Deucekid#2 and the RallyKart

How many build threads have I started before I got the vehicle home? All of them? No reason to stop my streak then. Shall we? At the beginning of summer I received permission for Deucekid#2 to run a kart with our local independent Rallycross group. I took that as an opportunity to ask you yahoos what I should look for in a kart. This led a forum member (who can identify himself if he chooses) to mention that he should drag his kids old kart out of the shed and sell it, too bad I'm Texas and he's in Michigan. Except.....at that very moment I WAS in Michigan at my in-laws about a hour and a half away from the kart! A couple of emails later and I returned with what you see in the picture above, essentially a kart with no motor.
Deucekid#2 was amazingly happy when his birthday rolled around and I spilled the beans about my secret mission at the beginning of summer. He's an avid reader of Hot Rod (as well as GRM) so I spun the story as a 'barn find' kart and he's ready to get it up and racing. We're all packed up now and ready for the trip back to Texas to start the build. The kart doesn't need anything other than a motor to run again, but there are a couple of other things we need to get sorted to RX it. It should be fun.
As a side note, Mrs. Deuce is off driving around her dad's '48 pickup. It's awesome. She's awesome.

Cool! You probably already know this, but Northern Tool stocks go-kart parts. Not sure of the quality of everything, but they have stuff -- at least they did the last time I was there several years ago.

And the Northern Tool closest to me is literally right next door to an epic Chinese buffet. Visiting one and not the other feels very wrong. Sounds like a plan.

Oh boy, this should be good.

The HF engines have been well worked out by the kart guys. DIYgokart has lots of writeups....

Man a rallycross go-kart actually sounds like a hoot.

That seat looks awfully wide, is the truck bed just very small?

ssswitch wrote: Man a rallycross go-kart actually sounds like a hoot. That seat looks awfully wide, is the truck bed just very small?

It's a bench seat sized for 2 kids.

awwwww yes!

In reply to Winston: Everyone I have been to stopped carrying parts but they can order them.

Step 1. Purple Power, scrub brush, and a hose.
It appears that this is a USA made kart by Kartco of Sebastopol Mississippi. The model number has worn off, which is probabaly not a big deal as the internet tells me that Kartco is out of business or at least not manufacturing karts any more.

I suggest a harbor freight 212 "predator" motor for $119 and live axle kit from northern tool. The motor is a clone but there are TONS of aftermarket parts to take them from 6.5hp to 15hp or more. I suggested the live axle kit because one tire fire is no fun expecially in dirt, as a kid I had one identical..but thats cool its made in mississippi cause so am I! Haha.

Im sure your kid will have loads of fun with it

Was there any rust seeing as it is a Michigan kart?

Yeah 2wd conversion (also gives 2 wheel brakes), HF motor, and a clutch that engages hard if you floor it (gets the tires spinning so it will rotate). Check the frame carefully for cracks, especially at the welds.

Too bad you're so far away. I have a 5HP Honda engine from a pressure washer that I'm looking to sell for cheap.

Northern Tool has the Torque converters for karts.

Predator 212 and torque converter on their way. The kart is already live axle, should be quick for someone less than 100 lbs.

In reply to mazdeuce:

Sweet!! TAV2?

Your old Michigan kart has kess rust than my much newer southern kart.

What torque converter? Ive got a 13 horse honda with a one inch output shaft i need a clutch or converter for.

Semi related question, do most rally competitions allow karts? Or, is it just something your local group is allowing? If so, what's the criteria for the kart? Looking at the simplicity of yours, seems like it's a "run whatcha brung" idea. Kinda surprised they wouldn't require a rollbard of some sort. (Not that sprint karts have any rollover protection, though).

I'm sure you will, but I'd recommend a good closed faced helmet, neck brace (My son uses one of these), kart suit and gloves. If not suit, at least jeans, high tops and a jacket.

I'm sure you already know, but there's a nice sprint kart track in Katy at GCKI with a club race on the 23rd if you wanna see some other type of racing.

-Rob

Allowing karts is just something our local group does. I'm hoping we can get a couple of kids running and make a case to the SCCA to let us run it regionally similar to Jr karts in autocross. The kart does have a roll structure that bolts on. It's not great, but we'll put it on and evaluate. We'll also be installing a five point harness and arm restraints before racing. I watched a passenger in a sand rail break a hand a couple of years ago and I'd like to avoid it.

Crate motor.

In reply to mazdeuce:

More of a 'Box' motor but awesome non the less.

Watching with jealousy. Mrs 84FSP approved setting up junior in a race cart...

How did I miss this starting? This was mine and looking forward to the thread!

Edit: as for speed? with the 6hp that it used to have, GPS speed was 34.

Live axle in the snow was awesome

In reply to Grtechguy:

We hope to have at least as much fun as you did. Thanks again for offering it up.

Setback #1
No matter how much we wiggled and spaced and imagined modifications, we just couldn't make the torque converter work with this frame. Bummer. Luckily Deucekid#2 had grown up on a steady diet of Hot Rod articles talking about 'perfect' parts not fitting. He was a very good sport about the whole thing. We've ordered a good old fashioned clutch and will have another go at assembly when it arrives.