Greetings from Lisbon :)

[deloreanaka8]

Hello everyone.
My name is Bruno, I'm a 27 y/o hobbyist from Lisbon - Portugal.
I've been around karts since I was very little and have the luck of having a father that used to mess around racing karts when he was my age, so I have a starting point.
The main interest for me at this stage is trying to make a somewhat accurate replica kart of a drift car.
I used to own a black 1985 Levin body AE86, so I'd like to make a replica kart of this vehicle as a start... crazy, I know.
Been reading a bit for a few months before I registred to be 100% sure this would be what I want to do, so now that I registred I'm ready to begin my project and be able to learn from you all as much as I'd like to teach.
Atm I got a working space with a bench (2400mm x 1200mm) made of a old rc racers platform and some bricks.
My idea for the material to use is squared 40mm chromium molybdenum steel tubbing, welded with electrode.
Body to be made of fiberglass sheet, mixed with either epoxy or poliester resin.
But if you think you got a better solution, go ahead and let me know, I'm really fascinated when it comes to new ideas.

Best regards for you all.
Bruno

Edit: Here is a photoshoped pic of what I'm aiming for (besides the fact of not having a seat visible and the wheels not being the correct ones):

Edit II: I've started this project, but I altered the design and the dimensions. You can see the project here - http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21021

 

[souperman000]

welcome to the forum, Bruno

 

[landuse]

Welcome to the forum! I look forward to seeing your build. I know that tubing is harder to weld than regular mild steel. Have a look at this article before you try weld

http://www.pipelineandgasjournal.com/welding-challenges-9-chrome-moly-steel?page=show

 

[deloreanaka8]

Tomorow I'll be meeting a guy with one of those mini atv's similar to a Blata Quadard, I intend to use it for parts for this first project.
Of course chassis will be homemade, but some components like the wheels, hubs, sprocket, brake discs and steering linkages are useful if I have them already.
As for powerplant, I know it's a weak source but I will use a cag 49cc engine with a few tweaks, because I don't need speed just get it moving will already be a goal.

I'm actually getting excited with this, it'll be like a big welding exercise.

 

[OzFab]

Welcome to the forum, I'm looking forward to this build.

The hardest thing about building a scale model is getting the measurements correct; What scale are you building?

Somehow, i'm not sure a 49cc will be enough. It may move, but only just.

 

[deloreanaka8]

Hello, and thank you Fabroman.
The scale calculated is somewhat 1/2 but not 100% accurate, since the measurements for wideness and wheelbase are correct but it's lenth is a bit off (about 30% shorter) to be able to fit inside my current car so I don't need a trailer to tow it.
I'll give more details as I gather more information along the way.

 

[deloreanaka8]

Hello everyone, sorry for douple post.

This picture was made by fusing 2 existing blueprints of the AE86, because there isn't a hi-res blueprint of the hatchback Levin body.
It's just to give you an idea of how much squishing the body dimensions will get to fit inside my car.

The dimensions I've calculated so far are 1900mm long, 800mm wide and 1200mm of wheelbase.
2nd and 3rd are correct according to 1/2 scale, but it's length was cut down a bit making it look a little bit cartoonish.
Anyway, I've already decided the original Cag engine will have a more extensive tuning setup as it will pull almost 30% more weight than the original pocket bike frame it was installed, so I've opted for a 44mm cylinder kit along with a bigger carb... dunno yet about the exhaust since I'm not fully aware of the models available, but might change to a Kundo or Turbokit if I can find any for sale.

The quad I bought yesterday for parts was exactly like this one:

The wheels are perfect in size and simplicity, I can also use most of the steering parts.
The worst part is the rear axle, I wasn't aware it would be too short, the total size for axle with wheels is 600mm... 200mm less than what I need, that sucked.
Fortunatly I have more pocket bike disk brakes so I can use the quad's brake too.
Also the sproket will be handy since I didn't had any yet.
So it seems I'll have a mini quad frame lying around, lol.
As for the tires, I got a nice idea from a friend, it might work but needs testing before I show you.

And that's it for now, next update I'll start a thread in the project section.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Welcome to the forum! I'll be watching your build closely, I love scale work. There's a fella on here named Bando- he built a beautiful scale Jeep. Have a look!

 

[OzFab]

The dimensions I've calculated so far are 1900mm long, 800mm wide and 1200mm of wheelbase.
2nd and 3rd are correct according to 1/2 scale, but it's length was cut down a bit making it look a little bit cartoonish.

Only a little bit but, you end up with a nice wheelbase to track ratio, meaning it will handle a little better.

You're gonna have fun stretching the rear axle 200mm, good luck with that

 

[deloreanaka8]

LOL, I'm not streching the axle, might as well make one with the proper size.
These things are made in china without any sort or quality control, wouldn't risk my butt on a stretched cheap axle.

I need to ask a question to the master builders here:
-Since this project is intended to be a drifting kart, are there any racing tires for my wheels?
The tires they use are 3.00-4, I assume this must be inches.
They look like this

But I only see round thread tires (when inflated), I want flat ones, something like this

I'm asking this because they will be modified but I need really flat thread tires to do so, and it's really hard for me to find something like that for 4" wheels...

Thanks in advance.
Bruno

 

[OzFab]

Personally, I would use racing wheels. They're 5" & 6" rims & the tyres are only 11" high but, that depends on your budget lol

 

[Doc Sprocket]

You can try looking into go kart rain tires, but I think you will have trouble finding them for a 4" rim, as Fabroman suggests.

 

[deloreanaka8]

Ok I now understand what went wrong, not a big problem and fortunatly it has a solution.
When I was looking for tires before buying the quad for parts, I was looking into mobility scooter tires, and that's what made me think there were normal tubeless tires with flat thread for this size of wheels.
That was my mistake but fortunatly the solution is quite simple in theory, let's just hope I can put it into practice.

Remember when I said a friend gave me a idea for drift kart tires?
Well, my friend runs a local RC drift team and his idea sounded quite nice in theory.
Since I got the thread problem and I need tires that don't stick to the ground enough to make it slide but not too slippery that I can't control the kart, he suggested to try replicate the Yokomo drift ring tires. (in pic)

Basically, it's hard compound rubber tires with 2 sections cut to insert plastic rings.
The idea is to make it similar to these, and since the rings will snuggle between the center and side thread, I assume it might level the tire thread almost to a flat position.

So now here come the questions... what could be the best method to cut a tire section?
I think maybe some spinning tool like a lathe or bench grinder, but what about the cutting tool?

When I have the digital blueprint of the chassis done, I'll post.

Once again, thanks in advance.
Bruno

 

[deloreanaka8]

Once again, sorry for double posting.
Just wanted to let you know I put a picture of the intended result in the 1st post.