Van Restore

[j@son]

Well I'm new here (I'll do an intro later).

Well I acquired an old van kart for my son and I to use. I'm going to use it for advertising at parades and he can drive it around when it's not "working".

I have no real idea what type or who made it. Best I could find was it was probably made by a company in Arizona that is now out of buisness. The name plate on the kart is unreadable so I guess it's not really that important at this point anyway.

It was missing it's drive wheel and the other 3 wheels and tires are tost (cracked rubber and rusted out wheels), it has some rust on the fram from sitting but nothing real major; except I can't get one of the wheels off, but it's soaking to help that situation.

The engine is a techumsin(sp) looks like a 3.5HP but I can be certain since all I can read is the name and honestly haven't went any further. It's not frozen so it could probably be rebuilt but I need it running sooner so I'll be getting a 6.5HP from harbor freight and just rebuild the old one when I get the time.

I'll get pics of the frame in it's current state later but since I started with the body I'll conclude this with pics of it.

The body really wasn't it tooo bad of shape. It had a crack over the left wheelwell and the front right bumper had a triangular break off the corner which you can see in the pics of where the new fiberglass whent. I still have some body work to do but the glass is all done on the inside.
I'm here to get some help and any advice from those that has been doing this for a while since this is my first shot outa the gate. And hopefully make this a first of many projects. As I've been reading around here and allready getting an itch to make my own frame from scratch.
Thanks and sorry it's soooooooooooo long.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Now that is neat! Shaggin' Wagon, anyone?

 

[CobraII351]

Awesom Find that's really cool. It's probably made by the same company that made the Fiberglass Mustang II body I have. This is what was on the label inside of the body I have.

F.W. & Assoc. INC
2605 W. 1st ST.
Tempe, AZ

That date, body style, Mold #. and a bunch of other manufacturing check boxes.

Good luck what does the frame look like? I'm wonding if they used the same one for everything.

Tim

 

[bighead]

Paint free candy on the side a cruz around. Just kidding.

Plenty of room for a motor huh?

 

[Bluethunder3320]

you could fit a small compact car V3 or V4 in there..... haha!

how about a big block horisontal? like maybe a 8-10hp would get it goin sweeet....

EDIT: awwwww! gonna slap a clone into it? i would go american power at least!

 

[jrmints1415]

are you going to paint it or leave as is??

 

[redsox985]

Put in a bike engine and make that van SCREAM!

 

[dan]

as for wheels you could use quad wheels and tyres, and yer put a bike engine in it!

 

[Orange Krate]

 

[bighead]

The A-Team van would be cool. Also real lights and grill

 

[j@son]

Now that is neat! Shaggin' Wagon, anyone?

Thanks.

Awesom Find that's really cool. It's probably made by the same company that made the Fiberglass Mustang II body I have. This is what was on the label inside of the body I have.

F.W. & Assoc. INC
2605 W. 1st ST.
Tempe, AZ

That date, body style, Mold #. and a bunch of other manufacturing check boxes.

Good luck what does the frame look like? I'm wonding if they used the same one for everything.

Tim

I just checked your cobra thread and the frame has some similarities but I think cause of the different body style's it's different. I'll get pics of the frame in the next couple days or this weekend whatever time allows. ya know work and all.

you could fit a small compact car V3 or V4 in there..... haha!

how about a big block horisontal? like maybe a 8-10hp would get it goin sweeet....

EDIT: awwwww! gonna slap a clone into it? i would go american power at least!

Well I looked at my other options and the less expensive route is the clone 6.5hp.... Unless you want to send me something for it. I'll pay shipping. haha

are you going to paint it or leave as is??

It's going to be painted. I still have to peel the stickers off the right, back and front side but wanted to get some pics first so I can design new ones in Illustrator and have them printed on vynil.

Put in a bike engine and make that van SCREAM!

