Spidercarts GrandDaddy Build by extreme0016

[extreme0016]

Here are some more pics:

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/329433_3743208776682_1247918133_o.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/423437_3743208416673_1623262848_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/557097_3935621626883_433346402_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/6151_4877355489641_2086209774_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/544396_4877357369688_1655527304_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/562718_4877358289711_573214210_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/426512_4877360129757_2133921093_n.jpg

And here is a video of it getting fired up for the first time:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4877395410639&set=vb.1170090455&type=2&theater

 

[Tanner21]

Awesome what part of Utah are you at and how hard has it been to build so far

 

[extreme0016]

I am in South Jordan. The project hasn't been too bad, when I started into it I worried that I would get part way in and never finish. But it has been a fun project to work on and my family is excited about it so they are pushing me along. It is also a nice break after a long day at work to come home and work on something fun.

The hardest and most time consuming part of the project has actually been the planning and searching the internet to find the right parts. The mods I have done like adding front brakes have really added time because I have had to rethink entire sections and find special parts, which have been hard to find and I have had to get most of them from China.

Are you going to build one?

 

[Tanner21]

I'm thinking about it. right now not so much right now I'm trying to fix a 1981 vw rabbit diesel at the moment and parts are expensive to get when I find them

 

[exenos]

snip

 

[Tanner21]

Ya I totally just thought of that and I'm sorry I really don't want to be illegal and yes morraly wrong it is just forget the whole comment

 

[extreme0016]

If you do decide to go for it, I am happy to share any of my experiences and advice I have come across while doing the build. You can get the plans off the spidercarts.com website and they are only $40, or a bit more if you want to get the plans for all the carts (which is what I did). The way I see it, the cost of the plans is a small part of the total cost of the build and well worth the price.

 

[Foxer]

This is really cool, it looks like you've done a good job. I've been wanting to build this one as well since I want a two seater. How much would you say the total cost on this is? I just live out in Riverton, and want to start pretty soon, so any advice you can give would be great.

 

[extreme0016]

I am into it about $2300 so far and have almost everything I need, probably $2500 by the time I am done. I haven't kept a journal of all the things I changed and the issues I ran into like I had planned to do, so now I am pretty much going off of memory.

The main things that come to mind that come to mind are:
* I lengthened the main frame by 5.5" to get some additional leg room. I'm sure it would have been fine with what the plans called for, but this will be a bit more comfortable. This required me to tweak the lengths of several pieces on the main frame and the roll bar, but not big deal
* Based on some posts I found about the Arachnid, I widened the front suspension block from 5" to 6" to better match the width of the steering rack. I'm not sure if this was entirely necessary, but didn't cause any problems so I did it, and the pivot points on the rack and the block to line up nicely at that width.
* After having built the A-Arms and being forced to rebuild one of them because the arms weren't quite right, even with using a jig, I would probably do them differently if I were to do them again. I think I would either do the two separate bushings as just one long tube, or perhaps create a cross bar that attaches the two sides of the A-Arm together to ensure that the A-Arms are the correct width and alignment.
* I went with a bigger engine (420cc from HF), which required a jackshaft and larger torque converter. This didn't change things too much but did require me to build the rear sub-frame a bit differently to fit it properly.
* The plans are pretty good, but there are a few typos here and there with the measurements and angles, so be careful and make sure you measure twice and cut once and don't assume that the numbers on the plans are correct.
* The biggest change I have made was adding in front brakes, which has required a change on how the entire braking system is installed, including modifications to support the brake master, rear brake mounts, and front brake mounts on the spindles. This also forced me into some different front brake hubs with brake rotors, which I could only find with a different bolt pattern than what I was going to use, so different wheels were required as well.

That's a few of the changes I have made that come to the top of my mind. Don't hesitate to ping me with questions.

 

[Offshore]

Did the plans provide an estimated weight for the specified material?

 

[extreme0016]

It does give specs on what material he recommends, such as the gauge and size of tubing to use. It does not give an overall weight of the material or of the final kart.

 

[Mballen13]

Extereme0016,

Do you find you have enough shock on big bumps. I am building a modified grand daddy as well and found the shocks sag too much. I ended up doubling up the front shocks and adding atv shocks to the rear.

You can check out my build thread which has been going on for a while for pics. The thread is linked in my signature.

Matthew.

 

[jrmints1415]

I would suggest maybe going for some better shocks then the cheap $30 ones from bmi. Look on ebay for some good ATV shocks, it will make all the difference on the bumps and looking at your build i can tell its looking very professional so why not spend the extra 100 and make it worth your while! Looks very clean,,, Nice Build!!!

 

[extreme0016]

Hey Matthew, your build looks great and it looks like you are making good progress, unlike me. With summer upon me, I have been spending all of my free time going to little league football games, working on my Jeep CJ and doing yard work. I did find a bit of time last week to install my steering column and steering wheel, so I am one step closer.

I was a bit worried about the shocks I bought, but had not way to know if they would be sufficient. Sounds like I am probably not going to be happy with them and will need to find some better ones.

 

[extreme0016]

Okay, so I finally found a bit of time and decided it was time to get this thing on the road. It's nowhere near done, but I got it put together to the point I was ready for a test drive. I was amazed at how quickly it came together in the end and did great on the road right out of the gate. I did run into one snag, I didn't have one of the back wheels on tight enough and didn't have any snap rings installed, so I lost a tire/wheel half way around the block at 2 AM and had to drag it back home, but it was still fun.

I spent a good part of the day today tweaking and driving the kids around the neighborhood and it is looking and running really great. Here are some pics:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd....x720/526988_10200668467732005_943614498_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/560047_10200668482852383_172195618_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1098467_10200668482812382_1982338324_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/934658_10200668482892384_347037983_n.jpg

And a video of the first day of fun:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200668657136740&l=3716277240709943861

Next step is getting the front brakes figured out, installing a floorboard, paint, lights/electrical. But for the most part, the hard parts are behind me and it's ready for some fun!

 

[hackintoshMan]

Did you ever get the front brakes figured out?

 

[landuse]

Your kart looks awsome!! You must make a video for us to see

 

[mysteryboy28]

Your kart looks awsome!! You must make a video for us to see

um, he did. lol.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200668657136740&l=3716277240709943861

 

[itsid]

I think Tyler just popped my eardrums

'sid

 

[landuse]

um, he did. lol.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200668657136740&l=3716277240709943861

For some reason I cannot see it.