First build, picking the right kart to start with.

zac93218 · 08-20-2012, 10:41 PM

So after searching long and hard for a new project to keep me busy I have decided to build a golf cart for speed. Ideally i would like to build a golf cart with a CBR 600 motor but i will probably wait until my next build before i try that.

I want to build a "big block" golf cart emphasizing on speed. I am trying to figure out what year, style and brand of golf cart would be the best choice for what i am after.

First question: should i build an electric or a gas golf cart to maximize my speed ability?

Second question: I do not know the difference in golf cart chassis and styles so i guess depending on what i first choose to build (electric or gas) do i have to or need to stick with an electric cart to build an electric cart or should i go with a gas cart to build a gas cart? or do people commonly make gas carts out of electric frames or electric carts out of gas frames?

Third question: I am looking at 2 different golf carts that i have found on Craigslist and wanted to know what experienced cart builders thought about these.

The first one does not have to much information on it but seems to be a good starter for the price. It says that it is a 2000 year golf cart lifted brand new tires and rims needs new batteries 6 volt. No other information but they only want $600 and it looks to be in good condition.

The second cart I really like because it reminds me of a smart car but does anyone know anything about these carts and if they are a good cart to customize? It is a 96 Bombardier electric golf cart that states is can already reach speeds of 28mph (not fast enough) but would this model be possible to swap a big block in to it or even a bigger electric motor to make it scream!?
the post says "SUPER CLEAN.NEW GEL BATTERIES !!! 96 BOMBARDIER.28 MPH +,2 SEATER".

I would post links but i am not allowed yet..

I would like to achieve speeds of around 55mph and dont know the best route to go to be able to do this so any help will be a big help. Thanks for taking a looking and any information you can offer to get me started in the right direction.

CART-ZILLA · 08-21-2012, 04:16 PM

i'm going with a 2004 gas E-Z-GO cpp has the engine cradle for a big block for $199 + shipping bolts right in they say you have to lift it too for a bb swap because of engine clearance issues and also you can change the gearing to 6:1 ratio and haul a$$ !

sho305 · 08-21-2012, 06:25 PM

55mph is kind of hairy on a cart so you might want to think about that, or a roll cage and belts. Anyway best IMO to get a 4 stroke gas cart to start with. Electric is rather expensive to get speed out of, price out some of the huge motors and controllers you will need. And I don't know if they go that fast. With gas you can get 6:1 gears like posted and say a vanguard with a rev kit, that should get you close with big tires. Check out a ratio calculator to figure speeds, the vanguard will hit 6K rpm (x6:1 gears x tire diameter).

CART-ZILLA · 08-21-2012, 08:06 PM

^^^^^^ yes get your suspention right first then add some speed to it BTW 5500 rpm's with 6.1 gears and 22 inch tires = 60 mph... thats faster than you think on a cart ...lol

zac93218 · 08-21-2012, 09:00 PM

Ya..even 40mph would be plenty fast enough lol but i cant get the image out of my head of a golf cart with a 600cc streetbike motor in it...not really for the top speed but for the straight power of spinning tires form 0-....as fast as you wanna go lol BUT i am not about to jump right in to that build first time out....I would like to get my bearings right with a first project and do a big block...less complicated and more feasible...

Soo...I should start with a gas cart so that it makes things easier to swap to a big block motor?

What year, brand, style etc carts should i be on the look out for to make the project easier... I cant do anything until i have my ground floor to start with.

Thanks for the help so far. with your guys answers and the researching i have been doing, i am learning things at a rapid rate...I prolly know 100x the stuff that i didnt know a week ago. Thanks again and impatiently waiting for more responses!!!

zac93218 · 08-21-2012, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CART-ZILLA

^^^^^^ yes get your suspention right first then add some speed to it BTW 5500 rpm's with 6.1 gears and 22 inch tires = 60 mph... thats faster than you think on a cart ...lol

22 inch tires!?!?!?! that sounds crazy huge!!!! but maybe because im thinking of regular car rims and tires and the size of a 20 inch rim? anyways...im gonna be doing some more research and start trying to find a gas cart...

CART-ZILLA · 08-21-2012, 09:23 PM

22" is the tire size top to bottom ....lol i thought the same thing at first i was like ?????....lol

zac93218 · 08-21-2012, 10:51 PM

CART-ZILLA,

You stated that they make an engine cradle for a big block that fits your 04 EZ-GO..where did you find that at? Do they make those cradle kits for other brands of carts and years and does the one you mentioned fit a range of years? Knowing this information will help me to be able to find a cart to buy as my starting point. Thanks

CART-ZILLA · 08-22-2012, 07:40 AM

yeah it's one of our site sponsors carts parts plus go to engine upgrade kits >engine parts & kits it says 94-2011 e-z-go gas carts ....

zac93218 · 08-22-2012, 09:03 PM

Kool thanks CART-ZILLA ill check in to it right now. I also got ahold of a guy that lives an hour away from me who has a VERY LARGE selection of golf carts that he has ended up with from golf resorts and huge construction projects...said he has tons of Gas carts in every brand and all years at very good prices!!! im gonna be making a trip up to see him in two weeks and hopefully come home with my first cart project!!! :)

