Reliant Diff Ratios

[TaxiDave]

Anybody know if the Robin and the Rialto have diffrent diff ratios without me having to find a Haynes manual.
A few years ago when a mate of mine (sadly not around now to have his brain picked) was building a bike engined trike, I can remember him specifically looking for a Rialto rather than a Robin back axle. I'm just stripping a Robin to use for my Summer build (read months and months) and wonder if there's any benefit in me finding a diff from a Rialto. After all the Robin one works in the car and I'm keping the engine standard.

[odie]

There is a difference: Rialto and Robin are the same 3.2 to 1 ratio but Rialto 2 has a 2.78 to 1 ratio which is thew one to go for (they are like rocking horse pooh) and i have one ! :p
The normal rialto (3.2 to 1 ) is fine but if you want midrange pulling power and top end go for the Rialto 2 axle ( the engine was the high compression engine and had a yellow rocker box) this is the only way of telling if you have the right axle other than pulling the axle out and checking it.
hope this helps

[TaxiDave]

Cheers Odie. I'll have to keep my eyes open. There's a Reliant 4 branch manifold on e-bay at the minute but there are plenty interested in it cos the price is climbing.

[odie]

reliant fitted them as standard for a while when the could not get cast iron ones, not worth having, rot at the base and dont give much power increase, had one on reliant trike i built better off with ford fiesta webber carb, fits on with an adapter plate and they go like stink, also lose the fan and fit an electric one you gain about 5 bhp, skim the head up to 70 thou but dont go that far.
A friend used to race them. he also said keep the timing as it should be dont advance it or retard it.
Hope this help :)

[odie]

Oh ya Rialto 2 not listed in haynes but is all the same other than ratios.

[TaxiDave]

better off with ford fiesta webber carb, fits on with an adapter plate and they go like stink
Hope this help :)

Cheers for that, I've heard about the weber carb idea before. Is it off a particular model or year Fiesta and do I have to get an adapter machined up or is there somewhere that I can buy one from??

[dracken1]

you can also fit a metro dizzy on a reliant eng

[odie]

No you cannot fit the metro dizzy, the ends are different and its a completelie differnet type, have seen the web site with that listed, tryed it dont work.The carb is from the 950 fiesta. you used to be able to buy the adapter plates of the shelf, dont think so now but can be made, stops the carb butterfly catching on the manifold.
If you want electronic ignition you use the "hillman avenger 1500" the last one had electronic ignition as standard, used the same dizzy as reliant (lucas 43D4), can get the bits for doing the conversion from lucas, old bits, might have them in stock, cheaper than the lumination kit which is £140 the bits from lucas are about £20/30. max

[Yoda]

well having just gone through 3 diffs on my reliant
i must concur that the rialto 2 diff is the best

i originally started with a robin axle, then had the diff replaced to low ratio one, then to the rialto 2 diff

the robin diff was ok but top end was weak (running 15" wheels)
the low ratio was fantastic around town and top end was about 65mph
the rialto 2 is ideal ok around town and decent top end

also the dizzy of a g reg metro (with the black box on the side need filing down slighty but it is my understanding it will fit, am about to try it soon.)

replacing the manual fan with an electric one also increases BHP
i have a reliant750 manifold which will be mated to a MK1 fiesta twin choke webber.

Yoda Out

[TaxiDave]

Yoda are you going to Unwanted Mcc's Custom Show at Burton next Saturday. I'd be interested in seeing your trike as I'm on the blag for different frame ideas. Where about are you in Birmingham, I'm in Halesowen.

[odie]

Where in burton, only in derby, my trike could do with a short run. :cool:

[TaxiDave]

Its at the Beeches Pub (I'm sure thats what its called). Its in between McDonalds and the Pirelli factory just off the A38. One day custom show.

[Yoda]

Yoda are you going to Unwanted Mcc's Custom Show at Burton next Saturday. I'd be interested in seeing your trike as I'm on the blag for different frame ideas. Where about are you in Birmingham, I'm in Halesowen.

you aint to far
i am Maypole (south birmingham) J3 M42
email me for further details yoda@bikerlifestyle.co.uk
my trike pics here:
http://www.bikerlifestyle.co.uk/Trike/trikes.htm

Yoda Out

[Reliantman]

Odie.
If it was my site you saw the Metro dizzie on, and the mod does not work, I will change it, but I put it on after talking to a bloke who had done it himself, on his Kitten.
Another good place to look is foxandkitten on Yahoo groups, for loads of good tuning advice.

Doug

[odie]

I dont know if it was your site, saw it about 2 years ago, went and got a dizzy from our local scrap yard. the reliant has an off-set spigot across the bottom where as the metro dont, if i remember right you had to strip them down and mix parts up? saw piccys of how to do it but couldnt really understant it (been a mechanic for to long to remember). the internals from a metro go into a reliant but cannot remember which model but hay give it a go, just cos it didnt work for me dont mean it wont for you

[Reliantman]

Hi Yoda.
The Green Meanie is looking pretty good.

Cheers.Doug