Anyone know where you find a simple vintage style 2 seater go kart these days? Everything I see new looks cheap and has way too many gadgets. Even if I can find a kit that I can put together. Any ideas? I seen a few on FB marketplace but they sell before I can get my hands on them.
Standard Vintage Go-Kart Kit I built my kids one this summer from scratch using 1"x1" square tubing, predator 212 motor, and a torque converter. Motor is totally stock and the thing rips!
If you look on the Facebook for sale area for Yerf-Dog or Manco karts you will probably get a bunch of hits. Some will be in pretty good shape, some will need work. The classic American companies all went out of business around 2010. I am not up on all the other sell sites but they will be there too.
I built my own, but I probably spent $1000 total including the motor. I spent about $180 in metal alone but I did have some left over. 40' of tubing, plus some flat, angle iron, piece of sheet metal. The cheapest wheel/tire combo you can get is about $35 a rim/tire. I built mine with adjustable seat sliders and I also built 2 mounting points for the seat so I can move the whole thing back about 12" so my 6 year old can drive it and I can too. That kit includes, frame, tires, wheels, pedals, seat, engine mount, brake caliper/rotor, chain, bearings, axle, entire steering kit including spindles, brake/throttle cable, tie rods. All that stuff adds up.
In 1958 my dad built me a bitchin go-cart. It was so cool that it was accepted for display at the Grand National Roadster Show in Oakland. I still have the trophy it won. I wish I had a digital picture I could post.
I picked up a racing kart (OTK Racer)and a 4 stroke world formula racing engine for $900. 75 mph, 3g's and still wins races. It's not something you can bomb around offroad with but still a cheap option for the less motivated.
Your son looks like he's having a ton of fun with that go-kart. How much land do you have for him to ride on?
Haven’t had a kart since I was a kid, it was fun as hell. I have a couple mini bikes now. 1 of them has junior dragster setup on it, and runs on methanol. It’s quick
I only have 1 acre where we live, but it is enough, he has a nice little route thru our backyard. In the video he was up at my inlaws place in PA, they have a bunch of property. The go kart has a completely stock predator engine, but it has a torque converter with a huge rear sprocket on it, so it has alot of torque.
World Formula engines are badass! Here’s one on MR12 oxygenated race gas and nitrous on a mini bike frame It is a 15hp shot from dynotune When tuning this, we were changing jets and the bike kept getting faster and faster. And then the owner wanted to go bigger. I said I think we’re fine maybe go up on fuel but not nitrous jet. Next run he blew the jug right off the crankcase lmao Wish I had it on video so epic Engine was rebuilt with new block but is now having issues shearing flywheel keys.
Pennsylvania Directory of Kart Racing Tracks (Go-Carts - Dirt - Paved - Road Course - Speedways - Raceways - Race Tracks) Do it. Go to the nearest track, start asking questions, and find a used four stroke. They're slower but WAY cheaper to operate and the racing is better. The barrier to entry is so low and the rush is so much better than cars that every racing fan should do it imo.
That's bad ass! We need videos of that thing running. Yeah, I love the WF. Unlike the L206 everyone is switching to it's a great all-rounder. It's good at larger sprint tracks and is a hell of a lot of fun on smaller/tighter road courses. Pack drafting in them is so much fun.
