V6 Lawn Tractor

Not any tranny will mount to any motor for example a ford 8 cylinder flat head can replace a ford 4 cylinder flat head but a chevy 8 cylinder wont mount unless you machine your own mounts or a special adapter plate you should be able to find this information on a website i saw a while back ill post it here if you find it you should try to make the front and back about the same width my go kart had a wider front and so does my fourwheeler i had one with a narrower front end and it was a little but more prone to going up on 2 wheels kinda like a Relient Robin as you said lol

Alright awesome. Maybe I'll try for a car front end too. Il check in with my Grandpa.

I'm gonna need help with the transmission mount, with my luck, ill go out and by a motor and tranny that don't fit!

Any thoughts on standard or automatic? I'm too young to drive so I can't really say I have a preference!

I drive around my farm a stick is more fun to drive, less complicated, and you wont need any fancy kickdown switches and other electronics for it. I think a stick would be cheaper too.

You're right. And probably smaller?? That's my two main concerns, price and weight.

The one im building is gonna be fourwheel drive with a 4 cylinder motor and dual spark plugs it needs a tune up but combined with the tranny that came with it its rated to tow up to 5000 pounds it would be kinda dangerous at speed on the highway but this machine is gonna be mainly farm and off road use with the occasional ride to the neighbors or subdivision down the street.

Personally, myself, I'd buy a pair of old honda civics.

Pull the front subframes, ( 3 bolts IIRC) rig a drive from one to the other so it will run on one engine.

The CV axles etc are flanged at the transaxle.
Build a box steel frame.

Weld the Civic subframes to the Box steel frame. 2 choices. Weld up the rear spindles for 2 wheel steering, or set up a 4 wheel steering 4 wheel drive setup

I had a 76 civic in the 90's it was solid runner. and was stupidly simple. I'd use a front subframe setup, to build a rear engine sand rail. If I was going to build a rear engine sandRail.

I did see a guy at a local sportscar race with a hand built road racing car. he used a newer civic front subframe, and driveline, as a rear drive, Independent rear suspension race car.

Any front wheel drive car can be used the same way. Some are simpler than others.

I always wanted to build one with a motor cycle engine and transmission. Use a kawisaki ninja 250 it would be cheap and very quick.

Bandit1 wrote:

I always wanted to build one with a motor cycle engine and transmission. Use a kawisaki ninja 250 it would be cheap and very quick.

Oh Heck YA!

That sounds awesome, but a bit complicated and expensive for me!

Motorbike would be cool, but not big enough for me!

V6 Lawn Tractor, btw there's a JD with a single rotor engine on YT , that's insane.

But on topic, ur best bet is getting and old ford Granada or consul, they had good v6 engines. And they are cheap now. If they're not all made into nails by now.

But it will be a big Lawn mower cus it's a 2.3 liter engine.

Oooh yeah. I'm thinking 1.8 liter 4 cyl. But I will check it out.

I really want to see this get done!

Yes! Ill sart the tear down soon. Then I need to save up and buy parts, it's gonna be a while.

Hey I found this add! What do you guys think?

http://nh.craigslist.org/pts/3522293718.html

He has some transaxles, which I assume is rear wheel drive, but it's a rear engine machine. How do you think that would work?

If its not to far away you should get a transaxle and 1 complete motor that you know for sure runs

But then your gonna need suspension in the back

None of the motors run as far as I'm aware.

The thing is, a beetle is a rear engine car. So those transaxles would mount right below the motor. So it would be FWD, but it can't steer! So ill probably get a motor, but I need a compatible transmission. Any idea?

On the beetles the engine is mounted behind the transaxle

So is there any way a beetle transaxle will work with this project?

U could use it as a rear drive unit only

That what I want, engine in the front and rear wheel drive. Are they far enough apart?

The engine and transaxle are bolted directly together, they will not work separated with out a lot of work

Ok. Do you know another transmission that will work with the motor?

Do your research, any motor can be made to be used with any transmission if you are willing to do the work.

Well I'm willing to work, but my tools are limited. (No welder!!)

With 3$ a week i would ditch this project, its naiv to think you Will ever finish this without a proper plan and a budget. Why are you aiming so high? Just wondering, all I want is a mower and I have a budget.