predator ghost 212 with mikuni carb vm series and 9k rpm

[Driftx97]

I did a full analysis of the ghost cost vs building a 212 from a base Predator. I ended up buying a base Ducar because the ghost is built on the same block - at least that is what all the information pointed to. I spent more building that than just buying a ghost and leaving the ghost as is. But I would have spent even more improving the ghost with a flywheel, coil, rod, rockers, and then there is the $200 kit you have to buy from HF to complete the ghost anyway. You will be into the ghost for $550 before you take it out of the box.

You can get the 212 for $110. Buy a kit from RacersProQuip on Ebay for between $150 to $250 that will have flywheel, cam, rod, piston and etc and a Nibbi carb kit on Amazon between $70-$100 and build a beast for around $460 or a bit more once you add exhaust and maybe a rocker kit to support the RPMs.

So why not just start with a base engine and build it? Depending on how far you want to go on engine and upgrades, the result would be a near bulletproof screamer that will make your heart swell every time you start it up. As they say... priceless!

and the ghost is just what came with it

 

[Edwin Spangler]

I did a full analysis of the ghost cost vs building a 212 from a base Predator. I ended up buying a base Ducar because the ghost is built on the same block - at least that is what all the information pointed to. I spent more building that than just buying a ghost and leaving the ghost as is. But I would have spent even more improving the ghost with a flywheel, coil, rod, rockers, and then there is the $200 kit you have to buy from HF to complete the ghost anyway. You will be into the ghost for $550 before you take it out of the box.

You can get the 212 for $110. Buy a kit from RacersProQuip on Ebay for between $150 to $250 that will have flywheel, cam, rod, piston and etc and a Nibbi carb kit on Amazon between $70-$100 and build a beast for around $460 or a bit more once you add exhaust and maybe a rocker kit to support the RPMs.

So why not just start with a base engine and build it? Depending on how far you want to go on engine and upgrades, the result would be a near bulletproof screamer that will make your heart swell every time you start it up. As they say... priceless!

You may be mistaken on what comes on the Ghost engine.


So, to build the 212 Ghost engine from a stock 212, what would it cost? Ive never been able to figure this because I dont know exactly whats different about the engines. I see the upgrade list on the Ghost box but I dont know what differentiates those upgrades. Id like to see the Ghost engine priced out, piece by piece. Guess Ill just have to get researchin...

The upgrade kit you list includes items that are already in the engine, cam and rod.

Im in this Ghost engine about $330 (because I had a gas tank and I can weld a flange to a pipe) with the flywheel and valve springs. Not to mention the few custom things Ive done, port work, shaving the deck, you know, the free stuff. The only thing I think Im missing are upgraded rockers?

 

[Hellion]

Id like to see the Ghost engine priced out, piece by piece. Guess Ill just have to get researchin...

I’d like to see that too, get to workin’.

Be interesting to see the engine plus the Ghost extra accessories kit that HF sells, broken down and put back together piecemeal (piece from here and a piece from there) and hopefully come out ahead $$$ to $$. That’s a lot of work and such packages are a major convenience attraction for folks with no Gewgle-Fu and gotta-have-it-now’itis.

Prices for the same thing are going to vary wildly across the different vendors.

 

[Edwin Spangler]

I’d like to see that too, get to workin’.

Be interesting to see the engine plus the Ghost extra accessories kit that HF sells, broken down and put back together piecemeal (piece from here and a piece from there) and hopefully come out ahead $$$ to $$. That’s a lot of work and such packages are a major convenience attraction for folks with no Gewgle-Fu and gotta-have-it-now’itis.

Prices for the same thing are going to vary wildly across the different vendors.

212 Ghost - Upgraded parts costs

Prices vary greatly so I tried to get the lowest and highest but excluded the ultra-cheap ebay parts. Upgraded parts breakdown: Block- $70-$100 Rod- $80-$100 Crank- $100-$120 Cam- $60-$100 Valve springs- $10-$20 Intake manifold w/ pulse fitting- $15-$30 Coil- $20-$30 Carb- $80-$100...

www.diygokarts.com

 

[Wicked_Daddy]

You may be mistaken on what comes on the Ghost engine.


