Budget build of an 86 Marathon

TheBucks · 05-24-2011, 08:21 PM

Well I've enjoyed this forum for about 4 months now. What a great wealth of info & lots of great looking carts.
I bought an 86 Marathon off of ebay July of last year (pink) I gave her a rattle can restoration, made a roof frame out of 1/2" EMT & had my mother-in-law make a canvas top for it (red) & we used it the rest of the summer. I then began thinking of lifting it over the winter & putting some Cub Cadet wheels & tires on I had laying around. After lifting it I wasn't satisfied. I wanted a TXT style body...Then a "BIG BAD ROLL CAGE"...Etc, Etc, Etc... anyway...I'm pretty handy & pretty resourceful. Here is what I ended up with(green). Now like I said, I had the wheels along with a couple of other things but...including buying the cart & 6 new batteries I've got 1,220.00 in it.

I have a ton of pics that I took all the way through the build that are posted in photobucket if anyone is interested.

Steve.

TheNewGuy · 05-25-2011, 07:41 AM

NICE!!!

pocket aces · 05-25-2011, 01:04 PM

Sweet!!! I like it.

TheBucks · 05-26-2011, 07:15 PM

Thanks for the kind words. The roll cage, push bar & surf fishing rod/cooler rack are all made out of EMT tubing. The stuff is very easy to bend & doesn't weigh alot. It's also very forgiving if you make a mistake while bending. Price is nice too...$0.17, $0.34 & $0.59 per foot for 1/2", 3/4" & 1"
If you're interested in the rest of the build I discovered how to share the album so here's a link.

http://s1140.photobucket.com/albums/n571/TheBucks19/

madoc1 · 05-26-2011, 07:54 PM

very nice work. how did you make the txt body fit?

TheBucks · 05-26-2011, 08:22 PM

I had to do some trimming of the dash once the old cowl was removed & I did some cutting & redesigning in the rear. There's a couple pics of that stuff. I wish I had taken more pics in the middle of doing things, it probably could've helped other guys trying to do the swap. It really wasn't too hard to do.

Steve.

littlecarguy · 06-03-2011, 07:38 PM

Very interesting, Nice work.

TheBucks · 06-05-2011, 02:53 PM

Thanks again. I'm going to take the "very interesting" comment as a BIG compliment. I like the usual lifted golf carts but I wanted mine to look different & tried to go with the dunebuggy/beachbuggy look. We keep it at a campground at the beach in Delaware & wanted to go with that theme.

Steve.

Quinn · 06-06-2011, 08:06 PM

Cool! I like it! Does that emt tubing bend much when on the cart?

TheBucks · 06-06-2011, 08:34 PM

Thanks. The 1" roll cage is SOLID !!! It's all as solid as a rock. Even the surf rod/cooler holder that extends out front pretty far is very rigid. I haven't tried but I'm pretty sure I(200 lb) could sit on it & it probably won't budge. Trust me, we put a VERY full cooler of beverages in it at all times & it doesn't even flinch.

Steve

05-24-2011, 08:21 PM	#1
TheBucks Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Quarryville, PA Posts: 33	Budget build of an 86 Marathon Well I've enjoyed this forum for about 4 months now. What a great wealth of info & lots of great looking carts. I bought an 86 Marathon off of ebay July of last year (pink) I gave her a rattle can restoration, made a roof frame out of 1/2" EMT & had my mother-in-law make a canvas top for it (red) & we used it the rest of the summer. I then began thinking of lifting it over the winter & putting some Cub Cadet wheels & tires on I had laying around. After lifting it I wasn't satisfied. I wanted a TXT style body...Then a "BIG BAD ROLL CAGE"...Etc, Etc, Etc... anyway...I'm pretty handy & pretty resourceful. Here is what I ended up with(green). Now like I said, I had the wheels along with a couple of other things but...including buying the cart & 6 new batteries I've got 1,220.00 in it. I have a ton of pics that I took all the way through the build that are posted in photobucket if anyone is interested. Steve.

05-25-2011, 07:41 AM	#2
TheNewGuy Admin/Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 18,055	Re: Budget build of an 86 Marathon NICE!!!
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05-25-2011, 01:04 PM	#3
pocket aces Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tampa, Fl Posts: 490	Re: Budget build of an 86 Marathon Sweet!!! I like it.

05-26-2011, 07:15 PM	#4
TheBucks Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Quarryville, PA Posts: 33	Re: Budget build of an 86 Marathon Thanks for the kind words. The roll cage, push bar & surf fishing rod/cooler rack are all made out of EMT tubing. The stuff is very easy to bend & doesn't weigh alot. It's also very forgiving if you make a mistake while bending. Price is nice too...$0.17, $0.34 & $0.59 per foot for 1/2", 3/4" & 1" If you're interested in the rest of the build I discovered how to share the album so here's a link. http://s1140.photobucket.com/albums/n571/TheBucks19/

05-26-2011, 07:54 PM	#5
madoc1 no clue Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: spicewood, texas Posts: 3,308	Re: Budget build of an 86 Marathon very nice work. how did you make the txt body fit?

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05-26-2011, 08:22 PM	#6
TheBucks Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Quarryville, PA Posts: 33	Re: Budget build of an 86 Marathon I had to do some trimming of the dash once the old cowl was removed & I did some cutting & redesigning in the rear. There's a couple pics of that stuff. I wish I had taken more pics in the middle of doing things, it probably could've helped other guys trying to do the swap. It really wasn't too hard to do. Steve.

06-03-2011, 07:38 PM	#7
littlecarguy Getting Wild Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Vermont Posts: 105	Re: Budget build of an 86 Marathon Very interesting, Nice work.

06-05-2011, 02:53 PM	#8
TheBucks Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Quarryville, PA Posts: 33	Re: Budget build of an 86 Marathon Thanks again. I'm going to take the "very interesting" comment as a BIG compliment. I like the usual lifted golf carts but I wanted mine to look different & tried to go with the dunebuggy/beachbuggy look. We keep it at a campground at the beach in Delaware & wanted to go with that theme. Steve.

06-06-2011, 08:06 PM	#9
Quinn Gone Wild Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 252	Re: Budget build of an 86 Marathon Cool! I like it! Does that emt tubing bend much when on the cart?

06-06-2011, 08:34 PM	#10
TheBucks Not Yet Wild Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Quarryville, PA Posts: 33	Re: Budget build of an 86 Marathon Thanks. The 1" roll cage is SOLID !!! It's all as solid as a rock. Even the surf rod/cooler holder that extends out front pretty far is very rigid. I haven't tried but I'm pretty sure I(200 lb) could sit on it & it probably won't budge. Trust me, we put a VERY full cooler of beverages in it at all times & it doesn't even flinch. Steve

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