Modern cyclecars?

[Fat-Man]

Back around 1910-1925 these babies were a cheap and affordable alternative to a real car. Bodies were ultra simplistic, some even used wooden frames. Typically motorcycle powered and chain driven, mostly front engine but RWD, though some were rear engined RWD. Basically they were road legal go karts, inherently dangerous but a ton of fun.

I kinda dig them, though if I built one it'd be made to be lower than a snakes belly.

What do y'all think about these?

 

[smallfoot]

I built one on here, however it is not complete....yet! It's been beat on by bunches of kids out here both young and old. You might get a kick out of it! Link below to my build:

https://www.ratrodsrule.com/threads/cyclops.35814/

 

[bob w]

I forgot about that one Smalls. Somewhere, in a foreign land folks build something similar using a cut down steel barrel for a body. I'll search for it.

 

[Fat-Man]

I suddenly want to try one of these chain drive beauties. How heretical would it be to install a live axle and engine in the rear of my '27 RPU?

 

[smallfoot]

There are several youtube vids on putting predator motors in small pickups. They are using a fabbed bracket and pillow block with a shaft to make a gokart clutch hook up to the tranny shaft.

 

[smallfoot]

Live axle in rear would give you issues with wheel and tire size. The brake setups on those would limit your stopping power on a heavier vehicle too. Not saying it can't be done. Besides my cycle kart, I also remodeled 2 electric golf karts into predator powered, live axle rides. One of my buds had me build one on a golf kart that was aluminum framed and fairly light. A day or so after he picked it up, My buddy Jr and I were out fishing when he called me on my cell. We don't get good service out there in the woods but I heard him say "thirty seven miles an hour" before the call dropped. Ha! My little kart does 32 mph...

 

[Fat-Man]

In response to running a live axle in back and a predator engine. Why would I have problems with the wheel and tire size? It seems as if I could buy a number of 14" and 15" rims with the 4x100mm bolt pattern online. Yeah, I understand that a single inboard disc brake wouldn't be ideal but I'd be running decent brakes up front.

Initially I had planned on using a 125cc honda clone (up front) with a shaft drive conversion (also gives me a reverse gear) up front. tying that drive shaft into the shaft of a torque tube that went to a hard mounted Model A rear end.

If I attained 40mph I'd be ecstatic, I just want something fun to go down to the local shops and grab a six pack.

 

[smallfoot]

Like I said before, not saying it's not possible. All of my stuff has to be built on a budget that I feel is reasonable and working within my capabilities! I have to be confident first that my ideas will work, then it's a matter of logistics and my abilities. So far, I'm good.... Hope you make it happen!