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TomSimon
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Joined: January 13, 2004
Posts: 753
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 Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2025 1:32 pm Post subject: Re: trike judson 36--It lives!! |
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I forgot about this post, and don't get on here much these days.
UPDATE: The 1641cc Type 1 pump gas street engine performed admirably, the Chinese 40 IDFS ok, I build silencer inserts for the bazooka tubes, put about 600 miles on it.
On a whim, I then took it the the 2024 World of Speed at Bonneville. We ran on an open record within the 36hp Challenge classes, started and maintained by Burly. We set the VW Trike record at a 'warm butter soft" 99.5mph. Even with adding a 1-1/2" S&S merged collector, I couldn't coax that last half mile and hour to meet my modest goal of over 100mph.
I did a freshen up of the engine this summer, after discovering a bent crank and wiped center main bearing.
I decided to bring it out again to the 2025 WOS event, just a few days ago, this time a 1600cc, same 8.5:1 compression, and reset my own record, bumping it to 107.4mph !
Interestingly enough, my first run was only 93mph in cool air, with the bazooka tube exhaust and silencers. Again back to the merged header, in the 90 degree air (7300 corrected altitude) she went 97mph. I changed to an open megaphone on the header, added 2deg of timing, pumped up the tires to 50psi, and made that 107mph rum in the cooler air.
Not done yet, we then switched over to a borrowed 2 cylinder vw (T1 with 2 pistons and rods removed) an engine that holds several SCTA 1000cc and 36hp Challenge VW sedan records, and set the 2cyl trike (open) record at 73mph. The tune was way off, it loaded up a plug and was running on 1 cyl for part of the run, then cleared up. I only had one shot at it, before needing to return the 2cyl, but it was good enough to grab a second record in the same day!
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2-time NASA Pro Racing Champion, Bonneville 130 Club and 150 Club Memeber, BRS Pro Gas racer |
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TomSimon
Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2004
Posts: 753
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| Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2023 6:38 am Post subject: Re: trike judson 36--It lives!! |
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| TomSimon wrote: |
I tore down the type 1 engine that it recently came with, the rear main thrust surface was pounded out .050", the dowel pin hole in the bearing is now a groove, and it was close to spinning in the case...
Having just moved, my engine building and measuring tools and supplies are mostly buried in a 40ft CONEX shipping container. I'm working on a plastic folding table in my 'almost finished' 2 car garage, far from ideal. Greg Urrutia's offered up his shop in California to help get this trike back on the road asap, before it gets too cold. I bought a couple used AS41 cases and a lightened flywheel... |
The 1641cc is built, cam broken in on a run stand, installed in the trike, and a short test drive made.
I beat my goal of 'running by Thanksgiving'.
I have to give a big shout out to my buddy Greg Urrutia, for hosting me and helping greatly with this mostly stock build. Focused on high compression race engine builds for the past 20yrs, I haven't built a street engine in a long time. The goal for this project was to get it back on the road asap, with a reliable 1600. Greg has 40yrs experience building high reliability pump gas air-cooled engines, and I promised him I wouldn't "go all 'Tom Simon' on this build". My friends know exactly what that means, LOL.
Engine build details:
About the only things salvageable/reusable from the engine that came with my recent purchase, was the HPMX carburetors, 009 distributor, alternator, and offset cooler and sheet metal. There were a few other things ok to use, but weren't well matched to the trike. 'Bigfoot' lifters on a stock cam, using 1.4 ratio rockers and chromoly pushrods for instance. The heavy flywheel on a lightweight trike didn't seem like a good fit, nor the single quiet pack sedan header, which I didn't reuse.
Ken Jansen (Belmont CA) repaired a couple loose head stud inserts for me, decked and align bored the case .040" (1.0mm) over, the better of the (2) used cases I showed up with. He also supplied the reground vw crank and reconditioned vw rods. Rather than rebuild the stock mis-matched heads (3cc different from each other, worn guides and valves), we used new AA stock heads, and a new set of their 87mm pistons and cylinders. I lightly hand lapped/checked the valves, added single HD springs, checked the barrels for roundness, withing .002", top ring gap, all plenty good for this build. I shimmed the decks to .040"-.045" for a tight quench pad to piston, fly cut and cc'd the new heads to 49cc, for 8.5:1 static compression ratio. From everything I've read, that compression seems to pair nicely with the W110 cam and 1.25 ratio rockers I chose, as the additional cam duration will lower the dynamic compression for a pump gas friendly street engine. My target is 125-135 cranking compression, but we'll see.
I picked up a buggy 'dual cannons' exhaust from FB Marketplace, a better look than the sedan header, but a little loud for my taste. Not as cool as the pipes Jerry built.
