what year to look for?

panteramatt · 01-31-2014, 11:31 AM

Im looking for a project cart. Im going to want to lift it and put a bigger motor in it. Are there any years to look out for or that are better than others for customizing? And known problem areas to look for?

slonomo · 01-31-2014, 01:06 PM

Any of the Yamaha carts are good machines. What are you looking to do with it? Also what kind of budget are you dealing with?

slonomo · 01-31-2014, 01:17 PM

If money isn't an issue, go with something newer in really good condition. That way you aren't "repairing" things off the bat. I'd prob look for a G9 or G16 gas cart, tank the stock engine and go VC gx440 clone, or you have the money find a high horse Vanguard v twin. Def need some kind of long travel front with brakes, imho. You could build a nice cart for $3000 with bolt on parts, easy build too. It gets expensive if you want fancy paint and lots of pretty shiny stuff. Accessories are pricey too.

If you are on a budget, find a cheap G2, clone it, make a lift, and get bigger tires. Could be done for less than $2000.

panteramatt · 01-31-2014, 03:16 PM

Budget is $1500 total. I dont want to spend too much as it will be left vacant at my cabin all year long.

pachanga90 · 01-31-2014, 05:04 PM

$1500 is doable if you are fairly decent at fabrication work.My entire cart was built from the ground up with used,traded,and homebuilt parts with a bigblock for $1500.Hope this helps.

panteramatt · 01-31-2014, 06:29 PM

Yea Im fairly crafty. Got a nice welder and plasma cutter

AZZI · 01-31-2014, 06:56 PM

I built my '86 CC DS with a new VC440, new Comet 780 and new 23" Innovas for $1200 to date. I'll probably have another $200 after paint, I think that's pretty good for a reliable cart.

slonomo · 01-31-2014, 08:47 PM

With $1500 the key for you will be the cost of the cart and how many repairs it needs. Make sure you look at the underside for rust. If there is a lot of frame rust....pass on it! You can find another. I suppose if you can find a usable frame and body for $300, that would give you $1200 for mods, that could buy a lot of bolt-ons and material to fab your own lift etc.

Good luck!

sho305 · 01-31-2014, 09:15 PM

You can do it cheap if you shop around. You will have to get a cart cheap, you need a 4 stroke if you want to put another engine in or you will not have reverse. Yamaha that is G2 or G9 they are about the same the 9 is early 90s the 2 older I think 91 is the year they changed but differences are minimal. If you can find a G16 or newer in your budget that is great. If you make the lift yourself that would save you. Wheels and tires you have to buy, though you might find used for a deal. If you can find an atv front cheap you can fab those on for a front. Depends on how far you want to go with it. Look up 'yamaha timeline golf cart' and it will show the yami carts, higher number is newer year. They like to rust under the battery, the steering can get clapped out, the motor can start burning oil and smoke, the clutches can wear out...when they get tons of hours on them.

panteramatt · 01-31-2014, 09:25 PM

What about the g8?

01-31-2014, 11:31 AM	#1
panteramatt Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: South Jersey Posts: 623	what year to look for? Im looking for a project cart. Im going to want to lift it and put a bigger motor in it. Are there any years to look out for or that are better than others for customizing? And known problem areas to look for?

01-31-2014, 01:06 PM	#2
slonomo Searching for The Way Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Medina, Ohio (NEOHIO) Posts: 11,441	Re: what year to look for? Any of the Yamaha carts are good machines. What are you looking to do with it? Also what kind of budget are you dealing with?

01-31-2014, 01:17 PM	#3
slonomo Searching for The Way Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Medina, Ohio (NEOHIO) Posts: 11,441	Re: what year to look for? If money isn't an issue, go with something newer in really good condition. That way you aren't "repairing" things off the bat. I'd prob look for a G9 or G16 gas cart, tank the stock engine and go VC gx440 clone, or you have the money find a high horse Vanguard v twin. Def need some kind of long travel front with brakes, imho. You could build a nice cart for $3000 with bolt on parts, easy build too. It gets expensive if you want fancy paint and lots of pretty shiny stuff. Accessories are pricey too. If you are on a budget, find a cheap G2, clone it, make a lift, and get bigger tires. Could be done for less than $2000.

01-31-2014, 03:16 PM	#4
panteramatt Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: South Jersey Posts: 623	Re: what year to look for? Budget is $1500 total. I dont want to spend too much as it will be left vacant at my cabin all year long.

01-31-2014, 05:04 PM	#5
pachanga90 I Refuse To Get Stuck!!! Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Hilton,NY Posts: 5,427	Re: what year to look for? $1500 is doable if you are fairly decent at fabrication work.My entire cart was built from the ground up with used,traded,and homebuilt parts with a bigblock for $1500.Hope this helps.

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01-31-2014, 06:29 PM	#6
panteramatt Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: South Jersey Posts: 623	Re: what year to look for? Yea Im fairly crafty. Got a nice welder and plasma cutter

01-31-2014, 06:56 PM	#7
AZZI Gone Wild Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Clermont, Fl. Posts: 196	Re: what year to look for? I built my '86 CC DS with a new VC440, new Comet 780 and new 23" Innovas for $1200 to date. I'll probably have another $200 after paint, I think that's pretty good for a reliable cart.

01-31-2014, 08:47 PM	#8
slonomo Searching for The Way Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Medina, Ohio (NEOHIO) Posts: 11,441	Re: what year to look for? With $1500 the key for you will be the cost of the cart and how many repairs it needs. Make sure you look at the underside for rust. If there is a lot of frame rust....pass on it! You can find another. I suppose if you can find a usable frame and body for $300, that would give you $1200 for mods, that could buy a lot of bolt-ons and material to fab your own lift etc. Good luck!

01-31-2014, 09:15 PM	#9
sho305 Vegas modded 420 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: West MI Posts: 15,445	Re: what year to look for? You can do it cheap if you shop around. You will have to get a cart cheap, you need a 4 stroke if you want to put another engine in or you will not have reverse. Yamaha that is G2 or G9 they are about the same the 9 is early 90s the 2 older I think 91 is the year they changed but differences are minimal. If you can find a G16 or newer in your budget that is great. If you make the lift yourself that would save you. Wheels and tires you have to buy, though you might find used for a deal. If you can find an atv front cheap you can fab those on for a front. Depends on how far you want to go with it. Look up 'yamaha timeline golf cart' and it will show the yami carts, higher number is newer year. They like to rust under the battery, the steering can get clapped out, the motor can start burning oil and smoke, the clutches can wear out...when they get tons of hours on them.

01-31-2014, 09:25 PM	#10
panteramatt Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: South Jersey Posts: 623	Re: what year to look for? What about the g8?

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