Project start, Northstar Mid Engine low cost

chetcpo · **Posted:** Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:40 am

john elliott wrote:

Hi Dan, I love what you are doing. You might want to edit your post though, and find a different way of writing your email address, you are quite likely to get it crawled by a spambot and end up getting emails from people you don't know about stuff you don't want! Lots and lots!

Good point, I edited it for him a bit. :wink:

dan52001a · **Joined:** Sat Nov 15, 2008 11:26 am **Posts:** 109

Here it is, on the road, and quite a machine. If locost is a concept for having a ball building fun stuff to drive out of scrap, this qualifies. I ended up with a LS-1 PCM running the Northstar engine and the Cadillac PCM controlling the stock automatic transmission. It is a pussycat when just motoring around, which I attribute to the Cadillac PCM electronically controlled torque converter, and it has good handling because of the rear weight bias.

john elliott · **Joined:** Sun Jun 07, 2009 1:52 pm **Posts:** 6

Congratulations on producing what is, to English eyes at least, an extraordinary vehicle!

No way we could put something like that on the road legally.

mr.peabody.d · **Posted:** Sun Sep 06, 2009 4:03 am

Looks like a wheelie machine

Congatulations on finishing and getting it titled

cheapracer · **Joined:** Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:29 am **Posts:** 723

I'm bloody speechless!

Unique is the first word that comes to mind - kudo's on the speed you do things, sensational actually!

dan52001a · **Joined:** Sat Nov 15, 2008 11:26 am **Posts:** 109

Thanks for the compliments! I just wish I didn't have to leave a wheel off in front. Very interesting now to compare the silvertop MR2 rear engine car and the Northstar car, they are both currently on the road. Mad Max!

Flipper_1938 · **Joined:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:41 pm **Posts:** 280

Why did it go from a somewhat traditional dunebuggy to a three wheeler?

I figured understeer would be bad enough as it was. How do you make it turn with just one front tire? Turning brakes?

Also, how does it stop?

dan52001a · **Joined:** Sat Nov 15, 2008 11:26 am **Posts:** 109

Motorcycles can easily be registered, the brakes are excellent, and I do have turning brakes. They are lots of fun on gravel and tighten up the turning radius on pavement.

cheapracer · **Joined:** Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:29 am **Posts:** 723

dan52001a wrote:

Motorcycles can easily be registered, .

Flipper, if you parked a Kawasaki Ninja, Honda Blade etc. next to it you wouldn't be able to tell them apart!

dan52001a · **Joined:** Sat Nov 15, 2008 11:26 am **Posts:** 109

It's not because they look alike, but rather the regulations allow three wheel vehicles, and the requirements are the same as motorcycles with a couple of minor differences, such as not requiring a helmet if the vehicle is enclosed with seat belts.

LocostUSA.com

Project start, Northstar Mid Engine low cost

Who is online