Bird Engineering cart

[m.montano@comcast.net]

Hello all - new member here - I just picked this up for my son and am trying to get info to restore this cart. I’m not familiar with carts at all (Chevelle Camaro guy) I saw some older posts touching on Bird Engineering but I want to know what I have here and if anyone has restored one - any help is appreciated- I have the engine and most of the parts
[/ATTACH]

Mel Montano

 

[JohnnyRingo]

Looks like a fun project. Good luck!

Don't know anything about Bird Karts, but did have a '66 Chevelle SS. You got good taste, sir!

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

If you read my signature, you'll see that I'm into your kart!
You have a Bird Engineering Baja, and Birds in general are hard to come by nowadays(I have a Bird Engineering Starbird)
A guy by the username Mrmonk on here has a Baja he's restoring, he can probably give lots of pointers.

 

[m.montano@comcast.net]

Thank you! I’ll look for him . Looking forward to this project I’ll post as I go - I disassembled the front end today and am trying to understand how the rear end works.

 

[m.montano@comcast.net]

Bird Baja

A few more pics

 

[itsid]

Huh.. I agree with JT.. seldomly...

But here.. yeah I agree.. looks alot like a Bird Baja to me;
might be i's successor which IIRC was a hair shorter (an inch or so)
Can't read the serial number.. Bajas [41605] (and same age Slingshot 41655) start with 144 the successor with 244 AFAIK

I wouldn't even rule out that the decal on the floorpan is a good hint *shrugs*

'sid

 

[m.montano@comcast.net]

Thanks Sid serial number reads 1-24402 - so it sounds like the successor - do you know the approximate age/year.

Mel

 

[Dingocat]

I've got one that's been chopped up a bit to fit a 13 horse. Not properly. Whoever painted it painted over the dirt and rust, also cut off handlebar.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Is that an 8 horse Briggs? I can't quite tell...
Is there a HP rating decal on the blower housing? If not, post up the codes and I can tell you about the engine.

 

[Dingocat]

Is that an 8 horse Briggs? I can't quite tell...
Is there a HP rating decal on the blower housing? If not, post up the codes and I can tell you about the engine.

Tecumseh. Look at sticker on blower housing.

 

[Hellion]

Hello all - new member here - I...am trying to get info to restore this cart. I’m not familiar with carts at all....

I'm almost positive you're familiar with them, you've been shopping right?

 

[Bansil]

1st project car was 64 chevelle SS convertible back in 1986 or so

 

[Tpdingo]

I'm almost positive you're familiar with them, you've been shopping right?

Lmao when on craigslist at least here "go cart" is about $150 cheaper on average than "go kart".

 

[itsid]

Thanks Sid serial number reads 1-24402 - so it sounds like the successor - do you know the approximate age/year.

Mel

not really no..
Bird rebranded in 1984 to Phoenix
They slightly modified the steering column the year prior
to be wide with a squar'ish top (1982-83 or so)

So we can put it at least pre 1984
more than likely pre 1983

You say you have a 124 serial number, that'd make it an EARLIER number (I doubt they went back from 144 to 124)

IDK, I'd guess maybe a very late 1970s (78/79) or a very early 80s (80/81)
I cannot recall Bird ever using OHVs so the flathead might be the original engine still..
it's serial number has a known date format encoded ..
so if you have that, we might get at least a good hint (in case it is the original engine)

'sid

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Tecumseh. Look at sticker on blower housing.

Thanks. I can also decode Tecumseh numbers! (It's amazing what a book can help you do!)

I'm almost positive you're familiar with them, you've been shopping right?

And one's a WHOLE lot more fun!
Well, actually, that's kinda hard, because on one hand, I do absolutely love go karts, but a shopping cart full of Dr Pepper is also extremely appealing!

 

[itsid]

Who'd thunk

it's indeed a Bird Baja MAGNUM (hence the floor decal)

sometimes we're lucky and an ad shows up

'sid

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Thanks for that link 'sid, since I was out of town I haven't seen that thread. Cool to see an ad for my kart along with it. Magnums cost twice as much as mine brand new!Wonder where the bodywork for my kart went, if it ever had it...
Funny how they make a 1WD scrub brake yard kart seem like the bee's knees, but hey, that's advertising.

 

[m.montano@comcast.net]

Thanks for all the replies gents - I have started disassembling - I learned more from your posts than all the research I did. I’ll post periodic progress pics - also trying to get a 72 Chevrolet SS complete - fun projects