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Small Cabin Forum / Off Topic / UTV Project - Sort Of
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paulz
Member
# Posted: 8 Jul 2021 14:05
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I have this 1930s mini car chassis sitting around. Wheelbase is 75", pretty light, I can lift either end. Steering works, brakes work, rear differential works..

I'd like something to power it around my yard, hopefully even up the hill to the cabin. Alternate energy would be cool. Steam, diesel, Wankel, electric.. don't know. But I know we are a creative bunch around here.

Any ideas?
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ban.jpg


Steve_S
Member
# Posted: 8 Jul 2021 14:45
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Aww man, now that could be a heap of fun to do...
With that frame, there are many possibilities that could be done.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 8 Jul 2021 15:05
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Too Kewl

WILL1E
Moderator
# Posted: 8 Jul 2021 15:16
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That's awesome...what was it originally?

paulz
Member
# Posted: 8 Jul 2021 16:25
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It's from an Austin. A friend has a couple of mobility scooters he's parting out, said I could have the motors. 24vdc I'm guessing. But even with two motors it might not be enough. Electric would be handy, I could charge with the solar while I'm away. Wouldn't be as cool as an old Harley engine or some such but a lot easier to do, no clutch, starter, gas tank.. A car starter would move it along but they're not made for sustained use.

ICC
Member
# Posted: 8 Jul 2021 17:02
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Electric, definitely.

Irrigation Guy
Member
# Posted: 8 Jul 2021 18:15
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Just put a couple seats on it then you and Wilma can use your feet to power it as is.

ICC
Member
# Posted: 8 Jul 2021 18:27 - Edited by: ICC
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Quoting: ICC
Electric, definitely.


I say that as the owner of a 1953 Anglia, body and chassis, no engine or trans. I have been thinking how much I would love to make an EV hot rod out of it.

Notes
Member
# Posted: 8 Jul 2021 18:48
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Try this golf cart ev conversion
Ev conversion
Ev conversion


toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 8 Jul 2021 20:53
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I'd get a new engine from an engine supplier or even Harbor Tools Predator, then add a snowmobile clutch set up and your on your way.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 8 Jul 2021 22:04
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Quoting: ICC
I say that as the owner of a 1953 Anglia, body and chassis, no engine or trans. I have been thinking how much I would love to make an EV hot rod out of it.


Neat. The vintage drag racers love those.

Quoting: Irrigation Guy
Just put a couple seats on it then you and Wilma can use your feet to power it as is.


I'll be doing the Fred Flintstone next week when I get the new thumb on my backhoe.

Quoting: Notes
Try this golf cart ev conversion


Yeah the mobility scooters also have a differential attached. I want to use the one that it has, and the driveshaft. A rwd car engine and trans (like it came with) would easily attach but all are really too big (the original engines were 750cc). Something like a Briggs or Predator would either need a right angle drive, or turned sideways with some kind of inline clutch.

A shaft drive motorcycle engine maybe. An electric motor would need 3-5hp or so I'm thinking, no idea how to do that with DC.

mj1angier
Member
# Posted: 8 Jul 2021 22:23
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Might find some ideas here:
https://www.gokartguide.com/best-electric-go-kart-motors/

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 9 Jul 2021 08:23 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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Engine assy

Clutch/Transmission

Reverse Gear Set up

jsahara24
Member
# Posted: 9 Jul 2021 10:49
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I bought the 420cc Predator engine from HF and installed it in my club car golf cart....has its own starter, fuel tank, exhaust and puts out a small charge that you can use to get it mobile and then upgrade as time goes on....Had to buy a new clutch and do some fab work but it has more torque than I would have guessed........

Very cool, keep us updated...

paulz
Member
# Posted: 9 Jul 2021 15:13
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Thanks for the ideas and links. Yeah reverse..hadn't thought about that. Also checked on gearing. With the 5:1 rear end ratio it has, and 26" tires, 1:1 at the driveshaft and 20 mph equals about 1,300 rpm at the engine. So it needs further gear reduction.

Irrigation Guy
Member
# Posted: 9 Jul 2021 18:39
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jsahara24
Quoting: jsahara24
I bought the 420cc Predator engine from HF and installed it in my club car golf cart....has its own starter, fuel tank, exhaust and puts out a small charge that you can use to get it mobile and then upgrade as time goes on....Had to buy a new clutch and do some fab work but it has more torque than I would have guessed........


Can you tell me more about this? I have a club can with Kawasaki but I am sure it will eventually need to be repowered.

ICC
Member
# Posted: 9 Jul 2021 20:04 - Edited by: ICC
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Quoting: paulz
Neat. The vintage drag racers love those.

I got mine 12-15 years ago in an exchange for some road grading I did for a guy I went thru high school with. He ran a speed shop in the 70's & 80's and at one time had a yard full of them. Most did end up being turned into gassers back then. I got a left over. I have a share in a salvaged Tesla S. All I need is to prioritize my project list.

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 11 Jul 2021 14:01
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Quoting: ICC
Most did end up being turned into gassers back then


I remember a Morris Minor at the drags, hard running Chev small block and a 4 speed car, thing would wheelie in several gears, had to have been a handful to drive. It was called "Morris Major" and he eventually lost control of it and balled it up. Was a gorgeous car too, bright yellow. Quite a crowd pleaser.

jsahara24
Member
# Posted: 11 Jul 2021 20:39
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Quoting: Irrigation Guy
Can you tell me more about this? I have a club can with Kawasaki but I am sure it will eventually need to be repowered.


It depends what year club car, because the engine rotation is off in some years. You would be driving forward in reverse gear which isn't a great idea.

The predator is nice b/c it has its own starter, exhaust, gas tank, etc. My cart was in pretty rough shape so I got it back up and running quickly and now I'm working on switching to the stock gas tank, connecting to the stock muffler, etc.... Its nothing fancy but always a good time when I take it out on the trails...haha

I believe the stock engine was 8HP, and this is 13....I got a new comet clutch for the engine and a new belt. Otherwise I pretty much used spare steel/motor mounts/etc to get it setup.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 12 Jul 2021 11:01 - Edited by: paulz
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Quoting: toyota_mdt_tech

I remember a Morris Minor at the drags, hard running Chev small block and a 4 speed car, thing would wheelie in several gears,


I've done a few wheelies in my Bantam (same frame as above, reinforced) but it's really not strong enough for that treatment and I have other things to do besides fix it.

Still batting around powerplant ideas. Something old would be coolest, like the Wisconsin V4 in my stump grinder, but it would need a lot of adapting. A flathead four out of a Jeep or mail truck would work, with trans.

The driveway to my cabin has about 400' of 30% grade. I have a two cylinder gas golf cart and it's wide open struggling to get up it. I love the idea of electric, I could even mount a solar panel or two as a roof, but not sure it would make it up, even with the two Caterpillar tractor batteries I have sitting around.

Anyway it's long term, winter a better time for such things. What I might do is pop a 220v compressor motor I have on it, with a cord, and see what happens.
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weele1.JPG


gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 12 Jul 2021 13:59
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One of those antique gas engines; not the 'hit&miss' but the regular runner with a good sized flywheel and gear reduction?

paulz
Member
# Posted: 28 Aug 2021 15:59 - Edited by: paulz
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Auto repair class has started back up at the local junior college. They have an electric car class, I'm in auto body but the teacher was there today. He found a 96 volt DC motor and controller under a bench he will donate.

I'd have to come up with 8 batteries, which I could probably do, but how am I going to charge off my solar? My PV voltage is high enough, but..

96v charger off an AC inverter?

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