So, to build the 212 Ghost engine from a stock 212, what would it cost? Ive never been able to figure this because I dont know exactly whats different about the engines. I see the upgrade list on the Ghost box but I dont know what differentiates those upgrades. Id like to see the Ghost engine priced out, piece by piece. Guess Ill just have to get researchin...

The upgrade kit you list includes items that are already in the engine, cam and rod.

Im in this Ghost engine about $330 (because I had a gas tank and I can weld a flange to a pipe) with the flywheel and valve springs. Not to mention the few custom things Ive done, port work, shaving the deck, you know, the free stuff. The only thing I think Im missing are upgraded rockers?

So let's look at the parts I mentioned replacing:
"a flywheel, coil, rod, rockers"
- The ghost flywheel is basically a predator flywheel - heavy, screwed in magnet, no idea what the advance is but rated to the governed RPM - approximately 7,000. I would replace this.
- Replacing the flywheel requires replacing the coil.
- Rod: they say it is squeeze cast, heat treated etc. It looks just like a stock predator rod. I prefer the ARC rod.
- Rockers: a set of Champion rockers is not really necessary, but they sure work nice and are not the stamped type that wiggle around on the pedestal.
- I didn't mention the cam but I did get a hot cam for my build. The Ghost cam is just slightly hotter than the stock predator cam, so that's an improvement you may decide you don't need.

The $200 kit that HF sells to complete the ghost is not entirely necessary. If you already have an exhaust, carb, manifold, fuel pump and deck (if needed) then you don't need it. All those parts can be bought for less than $200. That 22mm carb is (IMO) too small for the Ghost and limits its top end, but that is governed anyways so it probably doesn't matter.

The Ghost block is reinforced on the top side and does not require all the governor components to be removed/plugged, etc. The predator block is not reinforced and the governor stuff will need removal. Probably not a big deal to do all that but depends on how involved you want to get..

I think it really comes down to what you want as far as a finished engine and any propensity toward building/modifying things yourself. The Ghost is great for plug and play and of course out-performs a stock predator. Building a stock predator into a beast is fun (for those that like doing that) and can be done rather inexpensively. You can also go off the deep end (that is my disease).

 

[Edwin Spangler]

So let's look at the parts I mentioned replacing:
"a flywheel, coil, rod, rockers"
- The ghost flywheel is basically a predator flywheel - heavy, screwed in magnet, no idea what the advance is but rated to the governed RPM - approximately 7,000. I would replace this.
- Replacing the flywheel requires replacing the coil.
- Rod: they say it is squeeze cast, heat treated etc. It looks just like a stock predator rod. I prefer the ARC rod.
- Rockers: a set of Champion rockers is not really necessary, but they sure work nice and are not the stamped type that wiggle around on the pedestal.
- I didn't mention the cam but I did get a hot cam for my build. The Ghost cam is just slightly hotter than the stock predator cam, so that's an improvement you may decide you don't need.

The $200 kit that HF sells to complete the ghost is not entirely necessary. If you already have an exhaust, carb, manifold, fuel pump and deck (if needed) then you don't need it. All those parts can be bought for less than $200. That 22mm carb is (IMO) too small for the Ghost and limits its top end, but that is governed anyways so it probably doesn't matter.

The Ghost block is reinforced on the top side and does not require all the governor components to be removed/plugged, etc. The predator block is not reinforced and the governor stuff will need removal. Probably not a big deal to do all that but depends on how involved you want to get..

I think it really comes down to what you want as far as a finished engine and any propensity toward building/modifying things yourself. The Ghost is great for plug and play and of course out-performs a stock predator. Building a stock predator into a beast is fun (for those that like doing that) and can be done rather inexpensively. You can also go off the deep end (that is my disease).

Thanks. You always have the nuanced info. Very helpful.