60's Simplex Challenger resurrection

[karl]

No restoration, keeping it OG.

Reverted from a yard kart, removed the adapter plate and 13ci flathead.

Was going with a Lawn boy duraforce 6.5hp unit, made a custom exhaust "system"

Then my brother said I can have his west bend 820 , freshly sleeved.

It originally had single or twin clinton 490's, or west bend 580's.

So a single 820 should do me right.

Passes the shoe test, less than 2in ground clearance.

 

[Bansil]

Kool project

 

[karl]

Kool project

Thanks, I think it will be fun!

Ordered the missing crank bearing, US power was out of stock, found some on ebay.

Struggling to figure out this ignition.

The bracket does not have a compartment for the condenser, and
instead a little purple box. The bracket has "set points .015" cast in it.

So is this some kind of trigger that replaces the points? Hope so as
I do not have the breaker cam or points mount.

If it comes down to it, I can buy a bracket to convert it to a normal coil, but that's $150 id rather save.

The new engines have a modern style coil, like the conversion kits use, so US power would not know.

 

[karl]

Not much update on the kart, but I did get the lawnboy situated as it is no longer needed for the kart.

Totally safe , quiet , and practical. Push down the road, hop on the seat, tire grabs, off ya go. Hold on.
She's a handful. 141cc reed valve, 1in tillotson. Sounds way better than the billet predator ever did.
Seems to like the US power oil @ 71:1 mix.

Thought the jackshaft was neat, it floats/ pivots free, so the motor slots adjust both chains.
The chains pull against each other, actually works well. Should look nice in lawn boy green
with a vintage round metal fuel tank.

 

[karl]

Have not forgot bout this!

After a few months , I have finally found a shroud/ engine cover! The first ive seen available for sale. Secured, $62 later.
Still worth it at sub $100 investment in the motor.

Either I will adapt a tecumseh recoil and cup to fit, or make a period electric start cart. The new style US power 820's
have a different cover/ recoil/ cup. No good. Stupid $.

I have a tillotson carb and air filter adapter, and acquired the missing crank bearing, and gasket set. So I should have everything to complete the motor.

Thinking about getting the frame sandblasted?

Wonder if Thompson raceway park would let me run it on their kart track?

 

[karl]

Max Brap

 

[Denny]

What’s with the flattie? Got one I’ve been kicking around for years. 8ba?

 

[karl]

Yep 8ba, getting hard to find em' without any cracks for reasonable $

Sat 20 years, had to clean'er out and unstick the valves.
Getting dual carb intake, duel point distributor, headers, cam, ect

It was lonely so we got it a companion.
As of now, just toys to start up n look at Kinda like the kart
One might go in the ford 9n .

 

[karl]

Tone.

 

[Denny]

Flatties do sound good. But for what it costs to rebuild it I could build a hyperactive Chevy 327 with 4x the horse power and torque. That’s why I have not tried to build mine yet. But nothing sounds like a flathead v8.

 

[AutoPerfect]

No restoration, keeping it OG.

Reverted from a yard kart, removed the adapter plate and 13ci flathead.

Was going with a Lawn boy duraforce 6.5hp unit, made a custom exhaust "system"

Then my brother said I can have his west bend 820 , freshly sleeved.

It originally had single or twin clinton 490's, or west bend 580's.

So a single 820 should do me right.

Passes the shoe test, less than 2in ground clearance.

I think I have this same go kart and I want to get it working for my 11 year old son. I am wondering the best way to go with it. No engine on it now. I’ll post a pic when I get a chance

 

[karl]

Finally did something with it. Since this is a quite rough example, I decided to keep the west bend for
a better condition vintage kart or rokon. Slapped on a flathead briggs with horstman high duration cam,
heavy valve springs with billet retainers/ split keepers, adjustable lifters, raptor rod, tillotson, ect.
She spins up 6k+ and scoots.

Also due to my 5'9" height, driving this thing is quite difficult and painful. Took it for several mile ride, most of the time
I was using my hand to operate the foot throttle.

So I do not feel bad extending the frame. More to come.