Projects (PROJECT) old skool twin-engine Rupp kart build...with a twist!

This is probably a dumb question, but how does changing the orientation of the engine affect the oiling? Seems they would be set up to oil vertically and that may not occur properly in a horizontal configuration.

 

That's why he picked LawnBoy engines. 2-strokes that run on pre-mix

 

Wow-thanks for all of the support! I'm excited to keep you guys updated.

That thing is just absurd-twin engine with a scrub brake! You're nuts! I like it.

Thanks bro. Seems like karts conjure up a lot of memories-don't they?

Thats right. Dingers can be run in any orientation-as long as the carb allows.

 

Starting to gather the remaining parts to fab the exhausts. I have a friend cutting up some flanges. I gotta find some thin-wall tubing, 1 to 1 1/4" dia. and elbows. Any suggestions? Not really an iron/metal yard around here so I gotta think out of the box a little. Fence tubing? I could get some straight and elbows, right? Is that galvanized? If so, how can I easily remove galvanic coating?

 

Fence tubing is galvaniized, only way I know to remove it is with a grinder. Probably wanna wear some kind of resporator or mask when grinding.

You might look for an old set of headers to cut up(the stock ones on a 5.0L Mustang come to mind, I think their like 1 1/2"). You can get a box full of mandrel bends and straight sections for $20-30 bucks. We did this to build the exhaust on my buddies bike a couple years ago and it worked out great.

 

This one's bringing back alot of memories... would ride my bike every Saturday and lay down all the bread I had saved for countless laps around Erbsville Kartway..longest go-kart track in Ontario.

 

That is one creepy looking thing.

Didn't anybody ever tell you that if you want to get an idea about what your wife will look like as you get older to look at her mother? Boy are you going to be suprised.

 

Yep and those of us were too young to drive on the road and own full size hotrods either had or wanted a kart badly. I couldn't manage to stash away enough money bucking hay bales and picking berries to buy one but it didn't keep me from wanting one.

This is a fun build to follow along with.

 

Yeah and now he's BANNED. Awesome.

 

You can fab up your exhaust from fence tubing, ( just the cut and fit phase), and then throw the parts in some vinegar for a few days to a week, ( depending on ambient temps), and the galvanizing will be eaten off by the acetic acid of the vinegar.Finish the cleanup with a hand Scotch-Brite pad, and weld away!

 

I'm glad you guys are enjoying the build! Thanks.

I checked on some header websites, they offer "mistake" boxes pretty cheap. Smallest dia I found was was 1.5" though.

Nice tip! Does the coating change the properties of the metal at all? I want to thermo coat the headers. Just wanted to make sure I could with previously galvanized metal.

Someone suggested I go to a local exhaust shop. Would they have exhaust tubing 1 or 1.25" dia? Seems a bit small for an exhaust shop. Guess I'll give it a whirl.

 

I use 1" motorcycle handlebars for my exhausts. They can be had el cheapo at swap meets, motorcycle shops, and tag sales. Just get a bunch of different ones with various bends. You'll have to double your efforts so that your pair of engines have matching pipes. Visualize where you want the exhaust to go. This helps. Use a piece of wire cut to length and make bends to the shape you want. Compare that wire to your stash of handlebars bends to locate the section you'll need, mark it, then cut it. Keep in mind one piece can be cut and spun onto itself to get the curve and direction you need to be. I've used stainless handlebars with great results. Some handlebars have holes for electrical routing. Try to avoid getting these in the first place, but if not, they can be puddle welded closed, then filed and buffed as if they never existed.

Here's an example. I left the weld mark between the two pieces because I though it looked cool. More examples can be seen here, http://www.flickr.com/photos/11727936@N02/sets/72157623732136464/

 

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This thread is sooo cool.
Even the twin mini gave me a thrill.

Just about time for me to rebuild my barstool. Maybe I'll go wiyh twins on that thing, you know, just to be different and dumb.

 

And when it doesn't go fast enough you can always stick an XS650 Yamaha engine in it a really fly!


By weslake at 2008-09-09

 

Glad to see you over here. I'll be following your posts for sure. My Super K will retain the front steer so I'll also use the two-hole pitman arm but crossover the connections (right tie rod to the left hole and vice-versa) to maintain some ackerman in the steering.

Looking forward to your future posts.

 

Thanks again for the encouragement folks!

Great idea. Handlebars are pretty easy to be had, and you can find just about any shape. However, I think I found my solution.

Columbia River Mandrel Bending (mandrel-bends.com) has just about any dia, material, and radius available. And their bends are pretty cheap. I can get everything I need for about $40. Not bad.

