rat rod/ t bucket monstrosity

[stacy]

How's everyone going, I just found this site so I thought I'd share the project I started from some bits and pieces i had laying around the place. Not entirely sure where I'm going with it but at least it bundles up a whole bunch of scrap into one big pile

Started 3 days ago.

 

[landuse]

Looking good. Are you going to power it with anything?

 

[JCB003]

Great use of a wheelbarrow! You could cut the front off and attach it to the top and make a nice little cockpit!

 

[OzFab]

Lol, that's so cool, can't wait to see where this goes

 

[souperman000]

ooooo thats a mean front grill

 

[Mcbreja]

Lol, that's so cool, can't wait to see where this goes

That is awesome.

 

[cumminsbayou4x4]

thing looks cool

 

[stacy]

Thanks for the replies, I'm kind of just making it up as I go. The donor engine is 125cc 4 speed. Just looking at different ways of mounting it.

And here's something I did for a friend last week. I put the clutch on the gear lever, it worked fairly well.

http://youtu.be/ICbi3m5Coz4

 

[stacy]

I'm making a little change to the chassis length and now the engine will be mounted in the front. Much happier with the look.

 

[landuse]

Will you be able to see past the engine? You atre going to re-route the exhaust so that you dont get a mouthfull

 

[Orange Krate]

Nice! I chopped and dropped an MTD riding mower and used a wheelbarrow body. Never got power to the ground though because the turning radius was HORRIBLE!

You should have better luck. I'm fascinated by the front engine kart concept.

 

[stacy]

The engine will sit a little lower than in the earlier pic, just needed to cut the steering column support. So I mocked up a new steering assembly that should do the trick. With regards to the exhaust, I'm actually considering a T and running a pipe out either side. It's crazy the ideas I get just sitting and staring at it for an hour or so. I'll probably make the rear end rigid and power only one wheel (well at this stage anyway)

A couple more pics.

 

[OzFab]

I'm fascinated by the front engine kart concept.

It should steer like it's on rails, but traction may be a problem

 

[Nodroz]

How will you run a chain from the front (where the engine sits) to the back wheel? Just wondering this as that doesn't seem that simple.

 

[fowler]

Ha a sweet looking kart

The steering will be intresting

 

[stacy]

It should steer like it's on rails, but traction may be a problem

I actually thought weight distribution wouldn't be too bad, being that my backside will be plonked virtually in line with the rear wheels, then leaning back in the tub. One of the reasons I put the engine up front was that I was worried about wheel standing or flipping.

How will you run a chain from the front (where the engine sits) to the back wheel? Just wondering this as that doesn't seem that simple.

I'll run one chain to a jack shaft just in front of the tub which will have a sprocket on the end in line with the rear wheel. Basically four sprockets and two chains.

Ha a sweet looking kart

The steering will be intresting

The steering should work well, I'll be making a full length support for angled shaft which will prevent it from contorting in any way.

 

[fowler]

I'm thinking the steering will be sound but it might drive like the body is on rails and the wheels ain't touching the ground

 

[stacy]

A little progress, mostly mock up, but the new steering column is done and it now has a cowl. I just need to define the position of the bucket in relation to the rear tyres before constructing the rear axle set up.

 

[TheCaveman]

Man, this is lookin GOOD! I love it, I saw pics of a similar build on another website an that project died so I didn't get to see it finished hate when that happens. You HAVE to post a vieo of it when its done . This is on my bucket list of projects(no pun intended, well kinda haha)

-Caveman

 

[CharlesEaton2012]

Just too cool !!!!!