Engine / Gearbox modifications / help

[Chris Hill]

Hi folks. Firstly please accept my appologies for posting my question in this forum but I couldn't think of a better place to get an accurate and educated answer.

I ride a custom build 2CV trike (custom frame but with 2CV engine, gearbox, suspension, wheels, lights and even the speedo).

Engine - 1982 602cc standard

Now here's the problem / question (and please don't come back with a solution of losing a few pounds  :) )

The engine is running backwards with the diff turned over. Cooling is my means of original fan but with no forced air. Overheating hasn't been a problem.
I'm 21 stone and it will cruise all day at around 65mph and will at a push, reach 75mph. I do a lot of ride-outs with the Royal British Legion Riders and could do with increasing my cruising speed to about 80mph. Currently if I ride at 75mph for more than a couple of minutes (and although I don't have a rev counter I must be close to 7000 rpm) the engine suffocates on its own oil. I have bought one of the modified oil filler / oil breathers with the metal reed valve but it hasn't helped. Is there anything I can do either engine / gearbox modifications, breather modifications to achieve my higher cruising speed and stop the blow back of oil through the breather pipe (i'm not running the pipe into the air filter but into it's own mini filter).

My friend has a similar trike and has swapped to a 1200cc GSA engine but I would really like to keep with my 2CV engine!

I've looked at the 9.0:1 pistons from ECAS and have a spare working engine that I'd like to work on but any (and I mean the slightest bit) of help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Chris.
West Midlands

[Paul Robertson]

 if you have that much crankcase pressure i would think the piston rings are worn out.

[Steve Panas]

Paul is probably right. It is difficult to assess engine faults without reasonable data. Try using a leak down tester. Race engines are generally rebuilt with more that 10% leak. Some even rebuild with more that 5%.
Using 9 to 1 pistons, jetting to suit, race air filter and Iridium plugs should give you the performance required. A lot of good info is available on the ECAS website.
Steve

[Chris Hill]

Thanks for your responses guys.

I've ordered a set of 9.0:1 pistons, barrels and rings of ECAS and also a set of NGK Iridium IX.

[Ken Hanna]

Chris,
another suggestion (since you're lucky enough to find these private roads to cruise at 80mph ;o), maybe fit some 155 section tyres to give slightly higher gearing, then you won't need to buzz the engine quite so hard.

This one had 145s on it, however the lack of suspension on the back end was more than a little scary if you didn't spot that big pothole in the road ahead... 
< http://www.flickr.com/photos/30132857@N06/3730694786/sizes/o/ >

Ken.

[Chris Hill]

Chris,
another suggestion (since you're lucky enough to find these private roads to cruise at 80mph ;o), maybe fit some 155 section tyres to give slightly higher gearing, then you won't need to buzz the engine quite so hard.

This one had 145s on it, however the lack of suspension on the back end was more than a little scary if you didn't spot that big pothole in the road ahead...  
< http://www.flickr.com/photos/30132857@N06/3730694786/sizes/o/ >
Ken.

Thanks Ken,

Was that your trike?

Here's mine, it's changed a lot since these photos but you get the idea.

On it's original registration and registered as a 2CV trike on log book.

Suspension isn't a problem in fact it's a dream. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx11RztJ
http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqKxa70