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 Post subject: The Altimate Go-Kart
PostPosted: August 22, 2019, 11:30 pm 
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Hey guys and gals. My name is Jonathon, I'm from Missouri and I had planned to build a Locost. Then I saw the Midlana and thought "That's what I'll build!". I bought the book, made some plans, tried to clean and organize my 18'x20' shop and then had second thoughts. So my current plan is to build a smaller less involved vehicle. It'll be powered by a Nissan Altima (hence the name. I'm a sucker for a horrible play on words.) 2.5 4cyl that makes 175hp and 180 lb/tq. It will be a single seater and I hope to keep it at or under 1,000 lbs.


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Last edited by Jonathon on November 14, 2019, 11:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: The Altimate Go-Kart
PostPosted: August 25, 2019, 8:59 pm 
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Posts: 35
These are just some random donor disassembly pictures.
I'm a little worried about how stiff the insulation on the wiring harness is. I'm guessing the oil is causing this. In this picture you can see the brand new oil catch pan I bought. In the second picture it's in the same place but now the engine is resting on it. :cry:

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This is a "sled" that I made hoping it would make the Altima easier to tow through the yard. It worked great... in one direction.

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And here the Altima is being dragged to the alley, waiting for the rollback.

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dragrace11.jpg


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Last edited by Jonathon on November 15, 2019, 4:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: The Altimate Go-Kart
PostPosted: August 25, 2019, 9:23 pm 
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Posts: 35
These pictures show the jig I built to locate the stock lca's. I'll be removing the stock front subframe. I was hoping to save weight by not using it but it is a lot lighter than I imagined.

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And here the engine is without the stock subframe.

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Last edited by Jonathon on November 15, 2019, 4:55 am, edited 2 times in total.

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 Post subject: Re: The Altimate Go-Kart
PostPosted: August 25, 2019, 9:28 pm 
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Joined: December 27, 2018, 5:15 am
Posts: 35
And just a picture of the jig removed from the engine.

Attachment:
IMG_3169.JPG


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Last edited by Jonathon on November 15, 2019, 5:03 am, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: The Altimate Go-Kart
PostPosted: August 31, 2019, 5:13 am 
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The oem subframe looks light and well designed. Nice jig though. Have you found another l31 for the front suspension? You might look for an ser spec for the front. Probably has bigger brakes, caliper bores, and front swaybar to go with the ser 18 inch wheels. Looks like you could make a ubj adapter brkt that still retains the swaybar endlink about half as long. Probably need to put the ubj outboard of the strut flange to minimize scrub for your wheel offset and tire size.

I hope you got everything you might need off the Altima. Not sure if the engine and trans ecu needs any other computers. Probably need the oem ecu to keep the automatic happy.


Check out Egomans dodge intrepid build if you have not already.
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=7995

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 Post subject: Re: The Altimate Go-Kart
PostPosted: September 2, 2019, 11:21 pm 
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Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F wrote:
The oem subframe looks light and well designed. Nice jig though. Have you found another l31 for the front suspension? You might look for an ser spec for the front. Probably has bigger brakes, caliper bores, and front swaybar to go with the ser 18 inch wheels. Looks like you could make a ubj adapter brkt that still retains the swaybar endlink about half as long. Probably need to put the ubj outboard of the strut flange to minimize scrub for your wheel offset and tire size.

The front subframe is light and well designed. I should just utilize it as is but it's not the right look for the build. As for the front suspension I plan to use the Miata setup that is laid out in the Midlana book.

Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F wrote:
I hope you got everything you might need off the Altima. Not sure if the engine and trans ecu needs any other computers. Probably need the oem ecu to keep the automatic happy.

I have pulled every piece of wiring from the car.


Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F wrote:
Check out Egomans dodge intrepid build if you have not already.
http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=7995

I have read his build several times. It's definitely an inspiration for my build.

Thanks for the input


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 Post subject: Re: The Altimate Go-Kart
PostPosted: September 3, 2019, 9:18 am 
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Joined: September 22, 2005, 8:12 am
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Location: 4AGE in S.E. Michigan
Using the OEM sub-frames will make the fabrication process faster and easier, but realize that the average donor vehicle, unless from a [Vette, Viper, Miata, etc.] has a lot of compromises in the suspension design. If your single seater "go-cart" is more pointed toward good handling, you should consider doing a complete analysis of the current suspension system and then look at modifications needed to optimize the design. You will probably find that the only donor thing useable is a couple sub-frame brackets, plus you will be able to fabricate a lighter structure then the OEM sub-frame. It's more work, but your build goals should set the design requirements. Do not think OEM,s have the same design goals. The design is almost always cost driven. I've even been in design meetings where the objective was to decrease cornering capability of the vehicle to protect Joe public. Davew


