or an Egli style [ as Loek ].
I'm still undecided whether to do something drastic with the stock frame for the Cafe Racer, but now I've started on the 2nd project [ Boardtracker] I think that will take all my resources to create that frame !
Once you start adding in wire spoked wheels, alloy rims and other 60's Cafe Racer styling cues the image drifts even further away from a mundane cruiser !
Hear what you're saying Teazer, I was going to use an old BMW Kay chassis and rolling gear, but it would look too much like my Kay Fighter !
BTW - mine are all UK / EU models with the added advantage of chain drive - which make your ideas even more valid !
Nice day today so I decided to have a bit of a clear up in the garage - now I can actually get in !
I pulled the "Summer Mule" out and while I was at it decided that I couldn't bear to ride a completely stock machine - even if it was only for a few months.
An hour later and here's the results. Couldn't put my hands on the spare Shotgun rear lamp ass'y - so that'll be the task for the week. I might put the Renthals on just to give it a non standard look ! Those meggas are extremely loud - even for me, so I might fit the MAC siamese system up for the Summer. The newly developed RAM shocker is now in production, and I will be getting one for long term testing.
At least I'll have a bike on the road this Summer while the projects are progressing.
Swivel, hear what you're saying about the strength of the motor - and the mounts.
However - I don't actually like the look of the Egli frame and think it's fuggin uggerly !
That's not to decry Loek's Egli homage work in any way, which I think is superb. IF I were going for a modern replacement, it would be along Duke Trellis lines.
My Cafe Racer is meant to be more traditional and I don't want to go down the route of a more modern design using new age components like USD forks, etc.,etc. I'm still debating wether I can afford my pal's spare Grimeca 4LS hub / brake !
I'd originally looked at using a Featherbed style frame - but costs put that out of the question. I might actually have a look at an Airhead BMW frame when I finally move all my stuff down to the new workshop.
Somehow TJ I just knew you'd end up with this chunky beast slung upfront. Are you planning to bore the forks for the larger diameter axle or something craftier? Do you find that the OE forks have excessively long lowers? It's something I noticed while comparing mine to the 41mm showas (K75s) that will be added. I guess there's some small boon to rigidity maybe. I also noticed it in the also Yamaha OE 35mm XS650 forks I had been using for mockup on the Sakura bike....
Yes, I've been working on my pal AC ever since he had to buy two of them to get the deal ! His original plan was to offer them retail for builders as the importers weren't too keen on dealing with the public. Then of course the news came that Grimeca was bust. We only found out when he ordered another 2 for customers. Fortunately for me he decided not to sell the spare he had, as he was uncertain what would happen in the case of any warranty claim.
Re: forks - the Grimeca spindle is exactly the same as the Yam ...and yes they are a bit undernourished by contemprary standards.
I think if I was riding this bike 20 - 30 years ago, I would be wanting beefier forks, but with my current riding style ..................
That said, I will be moving some more parts down to the new workshop this weekend, amongst which are a couple of pairs of BMW Forks - K100 [ 41.4mm ] and K1100 [ 41.7mm ]. The K1100 forks also come with the advantage of a built in [ quite neat ] fork brace.
BTW - current BMW practice is to use smaller diameter spindles ! They are hollow as well.
The new "production" RAM shockers came in today while I was down at AC's place. They're now all deep clear anodised, which [ unlike some battleship Grey examples ] retains the polished alloy looks.
AC's gone the whole hog on my recommendations with built in spacers and a new stainless steel bottom pivot pin. Just makes it such a nice piece. There WILL be one spare from this the second batch, so I'll have it on the mule soon for plenty of Summer test miles.
The exhaust bends are now in the jig, loosely tacked. I've asked him to make the sweep into the front pipe [ from the rear cyclinder ] a little gentler. Looking good.
I'll take some pix when it's out of the jig - as there's more jig to see than exhaust at the moment! :
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