Good Combinations for 4x4 Conversion???

gsh815

Thinking about tackling a 4X4 conversion. Don't have either the cart or the wheeler yet. I was wondering if there were any "better" combinations out there from your collective experience.

My initial thoughts are that I want a steel frame go cart as I do not have a welder that will do aluminum and I think an automatic would be a good choice for the 4 wheeler as that means one less shifter to fab and mess with.

Would be very interested in hearing the good (or the bad) points of different carts or wheelers that people have used.

Thanks in advance. I probably would not be considering this had I not found this site. A lot of good info on here already and some really good looking builds.

BGW

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Unforgiven

After converting my first one I learned a lot,....

My next one, I mean my wish list:

Honda Rincon + Ez-go or Yamaha, stretched 6 seater with 4 wheel drive and independent suspension on the corners. A family ride, so to speak.

gsh815

Well, I'm halfway there. Picked up a Yamaha, near as I can figure its a G2 or a G9 by the pics I've seen. Haven't checked the numbers on it yet. Funny you are talking about your second one. Building this one to donate and my daughter is not happy that we're gonna give it away. Definitely thinking I'm gonna want one to keep myself. Would be interested to hear any hints/tips you learned.

pachanga90

I always find myself staring at my Wifes' Honda Foreman 500ES.Its the perfect donor.The motor sits sideways,shafts run front and rear.Solid-axle rear,IFS front,and Electronic Push-Button shift/auto-clutch.It would be an awesome setup.The Early-Mid 90s Polaris would be good too.They use a CVT-drive from motor to trans(same as a cart),Then Chain-Drive from the trans(LO,HI,N,Rev.)to an IFS front and Solid rear-axle.They are 300(2-stroke single-cyl.),400,500,and I believe possibly 700cc with the same setup.They use McPhearson-struts and a lower control-arm up front,so mounting would be pretty simple too.Hope this helps.

Unforgiven

The 500 is a good candidate,.. rear axle width on the ranger 350 was 38" the foreman is 42"

Would be interested to hear any hints/tips you learned.

DONOT: cut wires on donor

Do: measure everything 3 times, take pictures as you disassemble, mark all wires as you disassemble, think weight of finished product, take your time, measure again, mock up, look, get neighbor to come look,.....post pictures of your progress so we can look, think safety, think brakes, think roll-over, etc.

I've always said that the stock brakes of a Honda are the weakest link,.. your cart when finished is going to have a lot of go,so your gonna need a lot of whoa.

taz79

take a look in here there is lots of polaris swaps. most people using them use just engine with golf cart trans. or the ones that want 4x4 I have seen use polaris sportsman they use the hole bike front and back independent suspension and shaft drive

gsh815

I have seen some of the ones on here and a Sportsman is pretty high on my list right now of likely suspects. I do want the real 4wd so I will be using pretty much the whole drive train.

In response to the post above about thinking safety and rollover - did you widen yours out at all? Thinking that the front end could be accomplished by widening the a-arm, control arm mounts and adding length to CV shaft. Thinking that I definitely want to widen it. I have also read some pretty good stuff concerning the steering so have some ideas there.

Unforgiven

mine is a 2wd so I didn't have to worry about CV joints. I did split the front of a 300 ex and widen about 6", and that was too wide. Hind sight will be 4". I did buy spacers for rear and widened 3" per side. Cart end up about 8" lift from stock, that's with the stock ATV frame under it(26x12x12 tires). I don't care about a super high cart, I'd rather be safe with the kind of riding we do.

gsh815

I am not looking to go tall either. Would much prefer wider and more stable. Will be looking to haul a trailer 6-7 times per year with it so am considering how to make it longer and maybe build the back body section out of fiberglass to get what we want. May not need to do this but just thinking that the more weight/length ahead of the rear axle, the better it will haul a trailer.

Got any pics of yours. I would like to see it.

Pitbull Joe

Nice brain-storming thread.