If you had to do it all again....

rjc799 · 05-23-2012, 03:46 PM

Since this is my very first cart and I have no clue/experience in fixing/improving this cart, I guess I would like some input from all of the "Old Salts" (sorry, retired Navy Seabee and couldn't help myself) as to some hints or strategies to make my process go smoother.

So far, I know that I need:
- a battery
- positive battery cable
- solenoid (since this is where the battery cable rusted away from)

What I have learned thus far:
- HEI conversion (not exactly sure what the benefits are, but people seemed to be pleased with it)
- If I get too far and the motor is shot, possible replace it with this (http://www.harborfreight.com/engines...nia-69464.html), but I will need a 4 cycle rear end???
- parts for this are hard to find.

rjc799 · 05-24-2012, 05:12 AM

wow, 54 views and nothing.....

Unforgiven · 05-24-2012, 09:01 AM

Well,...I like the Marathons Not that crazy about the front but the rear fenders are cool. I have been looking for one (a deal) for about 6 months now. I'm sure you want to make it safer for the kids and usable. So that's where i would start.

I been reading and searching for a while now. I plan on taking a ezgo putting a honda 300ex suspension under front (already purchased). Then i'm going to put a atv motor trans in it. Shifter on floor,..neutral, reverse lights in dash etc. You can read for hours in the BigBlock section and get alot of good ideas.

look around figure out what you want it to do and look like then see what you need to make it happen,.....first pic I like,.....next what i had,.....what i ended up with,...

rjc799 · 05-24-2012, 11:16 AM

Thanks for the input! I hadn't heard of putting a hoonda 300ex suspension under the front. Is there a lot of fab work?

Unforgiven · 05-24-2012, 11:54 AM

not really,.....there are a few builds on here

do a search on 300ex or look around in Big Block section

I used a Honda Foreman as a donor,...besides having to refab the a-arms it was not that hard of a job. 8 bolts and mine is pulled out.

AirJunky · 05-24-2012, 12:09 PM

I did a Marathon, had fun with it, learned a LOT. It was basically 2 winters of projects, and 2 summers of use.

But after I blew up the rear diff in it, I decided I was more interested in buying one that fit my wish list a bit better. I used various search utilities to search Craigslist for terms like "lifted cart honda" and "lifted cart briggs". I decided I was going to buy something that was already built with hopefully most of the features I wanted... seating for 4, a big block engine, cage, IFS, long travel rear, ATV tires, etc. I found several for under $4k, some with more or less of the options I wanted. Then found I could get it shipped home using a carrier on Uship.com for only a few hundred bucks. So I just needed to find "the" cart with a cooperative seller & maybe in a city where I knew someone who would go look at it for me. I lucked out & found a cart in Phoenix where I found they build these type of carts all the time. It had everything but the LT rear & the seller was really cool about working with me. Coincidentally I had helped coordinate the sale of a SkySki hydrofoil from a buddy here in the NW to a guy who lived in Phoenix..... and both these guys were into hopped up carts too. So I made a few phone calls, he went & looked at the cart for me, test drove it, gave me his honest opinion on it, and I ended up buying it. After a couple weeks it was delivered home & I got my first look at it. I have since changed up the seating on it (front seats were too high, added a rear flip seat), welded up the cage (it was a noisy 5 pc bolt together), added a winch, stereo, disc brakes, rear tow receiver, etc. I paid under $5k (including shipping) and have added maybe another $500 to it. And the cart does way more than my old Marathon (which I probably had $3000 into), goes faster, pulls a trailer, hauls people, safer, etc.

Before the Marathon I had an Arctic Cat 650 V2 ATV..... badass quad, no doubt. Fast, tough, went thru everything. But I couldn't drive it down to our beach, or drive it around town. I can drive this cart most anywhere I want in town, gets around in the sand good, tows great, even does OK in the snow. I haven't tortured it in the mud at all, and I suspect it would not do all that great as it's only 1 wheel drive & the engine & belt are very exposed. But the fact that I get to play with it most places around my home & don't have to trailer it anywhere to use it.... thats huge.

rjc799 · 05-25-2012, 08:15 AM

SO you had one built? That is not in my budget.

I am looking more for the DON'T DO THIS.... THIS WAY IS BETTER type things.

I would like to think I learn from my mistakes, but learning from someone else is MUCH CHEAPER.

AirJunky · 05-25-2012, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjc799

SO you had one built? That is not in my budget.

I am looking more for the DON'T DO THIS.... THIS WAY IS BETTER type things.

I would like to think I learn from my mistakes, but learning from someone else is MUCH CHEAPER.

No, I bought a used cart...... that was already built in a way that is proven successful........ using a model & year cart that still has tons of stock & aftermarket parts available, using an engine & suspension that is successfully run by many members in this forum. I definitely spent more than my old cart build..... but no where near as much as the ATV. And I think in the end I learned a bit & have a good platform to build on.

rjc799 · 05-25-2012, 10:20 AM

Oh, okay. Sorry for the misunderstanding. That is probably a really good way to get close to what you are looking for without spending a ton doing it.