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2-time NASA Pro Racing Champion, Bonneville 130 Club and 150 Club Memeber, BRS Pro Gas racer |
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TomSimon
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Joined: January 13, 2004
Posts: 753
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2023 7:33 am Post subject: Re: trike judson 36--It lives!! |
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| 36hplandspeedracer wrote: |
| So great to see this trike lives, and in the hands of someone who truly appreciates the amazing concept and execution. Below is a pic of the now "missing" SU/Judson powered 36hp built by creator Jerry Avis. |
Everywhere you look, there's custom touches, a product of Jerry's creative mind, ingenuity, and fabrication skills.
I tore down the type 1 engine that it recently came with, the rear main thrust surface was pounded out .050", the dowel pin hole in the bearing is now a groove, and it was close to spinning in the case. It is in fact a 1641, stock rods and crank, stock cam, stock heads, and a 1500 single oil pressure relief, 6mm oil pump stud case, probably 1965. It's got a goofy VW flywheel that I've never seen; 12v ring gear and 180mm pressure plate and disc, that weighs 20 lbs!
Having just moved, my engine building and measuring tools and supplies are mostly buried in a 40ft CONEX shipping container. I'm working on a plastic folding table in my 'almost finished' 2 car garage, far from ideal. Greg Urrutia's offered up his shop in California to help get this trike back on the road asap, before it gets too cold. I bought a couple used AS41 cases and a lightened flywheel, in nearby Prescott last night. We'll see how this goes.
36hp engine: I have a lead, sort of, but I'm not very optimistic. The last owner traded it in one the used T1. He doesn't have the guys number, but sort of remembers where he lives, thinks he could find the house, and hour and a half away...
Edit: I happened to get his phone number, and talked to the guy who took Jerry's Judson supercharged 36hp in on trade. He told me he replaced the burned piston and cylinder, and sold it, and shipped it to someone in San Francisco for one of his project cars, an oval window he thinks (1-1/2 yrs ago). Now I'm chasing that guys contact information.
I may have to recreate Jerry's engine myself.
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2-time NASA Pro Racing Champion, Bonneville 130 Club and 150 Club Memeber, BRS Pro Gas racer |
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John Moxon 
Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 14276
Location: Southampton U.K.
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| Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2023 9:19 am Post subject: Re: trike judson 36--It lives!! |
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| 36hplandspeedracer wrote: |
So great to see this trike lives, and in the hands of someone who truly appreciates the amazing concept and execution. Below is a pic of the now "missing" SU/Judson powered 36hp built by creator Jerry Avis. Photo by Carter Kudrle...
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I well remember Jerry buzzing around The Pits at Bonneville back in 2011. I thought Jerry's reworking of the Judson inlet fitting for the side-draft SU was perfect for a Bus or Ghia application. Alejandro Martin obviously felt the same as he made a few SU/Judson kits.
Thanks for posting the picture Burly I can't find mine anywhere. 
Here's the mock-up of Alejandro's kit:
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36hplandspeedracer
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Joined: January 30, 2006
Posts: 847
Location: Ivins, Utah
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| Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2023 8:23 am Post subject: Re: trike judson 36--It lives!! |
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So great to see this trike lives, and in the hands of someone who truly appreciates the amazing concept and execution. Below is a pic of the now "missing" SU/Judson powered 36hp built by creator Jerry Avis. Photo by Carter Kudrle...
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TomSimon
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Joined: January 13, 2004
Posts: 753
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| Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2023 6:59 am Post subject: Re: trike judson 36--It lives!! |
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VW friend Jerry Avis built this trike about 12 years ago in his little shop in Oregon. I'm not really a VW trike guy, the fiberglass Ed Roth bodied contraptions never did it for me, but I know Jerry, he doesn't build junk, so I watched the build via the internet. When I saw it in person at the Bonneville Salt Flats shortly thereafter, and I was smitten. I mean head over heals in love. Not some garage built BS hackjob that was put together with hardware store fittings, oh no, the real deal.
It had the right look, vintage VW and BMW parts, good build quality, the details, pre-1961 36hp engine with rare period correct aftermarket Judson supercharger, 356 style canister oil filter, early VW snowflake taillights, aluminum 356 Porsche drum rear brakes, BMW Toaster tank, forks, and front drum, black with BMW pinstriping, it was if a 1970 BMW and a 1961 VW had a baby!
Jerry put it up for sale about 10yrs ago, I kicked myself for not buying it, but the timing for me wasn't right. A VW Bonneville racing guy I knew bought it, I thought for sure he was going to keep it, but traded it away after a year or so. I heard of it changing hands after that, then I lost track of it. Lost track until this morning, when it showed up locally on FB marketplace!
The supercharged 36hp VW engine was gone, the guy kept overheating it and hurting pistons, and replaced the 36hp power plant with a later model Type 1 engine. The story goes, the last owner bought a used engine "from a guy", then had a local shop install it.
The used engine (turns out to be a 1500 case w/6mm oil pump studs) was "freshened up" with a slightly larger 'big bore kit' 1641cc, sporting new dual weber/EMPI HPMX IDF's.
It's a shame the vintage hotrod 36hp was gone, but the original bones were still in tact.
