I’m giving my dune cat a total overhaul custom restoration. Before I start to assemble it I want to use it as a template with a few layers of fiberglass. After the new shell has cured I’m doing to cut it in half, stretch it,then add more layers of fiberglass over the hole thing. The original dune cat measurement from front to back axle is about 46”. I asking for other older yard carts names/year? And axle to axle measurements for the next size longer so after averaging the longer sizes I’ll know how long to stretch it and possible donor frames I could use. Thanks ,Tony
Need other axle to axle measurements
- Thread starter Tu tony
- Start date
Denny
Canned Monster
What you are seeking is wheelbase measurements!
madprofessor
"Loose Cannon Creations"
If you make the frame and joinery of the stretch section strong enough, you can make it into a limo if you want to. Stretching it already changes it from a resto job to a resto-mod job. If not going original, make it to fit you and everybody else that might use it. If Daddy and the tee-ball kids both use it, just build in a sliding seat, maybe telescoping steering wheel also. Don't forget full safety harnesses for everyone, provided there's a rollcage on it. No rollcage = no harnesses, not even a lap belt. You need to be thrown clear. Strapped in = broken necks.
The dune cat I have is in great shape. I will never modify the frame.I will be adding a small roll bar. I’m only reshaping parts of the original shell. A smaller front wheel walls (from nose to top of front fender),removing 45 degree angel on the top front fenders and rounding them and straighten the angel of the ends of the back fenders. To make the original dune cat fit me or a tall kid I would have to put the brake and gas petals 12”to14” in front of the nose. Sliding a seat is impossible on a dune cat. I just want to build another stretched dune cat shell and use a donor stock kart that’s about 6”to 12”longer wheelbase. That’s why I need wheelbase measurements and the manufacture of kart I don’t expect to have to add extra frame support to the donor because like the original dune cat the shell is only bolted on at the front and back. I can rework the new fiberglass shell to fit the donor kart. The dune cat I have was my son’s as a kid. He is 24 now and has a 2 year old. So I’m totally redoing the kart to match the spider-mobile front top to bottom front to back for my grand son. The ‘new’ kart I would like to build wii have the’ Venom’ theme for my son. I’m retired and have the time. The picture I sent is just before he grew out of it and went in to storage. I was educated on the word ‘wheelbase’ for my first response to my post. I to thought that was common knowledge but you would be surprised how many newbie’s would measure from outer edge of the tire to tire LOL so that’s why I said axle to axle
Denny
Canned Monster
Dune Cats are very cool! The reason I did not give a specific answer is because they vary so much from 24” to about 72” or more. My best advice would be to build a kart to fit you with a wheel base of your choice and then stretch the body to fit it.
Widths can also vary widely also so not much help there either. I’m sorry. But we can help you build a chassis! Now that I understand what exactly you are trying to accomplish I was better able to tailor my answer, sorry though it was not the one you were looking for.
Widths can also vary widely also so not much help there either. I’m sorry. But we can help you build a chassis! Now that I understand what exactly you are trying to accomplish I was better able to tailor my answer, sorry though it was not the one you were looking for.
Thanks Denny for your post. I guess I was putting the car in front of the horse. I have time to keep my eye out for a used cheap kart that fits me a little tight (the kart will be made for my son and his legs are shorter LOL). Maybe a Murray explorer or full size Dingo with a 60” wheel base. What ever I find I guess I’ll have to sit in it and figure out the pros and cons. I do have an old oval track go kart that I modified to a yard kart so my nephew could go riding with my son. I could stretch that if needed. Probably just sell it and put the $ towards a different kart. I still intend to make an extra dune cat shell. And not stretch it till I have the donor cart. I’m sending a couple pictures of the yard kart I made for my nephew. The back fenders were plastic barrows held together with 1”1/2 pcv pipes , the sides are garden edging, a ‘glove box’ underneath the steering column made from 4” pcv pipe and cap. May look Frankenstein-ish but to a 10 year old kid it was awesome!!
Denny
Canned Monster
It is a cool kart! And I’m 56. Why don’t you just stretch that kart? It looks like just a typical yard kart. Or if you have a welder you have most of the pieces to build a kustom kart. A few pieces of some black iron water pipe and Bob’s your Uncle! Your done! We can even help you to make it handle better! And all I will charge you is 1 of your Dune Cat bodies!
You can’t blame me for trying can you?
No, we’ll do it for free.
You can’t blame me for trying can you?
No, we’ll do it for free.
