Rat Rod Inspired Buggy

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Tango71

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I finally decided to start my build after collecting various parts over the last little bit. The build is inspired by various vehicles and movies such as Mad Max. It is supposed to be a rat rod styled buggy of the post-apocalypse.

I have no idea how it will turn out because I'm at the mercy of what I come across in local ads/the dump. I am trying to build as much as possible from scrap/junk, yet make it functional, presentable and safe.

Here is what I have so far. I've laid everything out to get an idea of what will go where.







The front suspension of from a Honda odyssey kart, The main frame is 1.5" Square tube steel, the seating area is an old wheel barrow and the entire rear end is from a Chinese Jianshe quad.
This buggy will be powered by a Wisconsin 10hp single cylinder engine for now. I'd love to get a Wisconsin V4 in there some day but they're just too expensive to buy for this type of build, not to mention the weight. I may end up picking up another one of these engines and mating them inline to make an inline 2 cylinder. That would be sweet!
 
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Zotarajohn

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I'm pretty much doin the same thing. Collecting parts, **** my bucket even looks exactly like yours! I'm going to probably run a 250 trike motor along with the lights electric start reverse 4 speed trans and want to mount that up front! Frame will be rectangle steel like a mini t bucket. I'm thinking all the other projects need to go on the back burner because I'm way to syced about this one!
 
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Tango71

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Zotarajohn said:
I'm pretty much doin the same thing. Collecting parts, **** my bucket even looks exactly like yours! I'm going to probably run a 250 trike motor along with the lights electric start reverse 4 speed trans and want to mount that up front! Frame will be rectangle steel like a mini t bucket. I'm thinking all the other projects need to go on the back burner because I'm way to syced about this one!
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I hear ya man! I'm stoked too and cant wait to be done. I have a slight dilemma though. I have considered widening the bucket and making it a 2 person rig. So far the other parts I have collected is the steering rack off an old BMW, a couple more odds and ends and a Ford 3 Speed + Reverse top loader transmission from an old truck. My issue is, will a 10hp engine connected to the ford 3 speed be sufficient to move two people and a 150-200lb frame? I have a thing for wisconsin engines and the single cyl AENL seems too small, the VH4D V4 is too much power and the inline 2 cyl I want to use is too darn hard to find!
 
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Tango71

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This weekend I managed to pick up a Ford 3 speed top loader. I also picked up a few misc items for the build including a steering rack from an old BMW 318.


The first pic shows the initial placement of the control arms while I was taking measurements. After I was happy with the placement I made control arm pivot mounts and welded them to the frame.




After picking up the transmission I started to place everything inside the frame while taking measurements to determine where everything will bolt up to and so I can start welding in cross bracing.




Here you can see the steering rack and leaf spring that will be later cut down in to 1" sections. The front of the frame will have a section leaf spring bolted to it in the middle. The ends of the leaf spring will be attached to the control arm with a rod so the entire frame weight will be suspended from the ends of the leaf spring.

 
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Tango71

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Yesterday I completed the X bracing on the frame and started building up the back section. The only item from the quad that I wanted to use is the rear swing arm and axle. I had to cut the J arms at the hub and clock them forward to bring the hub to a more vertical position. If you look closely you'll see that I am also trying to make the welds look like stitches. I will eventually get around to doing them all, I thought this would be a cool look for a rat rod as I will have the typical chain steering wheel and hand gernade or skull shift knob to add to the classic rat rod/mad max look.

 
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I hope you are fully welding all around and not just relying on those stitches. Because if you are relying on those stitches you will end up getting some of you're own. :mad: The frame will flex under load and break or crack those welds quick.

Denny
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Tango71

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Denny said:
I hope you are fully welding all around and not just relying on those stitches. Because if you are relying on those stitches you will end up getting some of you're own. :mad: The frame will flex under load and break or crack those welds quick.

Denny
:feedtroll:
Click to expand...

Lmao, I can just imagine it looking like Lego flying apart! Haha.
Incase anyone is wondering, I've been welding for over 10 years, so yes it's welded properly first and then the stitches go over top for looks.
 
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I mounted the transmission and steering rack this weekend. I am also in the process of building a clutch for this buggy. The plans are to still make it a 2 seater. I was also contimplating of adding a 2cyl engine but seeing as the increase is only around 5hp but its about 100 extra pounds of weight I did not see this as worth the hassle. I will stick to the 9.2h wisconsin, clean it up and eventually do a port an polish to free up some more ponies.



 
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Tango71

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DirtyDamage said:
Wow! This thing is going to be a tank! good work!
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Funny you say that. I'm part of a forum called Scaledtanks.com and am also in the process of building my 40% scale M4 Sherman from scratch. Its a real track laying beast big enough to fit me. I put it on the back burner to build this so I can finally get rid of the parts I've been collecting in the backyard.

Yes this project did get out of hand a bit. It was originally supposed to be a single bucket with a small engine then things just got bigger and bigger and now its not even what I would consider a gokart anymore, but more or less a mini buggy.

I'm still not too sure how the final product will turn out. The beauty of building anything that resembles a rat rod is that it is an art form more than a pen and paper (or CAD) designed build. You kind of place a component on your canvas (frame) and see if it will work. If not move on to the next piece, if yes then you weld it in place. There are no plans here apart from basic measurements and lots of time spent pondering and stearing at it.
 
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JMINDY

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Zotarajohn

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Looking real good! Got my parts vehicle yesterday. Kawasaki 250 Mojave 4 wheeler, water cooled, 5 speed w/reverse, front and rear disc brakes, and a home built gocart frame which should be perfect for the build! Same as yours, going to be front engine chain drive w/ a straight axle, paralell spring. Needing to find some bike tires for the front. Only really going to be a parking lot cruiser for the car shows, more show than go, no off roaring or nothing. I'm a big ed "big daddy" Roth fan and building it sort of the way he would have! Will keep you posted, and you do the same
 
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DirtyDamage

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Zotarajohn said:
Looking real good! Got my parts vehicle yesterday. Kawasaki 250 Mojave 4 wheeler, water cooled, 5 speed w/reverse, front and rear disc brakes, and a home built gocart frame which should be perfect for the build! Same as yours, going to be front engine chain drive w/ a straight axle, paralell spring. Needing to find some bike tires for the front. Only really going to be a parking lot cruiser for the car shows, more show than go, no off roaring or nothing. I'm a big ed "big daddy" Roth fan and building it sort of the way he would have! Will keep you posted, and you do the same
Click to expand...


Start your own build thread instead of hijacking this one...
 
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