I made an appointment and looked at it the same morning. Although it had a familiar knocking from the flywheel area of the engine (like a flywheel that had started to come loose), it started, idled, drove/tracked, shifted, and stopped really well.
We struck a deal, getting ample consideration for the 'who knows what' engine issues, and I trailered it home!
edit: after further investigation, turns out to be a pounded out thrust surface under the rear main bearing. Time for a used case AS41, new bearings, so I can ride it asap!
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Last edited by TomSimon on Fri Oct 20, 2023 6:54 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Erik G
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Joined: October 16, 2002
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Location: Tejas!
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bajamike560
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Joined: December 11, 2009
Posts: 544
Location: Vancouver WA
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| Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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I have some pix from 09 of it, I will see if I can find and post them.
Mike
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Mr. Motorhead
Mad Scientist
Joined: January 06, 2004
Posts: 717
Location: Practitioner of 36hp alchemy
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| Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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| avus wrote: |
That's only becasue Jerry got so many coments about people loving his trike, his head swelled locking the hat on
You could be right, Brad. But it's more likely the hole in the head and large vacuum inside just keeps the hat sucked down tight... |
You mean you have an open mind and a hole in your head to prove it.......
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36 horsepower parts for sale at http://www.aircooledresearch.com/
Or the new site at http://www.bugparts.com
Check out the Bonneville project:
http://aircooledresearch.com/docs/thebonnevilleproject.html#
"All limitations are self imposed."
Some Chinese guy |
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earthquake
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Joined: January 10, 2008
Posts: 4007
Location: SANDY VALLEY, NEVADA
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| Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 10:12 am Post subject: |
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That is about the coolest trike I have ever seen, now if it had leading link front suspension it would ultra cool. I'm tring to find a LL front end for a GoldWing I'm working on.
Casey
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avus
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Joined: November 11, 2005
Posts: 271
Location: Drain, Oregon
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| Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 9:47 am Post subject: |
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That's only becasue Jerry got so many coments about people loving his trike, his head swelled locking the hat on
You could be right, Brad. But it's more likely the hole in the head and large vacuum inside just keeps the hat sucked down tight... |
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slalombuggy
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Joined: July 17, 2010
Posts: 9340
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 9:44 am Post subject: |
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| John Moxon wrote: |
| avus wrote: |
| Havasu 64 ragtop wrote: |
| GREAT PIC!!!! |
yes, nice photo, but whoever is riding that contraption should be required by law and common decency, to wear a full-face helmet at all times.... |
I swear you have that hat nailed to your head Jerry. No matter how fast you rode that bike it never looked like it was likely to fly off.  |
That's only becasue Jerry got so many coments about people loving his trike, his head swelled locking the hat on  Just joshin' looks like an absolute blast to drive. Cool ride Jerry
brad |
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avus
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Joined: November 11, 2005
Posts: 271
Location: Drain, Oregon
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avus
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Joined: November 11, 2005
Posts: 271
Location: Drain, Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Erik G wrote: |
| Is there a build thread on this bike? I'd love to know more. |
no build thread, but I'll put up some picture links later today. |
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Erik G
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John Moxon
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avus
Samba Member
Joined: November 11, 2005
Posts: 271
Location: Drain, Oregon
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Havasu 64 ragtop wrote: |
| GREAT PIC!!!! |
yes, nice photo, but whoever is riding that contraption should be required by law and common decency, to wear a full-face helmet at all times.... |
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The Cheetle
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Joined: September 01, 2007
Posts: 279
Location: Lake Havasu City, Arizona
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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GREAT PIC!!!!
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Save the Salt!! |
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Rob R
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Joined: April 24, 2006
Posts: 145
Location: Park City, Utah
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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I took a few pictures of your trike out on the salt. I thought it was very well done.
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avus
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Joined: November 11, 2005
Posts: 271
Location: Drain, Oregon
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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I had a blast at World of Speed. What a VW show! Awesome machinery and great folks. Getting to ride around on the salt was icing on the cake. The Judson added quite a bit of pep as well as style points. I'm not aware of a big cap distrib with centrifugal advance--sounds interesting, though.
I was hoping to get to meet Mr. Smith from HVW's, but no luck. Burly (the Ex-salted One) took some nice photos, but I don't know what will be done with them.
I'm in process of installing a windscreen in preparation for Winter.
I hope the new owner likes it....
| Tom Simon wrote: |
Good to see you out on the salt again, Jerry. I love the addition of the Judson blower since the last time I saw it back in 2009.
Is there any trutht o the rumor that we will be seeing a spread on your awesome trike in an upcoming issue of hotVW's Magazine? I sure hope so! Your craftsmanship needs to be shown around.
BTW, a big cap cast iron distributor (for the visual effect) converted to mechanical advance only (since the trike is blown), would be an awesome addition to your very unique trike. Or better still, a dual plug conversion with matching dual distributors would be over-the-top!!!  |
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