With the market the way it is lately, I'm not gonna give my Harley away. So, I"m thinking about making a single seater out of it. It has a six speed tranny I built in it, so I could use that, I guess. The motor is very strong on the low end, and it ran 110MPH before the 6th speed was added, so it's got some top end too. I know it's no 'Busa, but it's sitting in my garage not doing a damn thing. (I can't ride any more, broke back and bad knees from the military)

Has this been done? If so, who, so I might get some info from them. Does anybody build a frame that would be easily adapted? It's just a thought for another project when I get my car done.

Thanks in advance,
BBTank

I've only seen one car with a harley in it it also had nitrous don't know who's it was they were at the hill unloading it of the truck it was set up to sand drag

I remember seeing a HD pwowered buggy at the sand sports show years ago! Do it, could be sweet!

Thank you for your service and sorry about the injuries.

While some MC powered cars have V Twin engines, I don't remember seeing any Harley powered machines on You Tube, Minibuggy.net or anywhere else that conquered the big issue - cooling.

A second issue is packaging and a Harley consumes too much room. By contrast, the RC51 builds I've seen on the web are a more atttractive alternative because of cooling and packaging.

Maybe you can trade the bike for a complete car or project or just get out before it goes down in value even more.

Only problem I see is keeping it cool. I put a buel motor in a little two seater. It weighed about 800 lbs. Ran warm all the time. That was mountain dirt roads playing. Never took it to the dunes. Was a blast shifting through all the gears and the cool deep sound. Broke the trans twice. After the second one I got rid of it.

Cool idea; I'd love to hear a HD motor scooting across the dunes. Do these engines really take up any more real estate than a 13-1400cc 4 banger? Cant image you wouldnt be able to cool a HD when there are tons of other air cooled engines out there that do just fine.

Lets see some picks of the harley?

4 banger is wider but alot shorter HD have the tranny in line with the V twin instaed of underneath like the Jap bikes.... A V-Rod emgine would be cool to see though.

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions so far.....what else does anybody have to add?

While I think the V-Rod would be cool, I don't have one of those just sitting in my garage at my disposal, I have a 1988 H-D FXST that I bought in England and rode the dog sh!t outta this thing.
I rebuilt it a couple times, new cam, some country boy head work, pipes, S&S Super E carb (back when they came out with it) and the tranny that I built from RevTec when they first started producing them also.

As far as cooling, I'm not real concerned about that, I beleive that I can handle that fairly easy, now that you've said it. I don't know yet what I"m gonna do with it.

GeneK, thanks for the compliment, but I'd go back and do it again with no reservations. It was my honor to serve this country, and I still do it by working for the USAF still. (hey, it puts beans and cornbread on the table).

Thanks, what else ya got?
BBTank

With the sound of a HD motor and just the right paint scheme, that would be a sight to see and hear. I vote, Go For It!

I think a good next step is to consider how it would all layout from the back of your seat to the rear axle.

In one of my cars I have a Hayabusa with an RPM FNR. The distance from the center of the countershaft sprocket to the center of the RPM FNR input sprocket is about 16". Sprockets on both ends are 18 tooth. The chain is about 60 pins. By contrast Yoshi's cars have about 22" or so between sprockets and his chain has more pins and runs cooler.

My car for reference is made from thre R82 plans from www.Rorty-Racing.com. With an 86 inch wheelbase I don't think a Harley would fit unless it had an integrated transmission like the V-Rod or Sporty because the chain would have to be even shorter with the consequence of producing more heat.

That does bring up an option you might consider: Dump the transmission and install a complete CVT setup. That would save room and weight and would eliminate transmission issues mentioned above. It would probably open a can of worms for primary belts.

How much room does the HD take from front to back, front cylinder to countershaft sprocket?

I've seen one with a HD motor in it. Don't know who it was just talked to him a little. They were camped next to us on the flats. If I remember right he had a CVT setup that he run. It was set up as a drag car. I think you could get away with the CVT setup. The Predator cars are using them on the Ecotech and I don't think the HD would put out more than that. Do it, would be a fun project.

I was at a bike night at a local joint, Chuy's, here in Tucson. There was a 3 wheeler, trike there that night. It was a VW type trans. It had a H-D motor mounted on the back, and I've been looking for the pictures of that thing, and can't find them.

So, my initial concept in my brain was to start with a tube chassis with a 091 trans, 930's short axles, shortened arms, and build the front just as a 4 seat, but just a single seat in the middle of the frame. The cylinders would then be left and right, is that transverse? They would be not be in-line with the car as they are in the motorcycle frame. That's how that trike was that night I saw it. I would like to find the pics for the license plate and see if I could find the owner, somehow. Hey, it's the only lead I have for that right now.

And, let's face the facts (for me anyway), I don't know if I can afford it, I've only got the FXST sitting here in the garage, and nothing else. I'll keep listening, and doing some research on this to see just what I can find. If, and it's a big IF, I can find enough to get started, it would be way cool to have one like that. If I start, I'm in it to win it, nothing short of that either!!


Let's see if this pic comes out.......it's really candy tangerine with 2 colors of flames under, with a silver bottom, and silver base for the candy. Never comes out right in the pics, but...

Check out www.thekneeslider.com for interesting MC powered cars and custom one-off bikes. Although not quite what you are talking about because it is a 3 wheeler based on a Morgan, it is V=twin powered. http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2006/11/...liberty-motors/

The design phase could take time so maybe a build is in store for you. Lots of people here and at minibuggy.net to help as the poject comes to fruition. Good luck!

Thanks GeneK, those things are cool, I've seen them before.

Yea, I agree, the design will take awhile to get it down on paper to an accetable design, for what I want. And, I may never do it, it just depends on life, when the time gets here.

I'm not giving up, just making sure it's feasible and could be accomplished. I'm not gonna build a boat in the basement!!

It would definately be a unique build to watch. I hope you post it up, I'm sure very few people have seen something like this built. So in return you will get tons of ideas and opinions. Good luck and also thanks for your service to the country.

My personal opinion (I think lil Deb is with me here) GET YOUR 1st BUGGY TO THE DAMN DUNES and then find out what you are up against and then you can cut, chop, rebuild. I know us damn wives always tossing the logic in there.

Thanks you Queen for your logic, but, I've had my 1st buggy at the damn dunes. That's how it got broke in the first place.

This is at least 9 months out from even getting started, lots to do before then, drawings, concepts, pricing, tool gathering, materials, etc., etc. That's why I 'm starting now on the "next" project idea.

I got the message and posted pics on that thread, thanks Queen, you're a real sweetheart, no kidding!!!

I meant Glamis, sitting by the fire with Ice Cold Delicious Beverage and talking about that 1st ride thru the big bowls behind Osborne!

That is a mighty purty HD you have there Tank! Love the paint!

EDITED TO ADD: Maybe KG and I will have to meander South for a in-person concept planning session

Thanks Queen, my wife sleeps with the painter every night!!!

edit: I forgot to add, anytime you guys wanna come hang out for concept briefing, c'mon. We'll do some "thinking" food and beverages!!