My Type III Trike

uncle frank · Samba Member Joined: October 25, 2000 Posts: 22

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

See "The Easy Way to Build a Trike Frame" in this same forum...

KTPhil · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:29 pm Post subject:

With a T3 cooling system, does it run hot sitting idling (reycling hot air into the fan)?

uncle frank · Samba Member Joined: October 25, 2000 Posts: 22

No, in fact Type III cooling is superior to the way it's done on the Bug motor.

The fan is bigger to start with and if you notice, the fan is at the very rear of the motor, bolted directly to the crank.

That means the fan doesn't stop if you break the fan belt (all it'll do is deplete the charge on your battery).

And the hot air flowing through the oil cooler exits toward the front of the bike, not down over Cylinder 3, like it does in the older Bug motors (non-dog house).

We've done a lot of tests on engine heat as we've also powder coated a set of engine cases, we know several people running long blocks without cooling tin, etc in trikes and the old Butterfield bikes (where they drop a VW longblock into a BMW motorcycle frame) don't use anything other than air flow to keep cool.

Also, a guy we know drove his trike across the state of Nevada in the summer without any cooling stuff and only had to stop to let it cool down a bit during the hottest part of the day (he watches his oil temperature)...

VSarge · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 6:24 pm Post subject:

That is one good looking trike.

Sarge
_________________
_________________
VW trike -- FrankenMutt
1971 1600
Swing Arm frame
Stock 4 spd tranny - no reverse gate (crap!)
1966/67 rear brakes wheel cylinders from front of 1966 Bug
1934 Chevy headlight
Custom leading link front end
Ford Ranger rims
P225/60R15 rear tires
GoldWIng front tire
Body is fiberglass nose from semi
One ugly exhaust, heavily rusted, set up for heat??? On a trike??

uncle frank · Samba Member Joined: October 25, 2000 Posts: 22

Thanks!

I've been a trike builder for almost 30 years, was in the kit car design business for over 20 years, wrote for "VW Trends" for a brief while, etc.

See some of my other stuff here:

http://mechanicallyderanged.blogspot.com/

There are a total of 6 pages, most of it non-VW but I've been a VW guy since 1973 and have several more rabbits in my hat.

The VW only page:

http://mechanicallyderanged3.blogspot.com/

VSarge · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:27 pm Post subject:

Cool site, loved a lot the vehicles there. That little trike looks like it scoots along good.

Sarge
_________________
_________________
VW trike -- FrankenMutt
1971 1600
Swing Arm frame
Stock 4 spd tranny - no reverse gate (crap!)
1966/67 rear brakes wheel cylinders from front of 1966 Bug
1934 Chevy headlight
Custom leading link front end
Ford Ranger rims
P225/60R15 rear tires
GoldWIng front tire
Body is fiberglass nose from semi
One ugly exhaust, heavily rusted, set up for heat??? On a trike??

KTPhil · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:32 pm Post subject:

But what about the majority of the cooling air, that exits to the rear of the motor, only to get sucked back into the fan?

I agree that when installed correctly, the T3 system is better, but that is undone when you remove the most salient feature of the system: the induction of cool air from the fenders.

VSarge · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:35 pm Post subject:

Somehow I doubt it on that trike as it sits currently. With the air flow it gets you could most likely run without tin.

Sarge
_________________
_________________
VW trike -- FrankenMutt
1971 1600
Swing Arm frame
Stock 4 spd tranny - no reverse gate (crap!)
1966/67 rear brakes wheel cylinders from front of 1966 Bug
1934 Chevy headlight
Custom leading link front end
Ford Ranger rims
P225/60R15 rear tires
GoldWIng front tire
Body is fiberglass nose from semi
One ugly exhaust, heavily rusted, set up for heat??? On a trike??

uncle frank · Samba Member Joined: October 25, 2000 Posts: 22

I built that in the early 80's and drove it until 1996 (when the stupid helmet law took affect here in California) and haven't driven it since but the heat just isn't a factor at all, even in the summer here.

In fact, I'd be inclined to say, having been a Type III guy since the early 80's, it runs MUCH cooler in the trike than it does in the Squareback, even with the stock cooling junk intact.

And yes, I'm extremely partial to the Squarebacks and Type III's in general although I was a Bug guy for many years before I crossed over to the dark side...

By the way, want to see a list of 20 plus reasons Type III's are superior to Bugs?

PS: The air from the fan exits toward the front of the trike, not the back.

VSarge · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:34 pm Post subject:

I'm no VW expert but considering the TIII came along afterwards, it kind of stands to reason that it would be technically better than the TI or even the TII. Right? I mean ya give someone a chance to test an existing plan and improve it over the years, something good has to happen.

Sarge
_________________
_________________
VW trike -- FrankenMutt
1971 1600
Swing Arm frame
Stock 4 spd tranny - no reverse gate (crap!)
1966/67 rear brakes wheel cylinders from front of 1966 Bug
1934 Chevy headlight
Custom leading link front end
Ford Ranger rims
P225/60R15 rear tires
GoldWIng front tire
Body is fiberglass nose from semi
One ugly exhaust, heavily rusted, set up for heat??? On a trike??

KTPhil · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:55 pm Post subject: Re: Type III trike cooling

uncle frank · Samba Member Joined: October 25, 2000 Posts: 22

And there are no flaps or thermostat.

That big fan shoves 1.5 the volume through there that an upright fan does...


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

	Forum Index -> Other VW Vehicles/Volksrods	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1