VINTAGE GO CART PLANSHOURS TO COMPLETE - APPROX 25

TOOLS REQUIRED:• Square • Hack Saw• Tin Snips • Files• Hammer • Large Vise• Electric Hand Drill or Drill Press

To help hold costs down, the frame is made of thin-wall conduit, but more expensive chrome-moly tubing could be substituted throughout. Some parts, the seat and steering hoops, steering yoke, front wheel spindle brackets and engine mount plate, could be purchased from various kart manufacturers online should you want to speed up the building process.

Begin construction by drawing a side frame outline on a piece of scrap lumber. Cut and flare the tubing required and heat the lower piece to make the bend. Fit the pieces over the outline and clamp them. Then tack weld all joints and remove the framing from the board. Using the first side as a pattern, clamp the parts of the second to it and tack weld them together. This will insure uniformity.

Next fabricate the front and rear axles. Bend the front wheel spindle brackets to shape and drill them for the kingpin bolts. Then weld them to the front axle tube. Align them carefully, square on the tube ends and parallel to each other. The rear axle tube ends are bushed with a length of pipe to reduce the inside diameter for the 5/8-inch round stock axles. The axels are held in the tube with a quarter inch bolt near each inner end. They can be tapped for short bolts or holes can be drilled all the way through for bolts and nuts.

The side frames, axles and crosspieces can now be assembled. Cut and flare the pieces and tack weld them, using a try square to make sure theyʼre aligned. Add the axles to the frame ends, squaring up the assembly as it progresses. Note that the front axle is rotated slightly in the side frame ends so that the king pin axis has a 7 degree rearward slant. The frame-axle assembly can now be completely welded at all joints. As the last step, add the diagonal crosspiece at the rear.

The front wheel spindle units are made up next. Cut the kingpin bushing tubes to fit snug inside the brackets. Then weld the wheel spindle bolts to the sides of the bushings. Follow this by welding the spindle steering arm pieces to the bushings. Note that right and left hand units are required since the steering arm pieces slant inward.

The steering and seat hoops are now formed and cut to fit onto the frame. To make the curves, apply heat and bend a little at a time so that the tubing will not deform. Tack weld the hoops in position after clamping them at the proper angles; then complete the welds. Next cut the belly pan and seat back to shape, checking the pieces against the frame for correct dimensions. Tack weld the belly pan into place on the bottom of the frame and then skip weld the pan edges to the frame. Welds should be about 1” long and 2” apart. Where the pan touches the crosspiece at the steering hoop rosette, welds can be used or the sheet and tubing can be drilled for self tapping sheet metal screws. To prevent the sheet steel from buckling during welding, use a chill block clamped about a quarter-inch from the edge along the area to be welded. The chill block can be a piece of 1/2x1x24 inch steel bar stock. The seat back is skip welded to the front of the seat hoop in the same manner as the belly pan. Make half round cuts to clear the side frame tubes. Sissy rails can now be bent to shape, fitted to the sides and seat hoop and welded into place.

The Steering Assembly is made next. Cut and drill the steering shaft support brackets of 1/4x1 inch strip steel. Bend the steering shaft front end and drill it for the tie-rod bolt. Then bend the yoke to shape. Put brackets and collars on the steering shaft and weld the yoke to the shaft end. Next slide the shaft through the top bracket to spread out the collars and weld the bracket to the underside of the hoop curve. Hold the lower end of the shaft at the proper angle to align the top bracket while welding. Finish by sliding the shaft into position and welding the front bracket to the top of the front axle.

The tie rod ends are threaded for about one inch to match the Heim ball end fittings. Clevis end or Ford brake rod ends could be substituted if the ball ends are not readily available. Adjust the rod ends at the center to align the wheel spindles at zero degrees. Toe in or toe out can be adjusted later when the karts running qualities have be checked. While working on the front end, weld the pedal pivot bolts to the side frames.

Drive and engine mount parts are next on the list. The wheel hub is first fitted with a larger washer for bolting on the large sprocket. This permits removal of the sprocket if different sizes are to be fitted. (If you do not wish to bother with removal, the sprocket can be welded flush to the wheel hub inside face.) The large washer and sprocket are drilled for mounting bolts. Disassemblethe wheel to make welding on the hub easier. The large washer is welded to the hub 3/16 inch from the inside face so the hub forms a shoulder for centering the sprocket. Weld the washer from behind, aligning it carefully so that it and the sprocket will track without any wobble. After assembly, mount the drive wheel and sprocket on the axle. Next bolt the engine to the mount plate, install the clutch (if used) and the chain. Now carefully align the chain and sprockets, moving the engine and mount on the frame. When set mark the position and clamp the mount plate to the frame. Then remove the engine and wheel and weld the mount plate to the frame. The engine mounting bolts should be in the center of the slots so that the engine can be shifted to correct the wear on the chain and sprocket.

The spot brake is made and installed next. Detail drawings are self explanatory, but follow this procedure for mounting on the axle: mount drive wheel on axle; mount brake on pivot bolt and tube; clamp brake firmly to sprocket in “brake” position (this will position pivot tube on bottom of axle tube); then clamp and weld pivot tube to axle.

The throttle linkage is made next. Cut out and drill all parts shown on the detail drawing. Then put the engine in place on the mount so that the upper linkage parts can be aligned with the engine throttle. The brackets, rods and cranks can be assembled by brazing. Complete the throttle and brake linkage by making the pedals and push rods. Note that there are right and left hand pedals. Remember to

slide the fairleads and stop tubes onto the push rods before bending the S ends. Rods can be fitted with clevis ends if desired so that adjustments can be made. Fit one end of the rod to the brake at the rear and put the pedal on the other end. Next put the pedal on the pivot bolt at the front, clamp the fairleads to the side frames and braze them in place. Braze the stop to the rod ahead of the fairlead with the brake off and clear of the sprocket. The throttle push rod and pedal are assembled in a similar manner. Last, make and install return springs on both pedals.

This completes the metal work on the kart. All welds should be wire brushed. Welding splatters and braze flux should be chipped off all metal surfaces and the metal cleaned before painting. Its a good idea to clean up the welds during fabrication for easy access to the tight corners.]

Just about any type of engine can be used with slight modifications. The kart can also be customized in just about any way with such items as mufflers, drum brakes, chromed tanks, steering wheels, racing slicks etc. Plans can be modified to your liking and what you can afford!