Thread: Ratty Muscle Kart, because full size fun is expensive.

Some of you may know that I'm in the process of building a go kart from scrap, and the idea for it came from the junk I had lying around. Angle iron from an old bed frame, seat made out of the frame to an old pressure washer, and whatever other junk I have lying around...

I've been doing a lot of measuring, figuring, and I think I've decided on a "model" to base this go kart on...



1968 Dodge Charger.

It's not going to be perfect, nor will it be "pretty", but with a ~1/2.3 scale I can just barely fit inside the body. I thought about making it easier and just having an open roof, but then all I could think was PowerWheels and that's not really the look I was going for.

I'm planning on going with either a 6.5hp Predator or an old 5hp B&S Raptor. If I did go with the Predator, it would have to be the Hemi. I might not be able to find one up here in AK, but it might not even be to the point where it needs an engine by the time I get ready to leave here.

I did consider some other cars to model it after, like the '70 Cuda or 70 Challenger, but they were just too short (my feet would be past the front bumper). Plus I can make it a General later on. lol

I'll have some progress pics later (maybe) if I can get the frame at least somewhat together...

I found something very similar to my idea, but I'm planning on mine having quite a bit more meat on the wheels... and quite a bit more grunt to it.



And I've decided that a 6.5hp Predator just wont be enough...

670cc V-Twin Predator will be the beating heart.

Whatever engine you get, it's gotta run better than THAT one.

Precisely why I decided to go bigger... Two cylinders instead of one. It'll be a tight fit, and I might have to change the scale and the design just to get everything to fit, but this thing will do burnouts and wheelies...

I'm gonna need more room in the back for the engine now, because front engine would be difficult at best. Shaft drive, perpendicular gearing, etc... But it could be pretty awesome to have a V-Twin sticking out of the hood with "ram air" induction, twin exhaust coming out right behind the front tires...

So many ideas, so little time and money. But I will have this thing at least rolling before I leave Alaska.

I'm changing the scale to 1/2, because I need a little more room to fit everything, and myself. I might also look at doing some form of suspension, just because going 35mph over bumps/potholes could get uncomfortable after a while.

And the 670cc V-twin isn't feasible right now, because the clutch I would need costs more than the cam, billet con rod, and flywheel for the 212cc Predator. I'll just build it with enough space for bigger engines later on.

A box from Harbor Freight. lol