1960/61 Rupp Kart?

[thenetters21]

Newbie who just created my account today. I'm trying to find out some info on my Dad's Rupp cart...based on when he was born, I'm thinking it's around a 1960 cart...can anyone help? In the late 80's, I took off the non-working Westbend engine and put on the B&S engine, then one of my friend's lost the Westbend engine...so a few years ago, as a COVID project, I wanted to put the cart back in its original presentation, so I bought a "new" westbend engine and took the cart 100% apart to have it powder coated (but never did), and then got busy. It's been apart ever since, my Dad turns 80 in a few months, and I'm now going to try to put it back together. As a newbie, this is my first post, if anyone can point me in the right direction for parts, tutorials, or for someone who can put it back together for me, that would be amazing. My dad said he replaced the seat and gas tank as soon as he bought it, that's why they aren't original...as I'm looking to put it back like he had it, I'll probably keep the not original, but original to me gas tank, as well as his old seat. I think he said it was white when he bought it new, he painted it black, and I painted part of it green. Will either take it back to black or white. Thanks for any help! And I'm in the midwest...Ohio.

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Very noble project.
Post pics of how you think things should go and we can help you fill in the blanks.
Welcome to the madness.

 

[Grizzlymi]

Love the thought put into this. Turning 80! Good for him. Start a thread in the Project/Photo gallery section and post as many pics as you can. Ask a million questions and everyone will help through this as best as they can. Welcome to the site and good luck with the project!

 

[Denny]

Welcome! Cool project. Take it as close back to original as you can. It will be worth more.

 

[Hellion]

It's a very early Rupp Dart Kart, about 1959 I'd say. The steering wheel is unmistakable (especially the wording on the hub) and a sort of gimmicky aluminum, something that didn't last too long and went in favor of the full circular type wheel, chrome plated steel, vinyl wrap 3-spoke deals. There's two different karts in this ad, I think yours might be the top one as it seems to lack the diamond shaped bearing hangers as seen in the bottom version.






Nice Rolls Royce.

It's kart with a K; although spell check probably got you.

 

[Hellion]

As a newbie, this is my first post, if anyone can point me in the right direction for parts, tutorials, or for someone who can put it back together for me

There likely won't be OEM NOS parts available for these at all, or at least at a price you'd want to pay. Rupp is once one of the (now) priciest and collectible kart brands out there. What parts do you lack? Like WTR said, we can walk you through it.

I'd lay everything out on some empty floor space along with the frame, take copious photos and let us see what you've got. These classic karts are remarkably simple.

 

[panchothedog]

I'd bet that steering wheel alone ( to the right person ) is worth more than a lot of running karts. It might look like a pile of greasy parts, but clean everything up, spread it out on the floor ( like Hellion suggest ) and stare at it for a while. Not really very complicated. It will come to you. Bet your Dad could help too. Super nice project. Also welcome to the site.

 

[thenetters21]

I feel bad for writing cart instead of kart! Thanks for all the pointers, and suggestion to move this over to the project section - sorry, didn't see that. Great suggestion to lay everything out and see if I can figure it out...get things started. And while my Dad only had one engine on it...I sort of think there needs to be two.

Is there a moderator that can end this post and I'll restart it in the project section? Not sure how things work on the site, but I'll try to post in the right place.

 

[thenetters21]

I'd bet that steering wheel alone ( to the right person ) is worth more than a lot of running karts. It might look like a pile of greasy parts, but clean everything up, spread it out on the floor ( like Hellion suggest ) and stare at it for a while. Not really very complicated. It will come to you. Bet your Dad could help too. Super nice project. Also welcome to the site.

You're giving me a lot of credit to get things back together...for someone that started off spelling kart incorrectly. I'll try!

 

[thenetters21]

It's a very early Rupp Dart Kart, about 1959 I'd say. The steering wheel is unmistakable (especially the wording on the hub) and a sort of gimmicky aluminum, something that didn't last too long and went in favor of the full circular type wheel, chrome plated steel, vinyl wrap 3-spoke deals. There's two different karts in this ad, I think yours might be the top one as it seems to lack the diamond shaped bearing hangers as seen in the bottom version.

