54s Kartco 455 Restomod aka The Reaper

[54inches]

Hey guys!

I am building this Kart with and for my son Jaxon.

As you may know from my intro, I sold all my projects to focus on this for him.

Basically, I wanted to build him a safer, cooler version of what Kartco came to the market with.

I scored a Manco and this Kartco for $100 running and sold the Manco and will have the Tecumseh that was on the Kartco up for sale here shortly.

Here we go:

Blasting the frame:

 

[54inches]

I wanted the cage to be more sufficient than just a bolt in affair, plus it was missing one bar.

Here is how we started and finished:

 

[54inches]

More frame:

 

[54inches]

Additional bars for more triangulation and support:

 

[54inches]

Now, I wanted to build my own header and muffler, so here goes.

I removed the exhaust from my Predator 212 and picked up a 1" conduit/EMT sweeping 90.

I removed the weld, then was going to port the flange to match the head, but I opened the flange up to the size of the conduit.

I think it will work well.

 

[54inches]

Now, this was all before I had surgery on Friday.

All of the welds have been smoothed, and the frame has been primed.

I then painted the bottom of the frame with a rubberized undercoating and the rest of the frame with black.

The wheels are going to be red, along with the valve cover and the steering linkage.

The aluminum pedals have had the casting marks removed and smoothed for a better look.

I have ordered all new bearings, band brake, air filter conversion and will be making a seat very soon.

That's all for now......

 

[Poboy kartman]

Well I don't think anyone will be posting up begging for pictures on this thread! Awesome job- both building and posting.

 

[54inches]

Thanks brother!

 

[54inches]

Just a few color shots:

 

[OzFab]

Awesome job- both building and posting.

Let me know how the red valve cover looks; I tried it with my Honda but decided to go back to silver, it may look ok on black but, it was a bit too much on the red engine...

 

[54inches]

Will do!

I am only painting a few parts red at first as I don't want it to look too ricey.

I have an all black CTSV with Red Calipers and Grille and it is just enough.

That is what my son wanted to go for, but wanted a little more red.

 

[OzFab]

Red & Black always work together, with the correct balance...

 

[54inches]

Yep!

 

[landuse]

Dang you work fast. Good job!!

 

[54inches]

Yes sir.

Had it since June.

Tore it down in a day, just messing with it.

I actually started on Monday, 7 days ago.

Full day Monday and Tuesday.

Off on Wednesday for Jesus' Birthday.

Thursday 1/2 day.

Surgery Friday and actually worked a few hours after surgery.

Saturday, more paint, but overworked myself on Friday after surgery. lol

Sunday, slept in after staying up late with the UFC fights. did get some more painting done.

So maybe 4 full days of work.

If my parts would have come in, much more would have been done, but I am glad I did not get the parts so I could let the paint fully dry between coats.

Enjoy!

 

[OzFab]

Jesus' Birthday.

Surgery Friday and actually worked a few hours after surgery.

There's just no stopping some people :toetap05:

 

[Poboy kartman]

What- you didn't take parts with you to work on in recovery? Some people are just plain lazy.....

 

[54inches]

lol!!!!!

This was minor surgery; hell, back in the day, I had a testicular cyst removed on Wednesday and was at the Racetrack on Friday dragging Mustang *** in my Camaro.

My wife texted me today when I was on the road(heading to a viewing today and funeral tomorrow) and said my parts came in for the Kart.

My son is going to be stoked if I can get it together before he gets back in town.....

 

[rocketkart]

I have one concern, you welded the roll cage to a frame that was designed to flex, this is why thay bolt them on. you may have some trouble keeping the welds all in intact, being that the frame is going to flex some and this kart is a light frame with no kind of suspension to take away the stess that this frame is going to be under while it's being redin. I don't see that it will hold up long unless it's ran on smooth, flat ground. I have one similar to the one you have there, just running it around the yard the frame will twist some on mine.

 

[54inches]

Arrrrrrrrr!