I’m 55 years old and I had a small tri sport. Cost $318 new. I was 9 years old and drove and maintained it until I was 18 then sold it for $250. I just might do that and stretch the frame being it only has two pipes for the frame and I’m not worried about it being structurally weakened because the fiberglass shell does most support. I’m not a fan of the centrifugal clutch and would like to have a complete torque converter that bolts to the engine instead of fabricating a jack shaft system for it. I had one on my mini bike ( made one from 3 different bikes. I was tired of following my son on a pedal bike to get his kart unstuck when he was small.LOL ) The torque converter kit had a plastic dust cover with a small opening in the back bottom for the chain. Can the kit work with the chain going somewhat forward ( 
with out rubbing against anything of course) to the kart axle instead of back words like a mini bike back sprocket? And will the bracket hold up because with the dust cover chain hole made in the back it was engineered to only go in the back? If need be l have enough knowledge and skill to build a jack shaft system but rather not that’s where the donor kart comes in. If head scratching problems do arise I will ask for help. The modified yard kart has a solid axle and kept on snapping the chain and turning was horrible at slow speeds so I disengage one tire and became one wheel drive which was okay and faster than the dune cat in the straight away. The dune cat could plow through 3’ weeds no problem. The dune cat shell I’m making now is going to be thin and rough with no smooth top coat go now. Later after stretching it I plain to give it this texture but with more detailed( see picture) with the spider on the steering column. The seat will have Venom’s head by using a car seat cover. If you’re interested I can go in to more about my fiberglassing thoughts. Thanks again for your feedback!
with out rubbing against anything of course) to the kart axle instead of back words like a mini bike back sprocket? And will the bracket hold up because with the dust cover chain hole made in the back it was engineered to only go in the back? If need be l have enough knowledge and skill to build a jack shaft system but rather not that’s where the donor kart comes in. If head scratching problems do arise I will ask for help. The modified yard kart has a solid axle and kept on snapping the chain and turning was horrible at slow speeds so I disengage one tire and became one wheel drive which was okay and faster than the dune cat in the straight away. The dune cat could plow through 3’ weeds no problem. The dune cat shell I’m making now is going to be thin and rough with no smooth top coat go now. Later after stretching it I plain to give it this texture but with more detailed( see picture) with the spider on the steering column. The seat will have Venom’s head by using a car seat cover. If you’re interested I can go in to more about my fiberglassing thoughts. Thanks again for your feedback!Denny
Canned Monster
A cheap jungle store 30 Series TAV II CVT will work perfectly for your application provided you use a GENUINE COMET belt.
40 series sprockets and chain. 10 tooth sprocket on the converter and 60 tooth on the axle. And you’ll be golden for a live axle. Yes we want to see you make your plug mold and body!
40 series sprockets and chain. 10 tooth sprocket on the converter and 60 tooth on the axle. And you’ll be golden for a live axle. Yes we want to see you make your plug mold and body!
Denny thanks for the numbers and belt recommend belt. The black cart came with 35 chain and sprocket so l followed that and bought the matching clutch at the time. Now I know bigger is better when it comes to transferring power!! My wife came up with a 3 week honey do list then I get to spend more time on the karts. Will keep in touch when the fiberglassing begins.
madprofessor
"Loose Cannon Creations"
Been waiting for an explanation, no dice, so I'll just ask............. where'd the 3D Venom come from, how big is it, and how much to buy one?
Madprofessor. I don’t understand the question about 3D Venom. If it’s about the seat cover I guess there a standard size and can be bought on the jungle store. If it’s about the kart I want it to be adult size and to be the nemesisf to the spidy-kart. Size depending on donor kart. Cost of watching a child in spidy-kart winning a race against his dad in a Venom kart is priceless. lol. As of now I’m making a thin two layer fiberglass copy of the dune cat. Covering the original shell in packaging tape then cut spray foam ‘drips’ and ‘wiggles’ and glue them all over the kart for the vein look. Then add chop and thin fiberglass matting ( with black pigment in resin) over entire shell. Next step would to add cloth pieces ( see pictures) soaked in resin in between the veins. The white spider symbol for the steering column will be made for white felt soaked in clear resin. The under side of the shell will have multiple layers added for support. Sounds simple but I anticipate snags when I make this kart shell so I’ll be making practice test samples every step of the way. I hope this reply answers your questions if not let me know. The funny about this thread is all I wanted is wheelbase measurements. If any one out there has a yard kart with a wheelbase larger than a 46’ and doesn’t take a Kama Sutra position to ride it let me know 
madprofessor
"Loose Cannon Creations"
In post #8, with the pics of Venom seat covers, is that not also a picture of a 3D Venom statue? I understand what you're saying about laying squiggles and veins etc. on the new kart shell for a bas-relief kind of realism, pretty cool. Just wondering about the statue, it's delightfully freaky.
Madprofessor. I’m glad you can see my vision for my kart. It’s hard to explain without pictures. The statue pic. I found on the web about 1 1/2 years ago. I saved it for a reference for fiberglassing later. I’m sending the entire pic. That has some information about the statue. Sorry that’s all the information I have about it. 
Denny
Canned Monster
Mad I’m sure she already has a boyfriend!
madprofessor
"Loose Cannon Creations"
Venom Marvel Universe Renewal Edition ArtFX+ Statue (fun.com)
Thanks Tu tony, just saw about a million scary looking prints of Venom, really popular dude. The link above isn't quite so nasty as the one you showed from Iron Studios, but that one's no longer available, and the one next to it is $200. The one above is $95, but unfortunately still way out of my budget for a home decoration one-trick pony.
Thanks Tu tony, just saw about a million scary looking prints of Venom, really popular dude. The link above isn't quite so nasty as the one you showed from Iron Studios, but that one's no longer available, and the one next to it is $200. The one above is $95, but unfortunately still way out of my budget for a home decoration one-trick pony.