Kart Rods

[Kelly Wood]

yea, that makes sense. Probably rivets will be used. It'll look killer. They're not load bearing or anything and Urban Defiance's stuff has held up so we'll probably go that way.

Fun fun!

 

[Kelly Wood]

Hi.

If anyone reading this thread can help me, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I am looking for another 5HP briggs, or... the Updraft carb/intake assembly and pull starter/shroud seen in this pic.

I have money.

 

[Kelly Wood]

I have updated my page.

http://www.kartrods.com/gallery.htm

Just goofing off, info isn't all correct yet. Stay tuned.

 

[Kelly Wood]

Update:

Ah, the weekend.

Arriving home I find a package with my name on it.

As I mentioned LONG ago, I try to use whatever I have but in some cases, you simply have to buy a few things.

In this case, 4 rear hubs.

Why? Because these wheels I have (like 3 sets) have only 1 rear hub here, between them all, that's any good. I have 2 fronts that are good and one of them is for the front wheel on the minibike, the other is a spare.

In my mockups, you commonly see the rear ones but one of them is just bent and can't/shouldn't be used.

So, I bought 4 from Go Kart Galaxy as that appeared to be the only place that I could find them.

So, Hubs.

1 for the Semi O'Death, 1 for the rear axle setup on the minibike, and 2 for The baroness' rear wheels.

Pics, nothin special, just hubs & wheels in preparation for stuff.

Also updated more on my personal site if anyone wants to look.

Yup.

 

[Kelly Wood]

Update:

The day started off with a trip to the track for the 2014 ritual items such as:

1. Sign the "I know I can die" waiver
2. Sign the "I know my child can die" waiver

and other things...

Then it was off to the kart shop to um... once again, buy tires because the rules have changed... again.

So 450 bones later (tires)... and 200 more bones later (pit space for the year) and we're on our way back home.

See pic 1 & 2. Pile O'Tires. Bend over SUCKAH! You race... you gotta pay buddy.

Once home with the tires put away, it was game on. Time to get something for the Semi O'Death's's's... windows, etc.

... and I have the perfect thing.

Anyone remember like, the 50's & 60's storm doors on your house? Those aluminum things with the screen to keep the bugs out that's usually a front or back door thingy sort of deal?

Well, if you ever do see one, the bottom panel is commonly fitted with an aluminum plate... the kick plate for folks that can't open a door and walk right into it... or for kids that are mad their parents locked them outside...

...and often it has neat designs in it. In my case, Ribbed. LOL

I happen to have some left over from a project so I found it & brought it to the table for a little tracing. It's killer stuff because it's not really made anymore and it's got this old look to it because, well, it's old.

And the beauty of this stuff is that it helps out with the whole look because NOW, I don't have to draw much with a paint pen or something.

Anyway, tracing done, it's outside to cut them out & clean em up a bit... drop the cutoff wheel, let it graze my finger, bleed... lather, rinse, repeat.

NOTE: Anyone that tries this... you know, using a cutoff wheel (freestyle) to cut up aluminum plate... while holding it in the other hand... Fricken wear a glove when you do it ok? Seriously. It's like "standing on the sun" hot when you do small pieces.

Cleaned up, some filing, sand paper, steel wool... the usual... bend it on the kitchen counter... looks good.

Then the rivets.

Yup.

 

[Poboy kartman]

What's that old saying Kelly? "You can make a fortune racing- if you have a bigger one to spend?"

 

[Kelly Wood]

Continuing on...

Update:

Daylight savings had me up early so I cleaned up a bunch of stuff and took inventory on all the projects.

Putting them in their places for when I get to them.

With the Semi O'Death fresh in my mind, I did a little more.

Gotta have a pipe, seat, test motor & chain.

The seat is an old fiberglass remnant and the pipe is an aluminum pole from a ... can you guess? A boat stern light I had.

Time for some stenciled numbers. Her number: 13.

After that, we'll probably fab up the front bumper next by using some thick aluminum, then we'll sandwich a big hinge between the bumper & the frame... then hook it to the body... so it can swing up, just like the real thing.

Yup.

 

[mckutzy]

I think on that one, that if some how you could perhaps re route the exhaust to the stacks..... make them functional, that would be cool......

Difficult so you wont burn you a$$, and a little sketchy right by your face and hands....... but....... HMMMM...

An idea......

Good work.


Edit- oh I like the new "shop". Got a kitchen in it too eh...

 

[Kelly Wood]

Thanks.

Continuing on...

That moment you size up the chain and put it on seems to be when the final stages begin. With a rolling chassis, steering and brakes it's time to strip down a little and create the final look.

