Is Dodge using Porsche Parts now?

[Britain Smith]

I was watching the History channel last week and noticed something interesting about the Dodge Tomahawk motorcycle that uses the Viper Engine. I just had a chance to look into it further and I believe that I am correct. Lets see if anyone else notices what appears to be a Porsche part on this bike...here are a few pictures.

-Britain



Front View:


Another, you should it by now...




I swear that is a Porsche 11-blade fan in there providing cooling air to the engine. It is interesting that out of all the chrome and shine of that bike they didn't chrome or even paint the fan. What do you think, is that a Porsche fan?

[widebody911]

Looks like VW trailing arms facing the wrong way on the front.

[Wayne 962]

Probably. With prototypes, you tend to grab anything you can find that will work...

-Wayne

[Jerome Ryals]

I'm pretty sure that I saw an article on that bike 16 or 18 months ago in either Pop Sci or Pop Mech and almost positive that it mentioned the design was done by you who's engineering group.

[Eric Coffey]

Yep, they swiped the fan (and alternator) from a 930.

[emcon5]

The fan is from a 911.

I saw a History Channel bit on it, it is glaringly obvious when the cover/fairing/cowl/thingie is removed.

Tom

[kqw]

They still have a long way to go... Saw the news last week where:

The Dodge Durango's/ and Pickup's from 2000 to 2004 are being recalled because the front suspension is breaking up, causing acidents.

[jbrinkley]

all the way back from new orleans yesterday I got nervous when I saw a durango, it seemed like they were everywhere, saw it on TV
60 minutes? or something

[kqw]

Dodge, for decades has been famous for neglecting safety issues with their vehicles. I wonder how long it'll take for it to trickle down to the Mercedes line of autos.

[project935]

Not uncommon for concept/prototypes vehicles to raid corporate and competitor parts bins.

The first three Ford GT showcars used Porsche CV axles/stubs/hubs/bearings. There just weren't any other available parts that could even begin to handle the power transfer requirements.

Didn't take long for Dodge/Chrysler quality issues to "tricke-up" to MBenz - hence their huge fall from grace in JD Power rankings from '00-'04 ... just now beginning to stop the bleeding.

The Dakota/Durango issue is the upper ball-joint ... most likely the suppliers engineering fault and the DC lack of adequate mule testing - not uncommon for the first couple years production to end up as the test fleet.

These ballsy OEMs have demanded (and gotten) 5-15% $ back from suppliers in what they spent in the past couple years - or just not paid the suppliers that percentage when the bill is due. Hmmm ... what's the first thing to go??? Quality perhaps ...

IMO don't be anxious to buy a new car (that you plan on keep) for the next 4-5 years. 2004 was a record year for domestic auto recalls - I see that as just the beginning ...

[RickM]

Originally posted by kqw
They still have a long way to go... Saw the news last week where:

The Dodge Durango's/ and Pickup's from 2000 to 2004 are being recalled because the front suspension is breaking up, causing acidents.

They say the wheels are coming off the car when at speed. Yikes!

[Don Z.]

interesting bit of trivia... Parts from a Corvair were 1-2-3 at LeMans... Look at the tail lights on a Ford GT.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Durangos? Same thing is happening to Audi A4s. Friend of mine just lost his right front wheel, and Audi has just issued a recall on some years' worth of A4s for lower ball-joint failure. (Checked ours and it's fine--I do my own "recalls..."

Stephan

[fred cook]

I went into the local Dodge/Jeep dealership here one day looking for a part for my son's Jeep Cherokee. I was in my 911SC which really stood out parked in line with a bunch of Dodge trucks and sedans. As I was leaving I noticed another customer staring as I walked out and began to get into the Porsche. He stood there for a minute and finally walked over and asked if I bought parts for the Porsche at the Dodge dealership. Keeping my cool and a completly straight face I told him that I had discovered that since Chrysler had merged with Daimler Benz it was cheaper to buy my Porsche parts thru the Dodge dealership! He simply nodded, said that it made sense to him and walked off to get into his Dodge Intrepid. A friend of mine that works in the parts department overheard the conversation and almost couldn't breathe he was laughing so hard! P.T. Barnum was right, "There's one born every minute"!

Fred Cook
'80 911SC coupe

[Matt Holcomb]

Side on, it kinda looks like an Auto Union, but in reverse.

[geof33]

Originally posted by fred cook
I went into the local Dodge/Jeep dealership here one day looking for a part for my son's Jeep Cherokee. I was in my 911SC which really stood out parked in line with a bunch of Dodge trucks and sedans. As I was leaving I noticed another customer staring as I walked out and began to get into the Porsche. He stood there for a minute and finally walked over and asked if I bought parts for the Porsche at the Dodge dealership. Keeping my cool and a completly straight face I told him that I had discovered that since Chrysler had merged with Daimler Benz it was cheaper to buy my Porsche parts thru the Dodge dealership! He simply nodded, said that it made sense to him and walked off to get into his Dodge Intrepid. A friend of mine that works in the parts department overheard the conversation and almost couldn't breathe he was laughing so hard! P.T. Barnum was right, "There's one born every minute"!

Fred Cook
'80 911SC coupe

He... he ... he...

Our local Dodge dealer was giving away "free oil changes" to any make or model to get people into the new store. I went in for some parts for my truck, in the P-car and asked if they would change the oil in it... The dude about ***** when I told him it took 3 gallons of M-1... He asked his manager if they would do it... he said no... Flatly... Not like I was serious... no AC/Delco boy is touchin' my P-car. But it was funny...

[911nut]

Actually, it's the other way around. Porsche has a purchasing office here in the Detroit area (very close to the Chrysler HQ) through which they source American parts for their cars.
Just goes to show it's a world economy.

[Rodney Nelson]

I just bought one of these yesterday and I was thinking about having my fan powder coated. Does anyone have any pictures?

[JMPRO]

I'm still trying to figure out where the cool collar will go.
Jerry

[SC-targa]

The original 1970 Shadow, DN-1 Can Am car used Corvair mafnesium coolong fans for hub caps to cool the tiny brakes behind it's 10" dia front wheels. Image a go cart with a full on, all alloy, big block Chevy. You get the picture.



Regards,

Jerry Kroeger