Hmm I do have a honda 250sx sitting next to the frame but it needs to be rebuilt as well. I think I'll stay with the 6.5HP cause I'm planning on using it in parades as they come up.

as for wheels you could use quad wheels and tyres, and yer put a bike engine in it!

I don't think quade wheels will fit under it. the body is maybe 6-7 feet long. I did think of making it look like a lifted van thought so it's not out of the questioin in the long run.

The A-Team van would be cool. Also real lights and grill

That was one of my first thoughts.. then I figured I could make some money to help with fixing it up.. Sooo it'll be getting a yellow paint job that says Mr. Electric on the side of it and some other companies on the back or bottom kinda like nascar sponsors. I did a ruff estimate of part cost and figured around $500 when done and I don't have that kinda cash just hanging around so sold advertising at local parades.. figured about 3-10 in a year.. Once that's over I'll probably do something new..

I wanted to put lights on it down the road.. a little 12v battery that can run everything would work I'm thinking.

Thanks for the comments everyone.

 

[j@son]

Here is the picture of the frame. I started stripping the old paint and rust today on it and snapped a couple pics.

If anyone can id it in any way would be neet so I could dig up any information on it.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

keep it american power and fix that tecumseh. does it turn over? does it run?

 

[Blazkowiez]

You look correct in assuming Action Karts produced this. I'd love to see this turned into the A-Team van.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

The only downside to the A-Team thing is that the A-Team truck was a GMC and this body is clearly Ford-ish... It would still look dang cool, though.

I like the sponsorship idea, a lot. What a perfect way to offset the build cost!

 

[j@son]

thanks all. I may try and restore the original engine and to be honest I haven't messed with it that much, cause I may use it for the next project if it runs, so we'll see.
I have to get it drivable in around 2 weeks for the 1st parade, so I've been working on the body mostly. I've had alot of peeling off the old "HI C" vinyl with a heat gun and sanding. this weekend it gets bondo and primer hoping for some paint but we'll see what my time looks like. Mr. Electric JUMPED on the chance so they are spliting most (like all) of the cost. I'm looking for some additional sponsors for up coming projects so it'll have a slight nascar feel with sponsor spots smaller and less noticable. I tried to get Northwest Tools but they didn't go for it. I was just looking for a discount.. hahaha But no biggy.
I was messing with photoshop a bit to show Mr. Electric what it'd look like. I'll upload the photo in a sec and post it.

Here we go. I just snagged a logo off the net but it works. I should be getting their files this week to send to the printer. I thought of a complete wrap but it's costly even for this little thing.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

POR15 that frame!

http://www.por15.com/SUPER-STARTER-KIT/productinfo/SSKB/

 

[Doc Sprocket]

If you don't mind me asking, where are you? I have no idea how large a company "Mr. Electric" is, but we use their services pretty regularly (Toronto, Canada area).

EDIT_ I guess they are pretty big- your pics don't look very "wintery" and you're having this parade in two weeks...

 

[AnderBlast]

that ting is deadly a team all the way

 

[j@son]

If you don't mind me asking, where are you? I have no idea how large a company "Mr. Electric" is, but we use their services pretty regularly (Toronto, Canada area).

EDIT_ I guess they are pretty big- your pics don't look very "wintery" and you're having this parade in two weeks...

I believe Mr. Electric is all over as it's a franchise that can be perchased. but as far as that I'd have no idea.
Im in Texas and it actually snowed a couple weeks ago. but nown we are back to the 70's

that ting is deadly a team all the way

I don't think the A team van will happen. I've had a couple others local to me highly suggest a Budwiser van but they didn't want to "buy" into it. lol

I've made some more progress on the body and have it ready for a thin coat of mud, sanding and primer.
I also couldn't get the back wheel off it was so rusted on there I ended up having to cut it off. but didnt damage anything.

Also took the motor out. I dont think it's fixable most parts are pretty rusted out.. badly but doesn't mean I'm not going to try later on.