Wheelbarrow hot rod

[Kentucky Boy]

Thank you I wish I had it all covered! It is my first build though and I really don’t. No idea if/how this thing is going to drive and handle when it is finished but only one way to find out I guess

Well by the looks of it so far the thing should last! Nice fab work

 

[Allracing]

I put in some more work on the axle side of the split wishbones. First, machined the end pieces to approximately the height of the ‘bones end:

Then ground them with a die grinder with a carbide tool to fit inside the ‘bones:

Then test fitted the assembly to the frame:

Fiddled with this setup to achieve around 6deg caster angle on the king pin by adjusting the angle of the end pieces relative to the wishbone themselves. Then spot welded the axle end pieces to the ‘bones

 

[jonboy]

Any more on this build. I am enjoying the progress so far

 

[Bumpy]

Cool idea!

 

[Allracing]

Life’s been busy with, unfortunately, little time for building hot rods. I have been able to stick in 1/2hr here and there, but no significant progress. I expect the situation to improve after summer as my family has hired an au pair who will arrive in august! Looking forward to getting some relief when it comes to day to day chores.

I have had some progress on the front end which is done minus steering. I used one leaf out of helper spring from my -59 Chevy truck. This is not an optimal solution, but it will have to do for now. Down the road I will probably get a golf cart spring as was suggested earlier in this thread. I haven’t really taken alot of pics of this minor progress, but heres’s how she sits right now:

These pics are pretty much self explanatory as to what is done.....it is getting more interesting from here as steering is up next. Will be back with more in august or early september



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[landuse]

Looking good!

 

[TriggerMan]

The build is looking really good so far. I'm eagerly awaiting your updates and pictures of your progress. I've started stockpiling parts and steel for one myself. I'm not ashamed to admit this is my motivation.

 

[Shady Sherlock]

Hi.
First a quick introduction. My name's Alan, I'm from East coast region of N. Carolina. My main backround has been automotive technician and upholstery fabricator for the past 35yrs.
Recently sold out my business of 20years and am now on temporary, indefinite personal hiatus and have been looking for a creative outlet/ something else to build.

After reading through this thread, I had to register to the forum.
Allracing, you're build is inspiring for me. The machine work and creativity especially!

I have my own Bridgeport mill, a small lathe, tube bender, notcher, welder, etc.
I built a few crazy stretch cruiser pedal bikes last year, just for the hellofit.
After seeing your build thread, I think I have found my next project!

Hopefully in the near future, I will have something to contribute to the group.
Thanks for the inspiration and I hope to be posting among you folks very soon!

 

[landuse]

Hi.
First a quick introduction. My name's Alan, I'm from East coast region of N. Carolina. My main backround has been automotive technician and upholstery fabricator for the past 35yrs.
Recently sold out my business of 20years and am now on temporary, indefinite personal hiatus and have been looking for a creative outlet/ something else to build.

After reading through this thread, I had to register to the forum.
Allracing, you're build is inspiring for me. The machine work and creativity especially!

I have my own Bridgeport mill, a small lathe, tube bender, notcher, welder, etc.
I built a few crazy stretch cruiser pedal bikes last year, just for the hellofit.
After seeing your build thread, I think I have found my next project!

Hopefully in the near future, I will have something to contribute to the group.
Thanks for the inspiration and I hope to be posting among you folks very soon!

Welcome. Maybe start a thread in the introduction section so that you can introduce yourself properly

 

[Gumptattoo]

This build looks like it is on the right track. Nice work. I am curious why you did the leaf spring below instead of above the frame?

 

[Allracing]

This build looks like it is on the right track. Nice work. I am curious why you did the leaf spring below instead of above the frame?

Good question. I have the option to flip the frame over and have the spring on top. The spring I am using now is so flat I need to have it underneath as I have to put spacers between it and frame to get a reasonable ground clearance. It just so happens however that I have purchased a spring from a golf cart, it is being shipped as we speak. It can go back or front, still to be decided. If front, maybe I will flip the frame


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Allracing]

Finally found some time to progress my build Steering is up next and I’ve been going back and forth on how to tackle it. I did buy a steering box from a beetle a while back and while overkill for the build, that is what I plan on using:

The steering will be ‘’traditional’’ with a drag link running along the length of the frame. I will emulate what is called ‘’cowl’’ steering which means that the steering box sits high and close to the steering wheel with the pitman arm pointing downwards. Something like this:

Cut out the wheelbarrow box:

Then started fabbing a loop under which the steering box will hang. I wanted to emulate the shape of a typical early Ford cowl. Used 30x3mm (1 3/16 x 1/8’’) square tubing here:

Tacked on a bracket for the ‘box:

Started welding up all the cuts:

It is going to take a lot of welding and grinding to get the bends finished off. Don’t know that I would recommend this way of bending to anyone

This is as far as I got today, more to come

 

[Allracing]

Continued on the steering. This has been a thinking game most of all as there was no clear design in place prior to starting

First of all i finished welding up and grinding my “loop-cowl”:

I took apart the VW ‘box to do some machining on the output shaft:

And machined it. I short I needed to extend the output shaft and decided to make it accept what is known as a DD steering shaft. A custom DD shaft made by me, that is

Then made the DD shaft:

It fits! Drilled and tapped for a set screw too:

Mocked up:

The other end of the shaft needed to accept a pitman arm. Decided to make the pitman from steel plate which somewhat dictated the solution. Made adapter for the arm with a press fit and pressed it on:

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

This is fun.

 

[zeno]

Awesome work. Can't wait to see the end.

 

[Allracing]

Some minor progress on the steering. First of all, it would be a bad day if the pitman arm moved relative to the steering shaft. Decided to pin the pitman arm adapter to the shaft by drilling, tapping and installing a set screw at the interface between the two parts:

Made a pitman arm from 5mm / ~3/16’’ steel plate. It will be cut to length and trimmes at the narrow end later:

I had previously made a set of steering arms out of 12mm / ~1/2’’, like this:

I didnt like the look of these at all and hence decided to make new ones. Started with turbning some 19mm / ~ 3/4’’ Chromo bar:

Then flattened it on the mill:

Drilled it:

And finally massaged it:

Test fit on the cart:

 

[itsid]

love the effort and craftmanship you put into this..

Thanks for sharing this project with us..
nice to just sit back , relax and through a thread every now and again;
and this one's surely a great one for that.

'sid

 

[Allracing]

The string in the last picture is strung from the king pin to the center of the rear axle. The idea is that the ends of the steering arms should be at this line too, to get good “Ackerman” (?). Which is getting the front wheel to turn the right amount in a turn which would be the inner wheel turning slightly more than the outer wheel. Anyway, the string revealed the need to bend the steering arms a little.

Tried this first:

Nogo! Arm are too strong for the vise to touch them

Brought out the big guns:

And we are where we need to be

Next up will be the tie rod, should be fast n easy I hope




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Allracing]

Tie rod. I had bought some 12x2mm (1/2’’x5/64’’) stainless tubing and some 8mm heim joints for the purpose. The ID of the tubing is 8mm, so I wouldn’t be able to thread it to M8 for the heim joint shaft. Solved this by breaking out my thread insert kit. These are thread inserts, like helicoils.

The M8 inserts require just a hair over 8mm hole, which makes it a very good match.

Drilled the tubing, threaded it

and installed the insert:

Heim joint installed:

Rinsed and repeated for the other side and the tie rod was done:

 

[ezcome-ezgo]