New Guy...If you had to do it again what would you do differently, Fresh build

dbla

Hey everyone, the family and I moved to the beach (OBX) a year ago and I've been trolling on and off here for about a year with the plans to get a Club Car precedent to run around the neighborhood and take down to the beach as a Street legal car. The information I have gotten from you guys is awesome but has probably raised as many questions as it has answered. I'm new to this forum but will try to avoid typical NEWB questions since I have had plenty of time on car forums. That being said I have way less time to read through forums these days like I used to and I'm sure I've missed some stuff

Just as a background when we moved here I sold both of my Track cars, a spec E46 and a E30 endurance race car. I was performance driving instructor and turned all my own wrenches. I prefer sockets to wires when it comes to DIY stuff. The main reason I mention this is because the one thing I did learn with cars is that if you can future proof you should. I also know that even though I say 23 mph will be plenty for what I need I will want more power soon.

This is where I would love the help of people that have likely been there before.

Here is my plan and I hope you guys can tell me where I need better direction or if I'm on target.

Base: Club Car Precedent (need alum frame since we live at the beach) I'm still not sure what year to shoot for. Since I plan to replace the majority of stuff do I go 2010 or does the ERIC charger make enough difference to go for 2014...I need advice here. I've sourced a 2010 at a club car dealership for $1700

Parts list to do my own build
1.) New Trojan batteries
2.) ScottyB's Alltrax XCT48500 / 400 solenoid 2 gauge cable kit ( I like to support forum supporters and a lot of my questions have previously been answered by his response to post. I don't "plan" to replace the motor right now but I know I'm going to at some point... who am I kidding
3.) 6" lift double A Arm Jakes or Madjax - here again plus or minus for either is helpful
4.) upgraded HD rear leafs
5.) 14" wheels with AT tires
6.) Max5 rear seat gen 300 for aluminum again due to the salt
7.) Full length canopy - madjax has the optional alum braces here too
8.) LED street legal light kit with signal horn etc
9.) Front and rear seatbelt kit
10) side mirrors
11) Probably a new windshield
12) single point battery watering system.
13) I think I'll need a 48-12 voltage reducer as well for the lights

I've had experience vinyl wrapping my race cars and plan to take the body of the older cart I buy and wrap it with vinyl to save $ and open some cool options like a matte finish.

the only thing I cant find except for the dealership is the comfort seats. from what I understand the Max5 seat is pretty much the Club Car rear seat but I haven't seen the comfort seats for sale in any of the part websites.

I would love the Onwards front cowl more for a cleaner front end but it sounds like that has shown to be unobtainable in previous posts.

are there sponsors that have unlisted discounts? I'm set up to put in some pretty big orders and stand to save a bunch hopefully.


What am I missing?

are there other things to replace preventatively?

Am I an idiot to tackle the electrical stuff not being a big fan. The instructions and videos I have watched have given me confidence.

The local Club car dealer quoted me $6900 (2014 Donor precedent) for pretty much everything I listed minus the stuff from ScottyB

my math has me closer to $5500 with the power upgrades if I do it all myself with the $1700 2010 precedent

I love projects...my wife doesn't like more projects. She is also due with our 2nd boy in September. This is where the existential question is

Thanks Guys!

Aaron

BGW

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Mooncarter

Hello Aaron. Welcome to BGW!

Sounds like you have a plan. Just a couple (minor) things.

You may want to check and see if NC requires a windshield wiper and/or front brakes. Also, a lot of experienced guys and pros don't much care for automatic watering systems.

Welcome again and good luck with your build. Please keep us posted, with photos of course!

dbla

Thanks! I had wondered about the watering system since I don't see them mentioned. The NC laws are interesting. Technically, you need a VIN in NC for street legal cars but things are pretty lax here I've talked with a few police officers through work or in the neighbor hood who say that some would give you a hard time but most wont as long as you have the safety stuff like, mirrors belts and signals.

Mooncarter

Yep. Same up the street here. See them all the time. (VA Beach)

jonr3

Yep, NC laws require 4 wheel brakes, windshield wiper, VIN, insurance, etc. - basically everything a car needs. I just got back from Carolina Beach - 1 of 3 places in NC that has an exemption to allow carts on the road without the full NCDOT requirements (must have seat belts, lights, mirror, turn signals, liability insurance).

Just a thought... My cart does about 20 mph on a flat surface and I found out that it's WAY too slow for driving on the roads. I had to keep pulling over to let cars go around me. I feel much safer on my motorcycles going with traffic than I do going slow in the cart. We're going back in a couple of months and by then it should do around 30 - enough to at least keep up with the flow of traffic.

dundeebarnbuggy

Not sure how much experience you have had with salt, but salt LOVES aluminum too, though it is a LITTLE slower to devour it. If you want your buggy to last, plan on a rust/corrosion treatment routine [or just keep your carriage off the beach]

E36Racer

Dbla, seems like you are on the right track. However have you considered lithium instead of LA since your rebuilding the entire cart anyway? I understand your not a big electrical guy, but they really are not that difficult to wire up. Much easier than dissecting unused wires out of a BMW body harness.


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Lochlin

Is lithium even an option at this point? It seems that every time a lithium pack goes up for sale it's gone within seconds. I want to do it but can't find the &^%$# batteries!

Regarding carts, CC made a street legal cart called a "Pathway" in the early 2000s that had 4 wheel brakes, turn signals, seat belts, windshield wiper, horn, etc. as standard. I have one. All they are are DS' with a bunch of bells and whistles. They aren't easy to find but something you might want to consider.

hipower

Wasn't the LX street legal and manufactured later than 2000?

E36Racer

Lithium is always an option. Batteries are available, just maybe not readily available 24/7/365. If you look on eBay they are around. Plus word on the street is that EV does have cells in stock but will only sell under the caveat that no tech supported offered so you are totally on your own. However all of the tech support you need to build a leaf pack is right here on BGW. Frankly, the most complex part is the tap harness for the BMS. But once you grasp the concept of how the tap harness works it’s relatively simple, just a lot of wires. Wire it up and check it all with a meter before plugging the tap harness into the BMS. If one of the connections is off it will jump right out.

With that said, the only person I would recommend not building a lithium pack themselves is someone who either does not own a digital multimeter or doesn’t know how to use one. I’m willing to bet over 95% of the BGW members have a DVM and know how to use it.


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