08-20-2012, 10:41 PM	#1
zac93218 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 14	First build, picking the right kart to start with. So after searching long and hard for a new project to keep me busy I have decided to build a golf cart for speed. Ideally i would like to build a golf cart with a CBR 600 motor but i will probably wait until my next build before i try that. I want to build a "big block" golf cart emphasizing on speed. I am trying to figure out what year, style and brand of golf cart would be the best choice for what i am after. First question: should i build an electric or a gas golf cart to maximize my speed ability? Second question: I do not know the difference in golf cart chassis and styles so i guess depending on what i first choose to build (electric or gas) do i have to or need to stick with an electric cart to build an electric cart or should i go with a gas cart to build a gas cart? or do people commonly make gas carts out of electric frames or electric carts out of gas frames? Third question: I am looking at 2 different golf carts that i have found on Craigslist and wanted to know what experienced cart builders thought about these. The first one does not have to much information on it but seems to be a good starter for the price. It says that it is a 2000 year golf cart lifted brand new tires and rims needs new batteries 6 volt. No other information but they only want $600 and it looks to be in good condition. The second cart I really like because it reminds me of a smart car but does anyone know anything about these carts and if they are a good cart to customize? It is a 96 Bombardier electric golf cart that states is can already reach speeds of 28mph (not fast enough) but would this model be possible to swap a big block in to it or even a bigger electric motor to make it scream!? the post says "SUPER CLEAN.NEW GEL BATTERIES !!! 96 BOMBARDIER.28 MPH +,2 SEATER". I would post links but i am not allowed yet.. I would like to achieve speeds of around 55mph and dont know the best route to go to be able to do this so any help will be a big help. Thanks for taking a looking and any information you can offer to get me started in the right direction.
zac93218 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 14

08-21-2012, 04:16 PM	#2
CART-ZILLA Gone Wild Join Date: May 2011 Location: Pickens/Dacusville s.c. Posts: 1,386	Re: First build, picking the right kart to start with. i'm going with a 2004 gas E-Z-GO cpp has the engine cradle for a big block for $199 + shipping bolts right in they say you have to lift it too for a bb swap because of engine clearance issues and also you can change the gearing to 6:1 ratio and haul a$$ !

08-21-2012, 06:25 PM	#3
sho305 Vegas modded 420 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: West MI Posts: 15,443	Re: First build, picking the right kart to start with. 55mph is kind of hairy on a cart so you might want to think about that, or a roll cage and belts. Anyway best IMO to get a 4 stroke gas cart to start with. Electric is rather expensive to get speed out of, price out some of the huge motors and controllers you will need. And I don't know if they go that fast. With gas you can get 6:1 gears like posted and say a vanguard with a rev kit, that should get you close with big tires. Check out a ratio calculator to figure speeds, the vanguard will hit 6K rpm (x6:1 gears x tire diameter).

08-21-2012, 08:06 PM	#4
CART-ZILLA Gone Wild Join Date: May 2011 Location: Pickens/Dacusville s.c. Posts: 1,386	Re: First build, picking the right kart to start with. ^^^^^^ yes get your suspention right first then add some speed to it BTW 5500 rpm's with 6.1 gears and 22 inch tires = 60 mph... thats faster than you think on a cart ...lol

08-21-2012, 09:00 PM	#5
zac93218 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 14	Re: First build, picking the right kart to start with. Ya..even 40mph would be plenty fast enough lol but i cant get the image out of my head of a golf cart with a 600cc streetbike motor in it...not really for the top speed but for the straight power of spinning tires form 0-....as fast as you wanna go lol BUT i am not about to jump right in to that build first time out....I would like to get my bearings right with a first project and do a big block...less complicated and more feasible... Soo...I should start with a gas cart so that it makes things easier to swap to a big block motor? What year, brand, style etc carts should i be on the look out for to make the project easier... I cant do anything until i have my ground floor to start with. Thanks for the help so far. with your guys answers and the researching i have been doing, i am learning things at a rapid rate...I prolly know 100x the stuff that i didnt know a week ago. Thanks again and impatiently waiting for more responses!!!
zac93218 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 14

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08-21-2012, 09:23 PM	#7
CART-ZILLA Gone Wild Join Date: May 2011 Location: Pickens/Dacusville s.c. Posts: 1,386	Re: First build, picking the right kart to start with. 22" is the tire size top to bottom ....lol i thought the same thing at first i was like ?????....lol

08-21-2012, 10:51 PM	#8
zac93218 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 14	Re: First build, picking the right kart to start with. CART-ZILLA, You stated that they make an engine cradle for a big block that fits your 04 EZ-GO..where did you find that at? Do they make those cradle kits for other brands of carts and years and does the one you mentioned fit a range of years? Knowing this information will help me to be able to find a cart to buy as my starting point. Thanks
zac93218 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 14

08-22-2012, 07:40 AM	#9
CART-ZILLA Gone Wild Join Date: May 2011 Location: Pickens/Dacusville s.c. Posts: 1,386	Re: First build, picking the right kart to start with. yeah it's one of our site sponsors carts parts plus go to engine upgrade kits >engine parts & kits it says 94-2011 e-z-go gas carts ....

08-22-2012, 09:03 PM	#10
zac93218 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 14	Re: First build, picking the right kart to start with. Kool thanks CART-ZILLA ill check in to it right now. I also got ahold of a guy that lives an hour away from me who has a VERY LARGE selection of golf carts that he has ended up with from golf resorts and huge construction projects...said he has tons of Gas carts in every brand and all years at very good prices!!! im gonna be making a trip up to see him in two weeks and hopefully come home with my first cart project!!! :)
zac93218 Not Yet Wild Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 14

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