ford flathead trike

Last year as I was travelling east on the M4 motorway near Bristol,
England, I was passed by a couple of bikes and what looked like a
trike with a ford-type flathead V8 engine. That looked like fun! I
wonder what sort of tranny was used, anyone out there got one?

 

I've certainly got a flattie, but mines in a truck. It would seem a peculiar
choice for a trike as the engine and gearbox alone weigh in at around 500
lb, taking a large bite out of the eight cwt that you are allowed for using
the trike on a bike licence. Flatheads are not exactly highly tuned either,
mines a 255 cubic inch (about 4.2 litre) and develops about 100 bhp,
approximately half the 170 that the lightweight , all alloy Rover 3.5
engine develops . I could go on about how tuning parts cost an arm and a
leg and the cracks , but as I have to go to Leeds, I wont.
Steve the grease

 

I know of a few people who build/ride some of these 'interesting '
machines. One that I have had a ride on was V-4 ford truck engined and that
had no gear box - just a clutch straight to the rear axle, there seems to
be no need for a gearbox as basically all that the engine is doing is moving
itself and 1 / 2 passengers. the one that I rode on was capable of 130 mph &
I know of one that was fitted with nitrous and won the fastest trike on the
drag strip at the bulldog bash some years ago.
Pete