Even though the Semi here is really just a test bed for motors/tow truck/ slow creepin thing, it still doesn't stop me from givin the motor a little love... and stripping it down a bit for a lower profile. We gotta get the boom on the back to complete the towtruck look when I get to it. With the 71T on the back, I doubt we'll be breaking any neighborhood speed records... but hey, it's all fun. Each of my rides will have a hook under the front so it can be towed if needed... by this beast.

The seat will be like 2-3 inches lower too, down inside the frame a bit when I'm done.

Now to find those side pod/mock fuel tanks that make the semi... a semi.

Thanks for watching.

 

[Kelly Wood]

I think on that one, that if some how you could perhaps re route the exhaust to the stacks..... make them functional, that would be cool......

My daughter suggested the same thing but with that pipe right where my right shin is, there's no way.

Maybe I'll just hook a smoke bomb to it & light it.

 

[itsid]

I like it..

I think the windows could use a little Tonyderation (commonly known as polishing)
But it's great already

To me the steering wheel position looks a little uncomfortable,
but since you do that all the time, I'm sure you know what's still rideable and what's not

'sid

 

[Kelly Wood]

And the several beer mockup, just adjusting colors,etc.

enjoy

 

[Kelly Wood]

tiny update:

Up to now, all the numbering had been photoshopped... but not now.

Numbers on.

yay

I might have to build a separate (and better) kart frame for ole semi here... I like it that much.

 

[itsid]

...
I might have to build a separate (and better) kart frame for ole semi here... I like it that much.

Now it's time to ask Bret if he'd make you a desert demon

'sid

 

[Desertduler]

Now it's time to ask Bret if he'd make you a desert demon

'sid

We could do that,I have a spare 277 Rotax that would shove that cab over around real nicely!

 

[Kelly Wood]

y, yaaa.. maybe. That'd be like putting a turbine on a paper airplane don't ya think? Brets kart weighs in at like 1 metric ton and mine don't break 100 lbs. LOL

 

[Desertduler]

y, yaaa.. maybe. That'd be like putting a turbine on a paper airplane don't ya think? Brets kart weighs in at like 1 metric ton and mine don't break 100 lbs. LOL

That is where the cab air deflector could come into play and apply some down force and keep her on the ground! LOL

 

[itsid]

y, yaaa.. maybe. That'd be like putting a turbine on a paper airplane don't ya think? Brets kart weighs in at like 1 metric ton and mine don't break 100 lbs. LOL

So you think a towing vehicle with a semi cab
shouldn't have a frame sturdy enough to withstand a 200ft drop?

Honestly, I can't think of a better match
Well, yes it'd require another horse or two, but that shouldn't be a problem I guess,
now that you have that lady calling you to come and pick up another engine every now and then,
there's a GX390 on it's way, just wait for it

'sid

 

[Kelly Wood]

Update:

Well folks, I am nearing a milestone in my journey here.

Today, spotted in a local ad, I think I've found the 8th Kart Rod... and 8 is all I'd planned on doing.

This one will be a tad different though. Meaning, it's not going to be a street racer... It's gonna be a desert/lakebed racer to go up against Bret & his buddies this year... and it has the frame just perfect for this.

It's got a killer name too. One suitable for our neck of the woods, the southwest & the desert. The name actually was Urban Defiance's 1st name but it didn't come together that way. So, this one will bear the name I started the whole journey with...

The Rattler.

Stay tuned... Pics & photoshop mock-ups to follow tonight most likely.

A pic of the wheels below. (this was Sarge in the beginning btw... it is not the kart I'm buying today on my way home.)

 

[Kelly Wood]

Update:

Ah, we arrive home with the last of the rides I plan on building with excitement. I had to strap the back of my jeep down to get it home because it's just, well, long. (hold the comments...lol)

Anyway, 200 bucks bought this. Comes complete with an adjustable seat and the predator runs. I even drove it around the back yard with my legs extended fully.

Now here's why I got it.

The normal kart rods of mine are fun & all, but they're lightweight, flexible street/neighborhood racers. They do super for what they're intended but when you get them on dirt, well, 5" wheels don't help much and with no suspension, well, running off road could start hurting.

We proved that last year.

With the length of this one and the ideas I sometimes get, I think I can make one heck of a ride that will do 3 things.
1. Make a unique lakebed racer
2. Serve as My build off entry
3. The last ride I'll build for some time as I'm racing a bit this year.

For the couple bills I paid, we now have 4 complete 6" rims with front & rear hubs, a clutch with a 41 chain & sprocket I'll never use and this thing.

Anyway, pics.

Enjoy