What engines fit in these frames?

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jrswanson1

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Background: I bought a 1971 Norton Commando frame from another member here. He included the trans cradle/rear swing arm and triple. So, I have a blank slate. I have four other motorcycles, so I'm not pressed for a ride. Two of them are working, the other two need finishing to get back on the road. I like projects.

So, what engines fit in this frame? It seems there are more frames out there than engines. So, I'm assuming that all Norton 750 engines fit? Do the 850s fit? Will any other manufacturers engines fit and work? Will V-twins work without destroying the frame? Thanks.
 
The 750 and 850 engines will bolt right in. Everything else is a matter of degree.
 
There are a thousand different ways to find out what other engines will fit!
 
Didn't NVT build a Commando framed Trident and a B40 ?

Any Norton twin could be fitted fairly easily. Pretty well any other non-unit engine with a certain amount of work.

To arrive at something faster and nicer to ride than the Commando engined variant wouldn't be easy.
 
jrswanson1 said:
Background: I bought a 1971 Norton Commando frame from another member here. He included the trans cradle/rear swing arm and triple. So, I have a blank slate. I have four other motorcycles, so I'm not pressed for a ride. Two of them are working, the other two need finishing to get back on the road. I like projects.

So, what engines fit in this frame? It seems there are more frames out there than engines. So, I'm assuming that all Norton 750 engines fit? Do the 850s fit? Will any other manufacturers engines fit and work? Will V-twins work without destroying the frame? Thanks.
Click to expand...

If you go this route, understand it will cost you much more than you could sell the end result. Recommend if you want to use this frame, find a '71 with broken frame and merge the two.
 
Not sure why you would even consider a V-Twin in a Norton frame. Also - the spectrum of V-Twin engines goes from 250cc all the way to 2000cc and 45 to 90+ degrees on the V so how could anyone answer that question? My simple answer would be no, because the frame is designed for a parallel twin and why would you want to waste the time and money to put some very odd engine into it and have something not worth much when you were done...unless of course you have a bunch of engines laying around...but even then the cost to retrofit would hardly seem worth it.
 
Honda 750?

What engines fit in these frames?
 
'Some things are so bad, that they are good' ? That's like fitting a 60BHP side valve Ford engine into a Corvair.
 
Oh Alan just because ya can't take mixed race marriage offspring, they still have their own beauty and function to the eyes of many others. This one is famous to boot being made by the late Sir Eddie.

A quick mental envelope calculation for a stock-ish bargain parts 750 implies says between $4-6000, either part by part or intact old engine that needs parts and processing. Best economic way is sell your parts and buy a mostly intact fixer upper or fully restored fully fettered good finished runner for 8+ grand and stick the seller with the $1000's and $1000 he has to write off d/t to market he's selling to.
 
'Oh Alan just because ya can't take mixed race marriage offspring, they still have their own beauty and function to the eyes of many others.'

Nice.

Hey Rohan wth is in the background of that photo? Looks like a T-Rex leg or something. Glad to finally see a pic of your bikes though.?!
 
So, I'm assuming that all Norton 750 engines fit? Do the 850s fit?
Click to expand...

All Commando 750 engines fit. Atlas, N15, G15, P11 engines will bolt in, but will take some modification to make a primary chaincase fit and mount an alternator. If you use a pre-Commando crank you will need to use a single row primary and an Atlas clutch and transmission mainshaft. A lot of work when Commando motors are still pretty readily available.
 
illf8ed said:
jrswanson1 said:
Background: I bought a 1971 Norton Commando frame from another member here. He included the trans cradle/rear swing arm and triple. So, I have a blank slate. I have four other motorcycles, so I'm not pressed for a ride. Two of them are working, the other two need finishing to get back on the road. I like projects.

So, what engines fit in this frame? It seems there are more frames out there than engines. So, I'm assuming that all Norton 750 engines fit? Do the 850s fit? Will any other manufacturers engines fit and work? Will V-twins work without destroying the frame? Thanks.
Click to expand...

If you go this route, understand it will cost you much more than you could sell the end result. Recommend if you want to use this frame, find a '71 with broken frame and merge the two.
Click to expand...

I'm not worried about selling. I have three Hondas, all at least 30 years old. I'm putting them back together as they were neglected and I hate seeing wasted potential. I've wanted a British bike for a while, so this is the path I chose.
 
dennisgb said:
Not sure why you would even consider a V-Twin in a Norton frame. Also - the spectrum of V-Twin engines goes from 250cc all the way to 2000cc and 45 to 90+ degrees on the V so how could anyone answer that question? My simple answer would be no, because the frame is designed for a parallel twin and why would you want to waste the time and money to put some very odd engine into it and have something not worth much when you were done...unless of course you have a bunch of engines laying around...but even then the cost to retrofit would hardly seem worth it.
Click to expand...

See, there's a guy who has a V-4 engine from an 80s Honda Sabre... :lol:
 
hobot said:
Oh Alan just because ya can't take mixed race marriage offspring, they still have their own beauty and function to the eyes of many others. This one is famous to boot being made by the late Sir Eddie.

A quick mental envelope calculation for a stock-ish bargain parts 750 implies says between $4-6000, either part by part or intact old engine that needs parts and processing. Best economic way is sell your parts and buy a mostly intact fixer upper or fully restored fully fettered good finished runner for 8+ grand and stick the seller with the $1000's and $1000 he has to write off d/t to market he's selling to.
Click to expand...

Not really looking to sell afterwards. Just want a good running Norton. Preferably a fast one.
 
79x100 said:
Didn't NVT build a Commando framed Trident and a B40 ?

Any Norton twin could be fitted fairly easily. Pretty well any other non-unit engine with a certain amount of work.

To arrive at something faster and nicer to ride than the Commando engined variant wouldn't be easy.
Click to expand...

yep, they did build a Trident version, I took this photo at the British National MC Museum a couple of years back...

What engines fit in these frames?
 
I think most folks think incest among same Nationality is just naturally acceptable.
Somewhat easier to take if the ages of the organ donors ain't too far apart.

Not really looking to sell afterwards. Just want a good running Norton. Preferably a fast one.
Click to expand...

just takes money and time then some more money and time to get some return pay backs. Realize you can only spend so much on a Norton engine, so must face facts that over 60 hp it won't be much of a parts numbered Norton engine left. Power adders add more on top of the base line engine and upgraded tranny.
Drive train cost start to soar after 70 hp level.
45 hp engines costs about 4000.
50 hp costs about $4500
60 hp about 6000
70 hp about 8000
80 hp about 9500
90 hp about 11000
100 hp about 13000
 
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