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Machining a Variator for a Spree

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 6:36 pm
by Mattedroom
Ok, this has been bugging me for a little while. I've seen through adds on Ebay what a Variator looks like and I have a good idea how it works. I have a full machine shop. Not a little one like a school shop class. Lots of CNC lathes, Machining centers, even a large Horizontal. My Families shop, I can program and machine just about anything. I know I can do this.

So I have the tools to machine it. If one can be made. And if I can make one, that means I can make 100 of them. I think this could work. I just need some help figuring out what to make. Basically the engineering of it.

I imagine that I can just use the weights that are available for an Elite? If I machine the channels to the same width. The main difference would be the thru hole in the variator?

I thought about buying one from an Elite and seeing up close what needs to be done to the design to make it work on a Spree.

I am guessing here. Just wanted to get the idea rolling. Am I crazy?

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 7:43 pm
by Ziraya
if you can do it and the product is any good, why not? And if you can do one product, why stop there, this could be your riches man

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 10:31 pm
by chevyguyjay
just in my opinion, your just wasting your time. y go through all the effort to just tring to beef up a spree engine. dont get me wrong, if u have the time to come up with something, im interested in what u come up with. 8)

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 11:54 pm
by Mattedroom
Riches! YA!! Selling Spree parts! LOL. But naw. This ain't gonna make me any real money. Military work, thats how we make money. Abrams Tanks and Patriot missile stuff.

But what is the real reason that there isn't one currently? Beside the lack of the ability to bore the cylinder? No demand? I don't care about a market to sell to. But if I make one, I'll make a couple and sell them to people who want one. I just want to make my little spree motor go. Not a Dio swap. That's not why I am working on a Spree at 28 years old when I have a SS Camaro, a Chevelle, and a real motorcycle sitting next to it. It's a challenge. Like how many of you guys must feel, it's just fun to do it. Reminds me of being 13-14 again.

I imagine that a good variator on a spree could get you 40+ mph. Just by swapping a pulley and a belt.

Milled a pulley down .120, killed the belt today. So, I am putting the old .09 back on. Still at 37 mph. Waiting on that 2.75 tire to show up. It sure does kill the low end, but I am a little guy, so it don't matter that much.

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 11:59 pm
by Kenny_McCormic
Make it use as many GY6/Dio parts as possible, buy one and figure out what needs replacement.

Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:48 am
by Ziraya
if you do decide to try other things, I might be interested in converting my elite to this engine http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to- ... et-Engine/