I bought mine for REALLY cheap and am just trying to make something out of nothing. It will be a great experience for the kids and I.

AirJunky · 05-25-2012, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjc799

I bought mine for REALLY cheap and am just trying to make something out of nothing. It will be a great experience for the kids and I.

True dat!

I did the same thing with my first cart. I think I paid less than $500 for it. Over the course of a couple years I spend 4 or 5 times that. Learned a boatload doing it. Just ended up deciding that I was taking the long way to get where I wanted to be.

Have fun with your project.

05-23-2012, 03:46 PM	#1
rjc799 Gone Wild Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SouthEastern VA Posts: 406	If you had to do it all again.... Since this is my very first cart and I have no clue/experience in fixing/improving this cart, I guess I would like some input from all of the "Old Salts" (sorry, retired Navy Seabee and couldn't help myself) as to some hints or strategies to make my process go smoother. So far, I know that I need: - a battery - positive battery cable - solenoid (since this is where the battery cable rusted away from) What I have learned thus far: - HEI conversion (not exactly sure what the benefits are, but people seemed to be pleased with it) - If I get too far and the motor is shot, possible replace it with this (http://www.harborfreight.com/engines...nia-69464.html), but I will need a 4 cycle rear end??? - parts for this are hard to find.

05-24-2012, 05:12 AM	#2
rjc799 Gone Wild Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SouthEastern VA Posts: 406	Re: If you had to do it all again.... wow, 54 views and nothing.....

05-24-2012, 11:16 AM	#4
rjc799 Gone Wild Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SouthEastern VA Posts: 406	Re: If you had to do it all again.... Thanks for the input! I hadn't heard of putting a hoonda 300ex suspension under the front. Is there a lot of fab work?

05-24-2012, 12:09 PM	#6
AirJunky Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Liberty Lake, WA. Posts: 1,762	Re: If you had to do it all again.... I did a Marathon, had fun with it, learned a LOT. It was basically 2 winters of projects, and 2 summers of use. But after I blew up the rear diff in it, I decided I was more interested in buying one that fit my wish list a bit better. I used various search utilities to search Craigslist for terms like "lifted cart honda" and "lifted cart briggs". I decided I was going to buy something that was already built with hopefully most of the features I wanted... seating for 4, a big block engine, cage, IFS, long travel rear, ATV tires, etc. I found several for under $4k, some with more or less of the options I wanted. Then found I could get it shipped home using a carrier on Uship.com for only a few hundred bucks. So I just needed to find "the" cart with a cooperative seller & maybe in a city where I knew someone who would go look at it for me. I lucked out & found a cart in Phoenix where I found they build these type of carts all the time. It had everything but the LT rear & the seller was really cool about working with me. Coincidentally I had helped coordinate the sale of a SkySki hydrofoil from a buddy here in the NW to a guy who lived in Phoenix..... and both these guys were into hopped up carts too. So I made a few phone calls, he went & looked at the cart for me, test drove it, gave me his honest opinion on it, and I ended up buying it. After a couple weeks it was delivered home & I got my first look at it. I have since changed up the seating on it (front seats were too high, added a rear flip seat), welded up the cage (it was a noisy 5 pc bolt together), added a winch, stereo, disc brakes, rear tow receiver, etc. I paid under $5k (including shipping) and have added maybe another $500 to it. And the cart does way more than my old Marathon (which I probably had $3000 into), goes faster, pulls a trailer, hauls people, safer, etc. Before the Marathon I had an Arctic Cat 650 V2 ATV..... badass quad, no doubt. Fast, tough, went thru everything. But I couldn't drive it down to our beach, or drive it around town. I can drive this cart most anywhere I want in town, gets around in the sand good, tows great, even does OK in the snow. I haven't tortured it in the mud at all, and I suspect it would not do all that great as it's only 1 wheel drive & the engine & belt are very exposed. But the fact that I get to play with it most places around my home & don't have to trailer it anywhere to use it.... thats huge.

05-25-2012, 08:15 AM	#7
rjc799 Gone Wild Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SouthEastern VA Posts: 406	Re: If you had to do it all again.... SO you had one built? That is not in my budget. I am looking more for the DON'T DO THIS.... THIS WAY IS BETTER type things. I would like to think I learn from my mistakes, but learning from someone else is MUCH CHEAPER.

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05-25-2012, 10:20 AM	#9
rjc799 Gone Wild Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: SouthEastern VA Posts: 406	Re: If you had to do it all again.... Oh, okay. Sorry for the misunderstanding. That is probably a really good way to get close to what you are looking for without spending a ton doing it. I bought mine for REALLY cheap and am just trying to make something out of nothing. It will be a great experience for the kids and I.