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 Post subject: Re: The Altimate Go-Kart
PostPosted: September 25, 2019, 10:14 pm 
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davew wrote:
Using the OEM sub-frames will make the fabrication process faster and easier, but realize that the average donor vehicle, unless from a [Vette, Viper, Miata, etc.] has a lot of compromises in the suspension design. If your single seater "go-cart" is more pointed toward good handling, you should consider doing a complete analysis of the current suspension system and then look at modifications needed to optimize the design. You will probably find that the only donor thing useable is a couple sub-frame brackets, plus you will be able to fabricate a lighter structure then the OEM sub-frame. It's more work, but your build goals should set the design requirements. Do not think OEM,s have the same design goals. The design is almost always cost driven. I've even been in design meetings where the objective was to decrease cornering capability of the vehicle to protect Joe public. Davew


Thanks for the comments Dave. My goal for this build is to build a running driving vehicle (something I’ve wanted to do since I was young) while keeping it as cheap as possible. This build will confirm if I want to invest the time and money in building a true car (the Midlana) or possible move on to a restoration. This build doesn’t need to have fully optimized suspension but it does need to be safe and work well. I won’t be using the stock subframe but I will be using the stock suspension mounts for the rear. I am currently thinking about using the rear hubs for the front suspension with custom fabricated spindles.

Thanks,
Jonathon


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 Post subject: Re: The Altimate Go-Kart
PostPosted: September 25, 2019, 11:08 pm 
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I haven't made any progress on the build but we did get half of the concrete pad poured in front of the shop.

This pad will be 24'x24' and will serve as a basketball court for a few years. After that... who knows :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

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Last edited by Jonathon on November 15, 2019, 5:05 am, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: The Altimate Go-Kart
PostPosted: September 26, 2019, 8:10 am 
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Location: 4AGE in S.E. Michigan
"I am currently thinking about using the rear hubs for the front suspension with custom fabricated spindles."
Jonathon: Making spindles is a LOT of WORK. It will be very difficult to make that type of welded structure without any warpage. If you have access to a machine shop, then go for it! Some spindle bearings have a flat mounting surface on the back side which probably be the easiest design to fabricate.
If you are like most of us, and do not own a Bridgeport, consider modifying a strut or finding an OEM spindle that you can use. In the long run it will be cheaper and a lot quicker.
Locost Rule No. 23, KISS :lol: Davew


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 Post subject: Re: The Altimate Go-Kart
PostPosted: September 26, 2019, 10:06 pm 
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Looks interesting. I like how it appears that you removed the "car" from the engine/drivetrain. :lol:

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 Post subject: Re: The Altimate Go-Kart
PostPosted: October 4, 2019, 3:08 am 
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davew wrote:
"I am currently thinking about using the rear hubs for the front suspension with custom fabricated spindles."
Jonathon: Making spindles is a LOT of WORK. It will be very difficult to make that type of welded structure without any warpage. If you have access to a machine shop, then go for it! Some spindle bearings have a flat mounting surface on the back side which probably be the easiest design to fabricate.
If you are like most of us, and do not own a Bridgeport, consider modifying a strut or finding an OEM spindle that you can use. In the long run it will be cheaper and a lot quicker.
Locost Rule No. 23, KISS :lol: Davew


I do have access to a mill and lathe. With my limited budget I don't mind spending extra time fabricating something to save money. The KISS rule is a great rule and I follow it as often as I can. Although maybe not as often as I should.

Johnsinski wrote:
I like how it appears that you removed the "car" from the engine/drivetrain. :lol:


Now that you mention it, that is a great description of what I did. :lol: :lol:

Thanks,
Jonathon


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 Post subject: Re: The Altimate Go-Kart
PostPosted: October 4, 2019, 8:35 am 
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I'm from Missouri and I had planned to build a Locost...


Welcome aboard, Jonathon!
Just curious, what part of Missouri? I'm in Ozark County, South Central, MO.

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 Post subject: Re: The Altimate Go-Kart
PostPosted: October 6, 2019, 11:49 pm 
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ngpmike wrote:
Quote:
I'm from Missouri and I had planned to build a Locost...


Welcome aboard, Jonathon!
Just curious, what part of Missouri? I'm in Ozark County, South Central, MO.


Thanks Mike. I'm about an hour north of Kansas City. Basically the other side of the state :D


Jonathon


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 Post subject: Re: The Altimate Go-Kart
PostPosted: October 7, 2019, 12:27 am 
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Joined: December 27, 2018, 5:15 am
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This weekend was a good one progress wise. I built the build table! :headbang: I went simple with it, no glue, just wood no steel studs. I will be adding a fifth leg to the center. I didn't plan on spacing the legs that wide until I measured the engine hoist and thought "ya know, it might not be a bad idea to make sure the hoist will slide under the table".

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Thanks,
Jonathon


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