Ford Think gas conversion

micscottj

I have a Ford think 4-seater and i am tired of battery issues. I am considering a gas conversion and i am hoping you guys can point me in the right direction.

Let me start by saying, that i have no illusions that this will be a simple bolt on, but here are my initial thoughts and a few questions:
1. i have access to a few different engines, so i think i can get my hands on a v-twin B&S pretty easily
2. i have found a transaxle on ebay made for a dune buggy that looks like it would do the trick. it would still require custom axles, brakes, etc.
3. for the suspension setup, i think i would go with a 4-link style suspension and use airbags for ride control.

My first big question is can i adapt a starter/generator to the v-twin so i can run this like a gas golf cart? if so, what do i need besides the starter/gen? Just the gas peddle setup?

BGW

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sho305

It should work if you have the pulley on the clutch or other place, solenoid, the pedal switch you don't have to have it will work with the key if you want. Once it starts set it to idle faster than the starter and it will be ok. You could drop a whole cart trans in, even put the long axle on if you need it wider.

Flintrock

If your engine choices include one with electric start and a charging, there would be no need for the start/ gen. You would need to lengthen the stock wiring harness for the four seater.

micscottj

The reason i was looking at a rear end with custom axles is b/c a golf cart axle would be too narrow. Good info on the starter/gen. that should be pretty easy. i haven't seen much discussion on here about using the starter/gen option with the big block setups. i was concerned that they would be too big for the starter/gen to turn.

DOOmsman

The rear end looks like a cart rear
maybe a reversing 2 cycle would work??

micscottj

I had not considered a reversing two-cycle. to be honest, i didn't even know that existed. Any suggestions on what i would be searching for to find one of those? that would make my entire project much simplier if i am able to use my current rear axle.

sho305

You can pick up an old yamaha bravo sled with a 250 in it, adapt a G1 ignition to reverse it and you are good. Some sleds like skidoos have reversing. Note a 2 stroke will be a little stinky. You can take a G9 trans and pull the short axle off, put another long one from the other side on, but I don't know what total length is. A guy on here did it on a huge lifted G1 that is black.

If the engine has compression release or a 2 stroke the gen should turn it fine. People get rid of them because they don't want pedal start, don't have room, new engine has a starter, etc. They are only rated for 4200rpm or something, but I've never heard of damage from high rpm. It spins the 16hp single I put in like the 9hp stocker. I have seen them used on v-twin 18hp conversions. Another issue is you have to have that pulley on the clutch to run them, so it narrows what clutches you can use. Some carts they mount them on top of the trans, that gets them out of the way compared to the old yami that puts them in front of the engine.

There is a comet f/r gearbox out there for up to 40hp or something, not sure you can find one.

4vertical

what is the width of the think rear end?

micscottj

i haven't measured the rear end. will do that.

on the sled engine, i don't think i would want to do that. this is primarily going to be my golf cart on the course, so i need it to function as a cart. i don't want something i have to crank each time i get in and out.

what cart engines should i look for that were reversing? i am gathering that the old ez-go gas carts ran with 2-stroke engines and reversed like that? where there any others?

sho305

The only ones are the 2 strokes, the yamaha G1 did. 4 strokes can't do that. The 250 bravo is pretty mild, some even run the G1 exhaust on it. It has more power, quite a bit more if you keep the sled pipe on it but many don't. It is far from a performance engine though.