View attachment 158559


View attachment 158560

Nice Rolls Royce.

It's kart with a K; although spell check probably got you.

Yep...spell check...totally not me...

Thanks for the pictures, this is super helpful...I always wondered about the seat since it didn't have the sides like the later karts, and my Dad couldn't remember if he changed it or not...maybe he didn't and it's the original one...that would be neat

 

[JimD]

You can go to the site https://vkakarting.com and ask for someone in your area with a Rupp for suggestions. There are a lot of the Rupp karts around and they are located in almost every state. One of those "old guys" near you would certainly be happy to give you a hand getting it back together again. Then your Dad could go to one of the events and see how well you did putting it back together. There are 90 years olds still driving like they were 16 again. A kart is better than a heart transplant, they make you feel young.

 

[Hellion]

Thanks for all the pointers, and suggestion to move this over to the project section - sorry, didn't see that. Great suggestion to lay everything out and see if I can figure it out...get things started. And while my Dad only had one engine on it...I sort of think there needs to be two.

Is there a moderator that can end this post and I'll restart it in the project section? Not sure how things work on the site, but I'll try to post in the right place.

No need to move it. Go Kart Discussion or where it is now is fine. We’re used to seeing newbies start off in Introduce Yourself and begin their rebuild/repair/refurbish saga there, in a subforum that doesn’t get much traffic so they don’t get the exposure they deserve.

I’m a moderator and can move it if needed.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Also trust but verify anyone who you contact. Almost every component of this kart is sacred, a living history of the sport.

 

[thenetters21]

OK, so I tried to degrime the smaller bolts/pedal/brakes over the weekend...they look OK...much better than how they started (took one photo of the brake pads, one done, one not done). Should I paint these parts or leave them as is? The cart (almost used a "c") will be used so it doesn't have to be perfect, but also don't want it to be shabby - would prefer it to be on the nicer side, but not a garage queen.

I would like to take the frame in this week to get stripped and powder coated...would like to go back to the original white...anyone have a suggestion on what shade/name/finish for the white to use?

Trying to stay a little ahead of things by getting parts ordered...for the brakes, where do I get new pads for them? And tires, any suggestion on where to order them...I know my Dad said it came with treaded tires that he burned off the first day he had it and then replaced them with slicks...so...leaning towards slicks I think as my kids and I will both use it as it should be used.

I was ready to send this across the country to get restored...but y'all are right, it seems reasonably simple...I may be able to get most of it back together. I have all the original parts, so this could be a fun winter project.

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Personally I would not paint them it they were not originally painted. Clean them up and maybe get a little polish or some wax on them.

 

[Hellion]

The cart (almost used a "c")

I won't tell a soul.

I would like to take the frame in this week to get stripped and powder coated...would like to go back to the original white...anyone have a suggestion on what shade/name/finish for the white to use?

I had no idea it was originally white but the one in my second photo appears to be white, so there. I don't think the originals were powdercoated. They probably used an automotive lacquer or something....

Trying to stay a little ahead of things by getting parts ordered...for the brakes, where do I get new pads for them?

How do those brakes work? What did they rub against? Honestly, scratching my head here. I would have suspected they were originally a band brake with drum setup like what the ad picture seems to show (the bottom one with the rear end on display).

 

[Hellion]

I'd like to see more photos of this:



Rarely get to see one in the wild like this. Most we see have already been shot, killed and stuffed by the taxidermist. Show us the rear or business end and the welds and stuff. This thing is potentially 66 years old...

 

[Denny]

Get it powder coated, learn to polish aluminum. Learn to polish the steel bolts maybe get them re-cadmium plated. Polish the magnesium rims (but be careful it can auto ignite the rags). Do it all right the first time and it will last. That is a very valuable kart and sells for 5 digits regularly on bring a trailer.

 

[panchothedog]

A big wire wheel on a bench grinder ( I realize you might not have one ) will make all those parts you have in that pan look a whole lot better. Shiny, removes a lot of the stains and discoloration. You won't want to paint them.

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Clear coat.