tiny rat rods...?

[kelseydum]

I have been thinking about building my kids a go cart size version of a rat rod. Been thinking about how I want to fabricate some "mini" versions of real suspension and steering parts. One thing I was trying to find is a miniature airbag. Has anyone seen a smaller than normal airbag or think of something that might use one that I could salvage from something?

Anyone have any pics of something similar they have built?

 

[Sam_Fear]

Ithink there is something for motorcycles, but air-ride cabs on semis have small bags.

 

[Shea Laking]

Ithink there is something for motorcycles, but air-ride cabs on semis have small bags.

Yep-typical semi cab bags are about 1/4-1/3 the size of a "normal" suspension sized bag.

Sounds cool...hope y'all share some pics! Maybe a "Half Pint" build thread?

Regards,
Shea

 

[Sam_Fear]

Oh, uh, I'd keep the pressure way down or you'll launch your kids into orbit! A shot of 160Lbs will bounce a V8 car off the ground!

 

[kelseydum]

Thanks guys.

Yeah, I wouldn't run too much pressure and that's kind of why I am looking for something small. I think this will be fun since it's gonna take a bunch of fabrication... something I've been wanting to get better at. I'll check out the cab bags.

 

[Flipper_1938]

Have you seen this?

http://www.cyclekarts.com/

Some pretty cool stuff built on a small scale.

There is also a thread on tha H A M B about them also

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=226791&highlight=cyclekart

 

[cantwell.colton]

why not just a deflated ball of some sort ---or small tire tube like for a wheel barrel or something --

 

[kelseydum]

why not just a deflated ball of some sort ---or small tire tube like for a wheel barrel or something --

Yeah I was thinking more like a fat riding lawnmower tube or something...hmmmmmmmmm? I would need to figure out a screw on fitting for an inner tube. I wonder how thick the rubber is on those.

Those cyclkarts are pretty cool but look a little fast for my 5 year old. I don't think she needs a motorcycle engine.

 

[kelseydum]

Woah, look at these wheels I found. I also found a header for a briggs and stratton that should make it sound a lot cooler. They even have small disc brake kits.

http://www.gokartsupply.com/rims.htm

 

[Sam_Fear]

A tube would be great - as small as you can find. If you could find one small enough, you could put it inside a large round cookie tin or something so it would be protected.

 

[kelseydum]

Keep the ideas coming. I may start on a body this weekend.

 

[Flipper_1938]

Those cyclkarts are pretty cool but look a little fast for my 5 year old. I don't think she needs a motorcycle engine.

You could build it with plans for the future.....underpowered with a governed down brigs now, stick something fun in in 5 or so years.

 

[kelseydum]

I want everything to operate as closely to the real thing... steering... suspension. I'm thinking a used tractor steering box of some sort might work. I need something that they won't have to turn the steering wheel 8 times to make a turn. I was looking at golf cart steering boxes but don't know if those will work the way I want them to. I wish I had a friend to come over and have a beer and help me make out some plans... hint hint.

This is getting me excited and could be something fun for the kids to cruise up in at a car show. Haul them up and get them out at the gat and the whole family can cruise in...hahaha. Fun times... and work is really slow if you can't tell.

 

[Flipper_1938]

A kid in a go kart at a car show would be an outrageous liability to be responsible for. ...no telling what a fender bender with a $200,000 car would cost you.

An empty church parking lot seems more like the perfect place for one of those.

 

[kelseydum]

Our local shows are pretty small and not many expensive rides. I wouldn't let them do anything that would hurt them or my pocket book.

I'm thinking like a 33 Ford PU cab with a little bed they could haul stuff in.

 

[Flipper_1938]

You could always build it as a peddle car and power it at a later date.

 

[kelseydum]

Just saw this... but no price?

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...x-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbs=isch:1

and this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3VVI6Auvys

 

[kelseydum]

This is pretty cool too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwZrNLpM-IE&feature=related

 

[skull]

dwarf car street legal

here is my small car. a street legal race car

a 1931 chevy dwarf car powered by a 1100cc honda V-twin.

LATER[dr

 

[deerchooper]

Just saw this... but no price?

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...x-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbs=isch:1

and this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3VVI6Auvys

i went on a hunt for these one time. they put them in 1/4 scale remote drag cars. that motor costs $5,000. once i seen that i desided to stick with a real car, lol.