Also found out exhaust flanges for a VW Beetle motor are the exact dia and bolt spacing I need. The svc. mgr. at my dealership has an old VW header he's not using. He's going to lop off the flanges for me.

One word-suicide.

Whats up '62! You got a package headin' your way. Good luck on the Super-K. Post up pics when you're done.

 

Made some progress on the mounts today. Stopped by my buddy's shop this AM. Drew up the mounts on CAD. Check it out!

Thanks again to my buddies Paul and Jeff and Marten Models for hookin' me up.



Started by taking some measurements for the base plate. Standard Briggs 4-hole pattern.



Transferred to 3D



Now the side plate. These measurements are critical!



All drawn up



Added some gussets for strength



Here's the plate we're going to use



Should be whittled up pretty soon. Also ordering my exhaust parts when I get a minute. I'll keep you posted.

Stopped by the Minibike and Go Kart swap meet today. Some pretty cool stuff. Forget to get pics. But I swung by Motor City Minis in Taylor since I was only a few miles away. Some sweet stuff for sure!

A couple of Ruttman Gr***hoppers





A nice Vespa



A mini drag bike



This one has green pearl powdercoat-not paint. More beautiful in person.



A bare frame in the same treatment-but purple!



Lotsa chrome goodies on display



From the looks of this store and the growing popularity of minis and karts, I think you'll be seeing more and more of this stuff.

Long live the mini!

 

Just a quick update. Waiting on the mount plates to be cut. Ordered my mandrel bends (Columbia River) and flanges (Headers by Ed) for the exhausts. Tracking #'s say I should get em next week.

So I'm talking to Robert Stanton (RobRon) this week, and he tells me he had 4 Rupp Grand Prix n***au panels left. Some guy ordered three, and he had one remaining. I said, "I'll take it!" I couldn't p*** it up.

Gotta love it when a package with this return address is sitting on your front porch!



Here it is mocked up on my hoop









Just a little surface rust, but that's it! Beautiful shape.

But here's where the ol' snowball effect kicks in. Now I can't run my fuel tank up front. Besides, the t****zoidal tank I always thought harshed the vibe a little. So I had to re-think my tank location.

The brackets for the original cylinder-style tank that sat behind the seat are still on my frame. And I have that long section of O2 tank left. That's when the light bulb over my head lit up.



I like that!

But now I've added another fabrication project to the kart. Great.

Gotta have my buddy cut me a couple of aluminum brackets and a circle-shaped blank to cap off the end. And bungking.com offers these fuel cap/weld-in bung kits for custom tanks.



The br*** cap is cool. They offer aluminum caps too. Vented or non-vented. They also have fuel pet**** bung kits.

Thats about it for now. Hopefully I'll be makin' sparks this week when my exhaust parts come in. Stay tuned!

 

What happened to the original set of wheels ?? Way Cool >>>>.

 

Thanks bro. Congrats on your 4000th post!

Bought the kart with a set of non-original, mismatched wheels. Standard cast fronts and Nylite rears. Sold the nylites.

My tri-stars will work until I can find my dream set of shoes-



I believe these are Rupp Chapparal enduro rims. Lovin' the spinners. Never seen a set for sale.

 

Damn! I wanted to buy those nylites off you for a Gereal Lee go-kart I'm working on Small world huh?

There a go-kart group on here if you wanna avoid the HAMB purists and wanna be maderators...

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=597

 

Sorry about the wheels G***er-I didn't know. Actually the guy who bought them is also restoring a General Lee kart. And he's also from Texas. Wierd.

Thanks for the link. I didn't even know we had "Social Clubs". Can't see them from the main forum menu. I joined up!

Got a couple packages in the mail. All of my exhaust parts are here. Hopefully can start on 'em this weekend. Stay tuned.

 

Just joined the kart group, thanks or the link.

 

Yeah...that's me

 

Geez, that one went right over me. Sorry.

Got a good start on the expansion chambers this weekend. When I finish up one side I'll post up.

 

this is awesome keep it up!

 

this person does not represent me. please understand this. great project friend.

 

I have a n***au panel sitting on a shelf off my Rupp Lancer. But it's made of fibergl***. Is that one a repop, in metal? Or did your kart originally come with a metal panel?

 

Thanks bro!

No worries at all. Not sweatin' it. Like I've said, I've heard worse. I'm a used car salesman!

My era of Rupp would have had a metal panel. Fibergl*** panels were used as well. You thinkin' of sellin' it?



A little cell phone teaser pic of my exhaust progress. Hope to make more sparks this weekend.