G1 Clone Build: Vegas Carts 440

[slonomo]

Originally Posted by Field6565

Problem is that she just got moved down the priority list. Wait until she needs you to go outside and do something for her when it's 18 degrees out and you put her off....Then you'll be in some deep $hit! I have a woodburning stove in my garage but don't always light it if I'm running out to tinker with my cart for an hour or so.

LOL! She's gonna have to wait!

Yeah I'm in the process of clearing out my workshop. I rented a storage unit so I could move all my sh** there. I laid down some concrete backer board on the wood floor of my shed/workshop, and also on the workbench. I moved all the gas cans out. Now I'm fire proof, and I can cut, grind, and weld. The workshop is 12x16 so it's not expensive to make it 50 degrees in there.

Today's task is to get the swing arm cut, stretched, and all welded up. Photos to come!

[Field6565]

Originally Posted by slonomo

LOL! She's gonna have to wait!

Yeah I'm in the process of clearing out my workshop. I rented a storage unit so I could move all my sh** there. I laid down some concrete backer board on the wood floor of my shed/workshop, and also on the workbench. I moved all the gas cans out. Now I'm fire proof, and I can cut, grind, and weld. The workshop is 12x16 so it's not expensive to make it 50 degrees in there.

Today's task is to get the swing arm cut, stretched, and all welded up. Photos to come!

Yeah, I cleaned my garage out a while back because of my BIG BLOCK project. I ended up putting my camaro in storage until April. I also got my wifes G1 in the garage also. I'm still debating on what to do with that...if anything. I would like to stretch it into a 8 seater but we will see. I don't know if I feel like getting into that after this BIG BLOCK project.

[slonomo]

Today was a good day, got the swing arm cut apart and stretched. Still have to do the final welds. I decided to stretch it 8", which will be 4" longer than the G1 swing arm. I'm hoping that will make the handling and ride a little bit better.

For the extension pipes I used 1 1/4" galvanized steel pipe from H.D. I think I spent $20 on a 10 ft section. DOM tube would have cost me over $70 by mail, which I would have paid, but I was worried about it not fitting once I got it. So I hope the steel pipe will be strong enough, it's 1/8" wall so it's pretty stout. I actually slipped the pipe all the way down inside the entire swing arm tube, so the pipes were about 34" long I think. The fit was pretty good, it wasn't as tight as I would have liked, but it fit pretty decent, only between 1/64" and 1/32" of play, not enough for me to worry.

[slonomo]

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[slonomo]

I mocked up the swing arm drop angle based on my current setup. I measured off the floor to the rear and to the front tubes of the swing arm and duplicated it on the workbench. It worked out to be 9" higher in the front.

I also welded in some angle to the stock motor mounts to retain the rubber insulators. This will be where my actual motor mount will attach to. I haven't figured out that part yet, but I'd like some way to adjust the engine front/back and side/side. The engine mount will need to have a 3.5" riser on the rear side to make the engine sit level.

I also spent some time testing out my engine mount. I used 16ga sheet steel for the test. I think it turned out pretty good. Now that I have a template, I'll get some thicker steel it I can find it. I might even use this with some 1" square tubing frame reinforcement. We'll see. It was a fun test.

[slonomo]

More of the mount.

I put the engine on the mount to see how it fit, seems pretty good.

I also had to cut the crank down 1" to get the clutch to mount up right. I also drilled the center out about another inch. I still have to tap it yet. Any tricks on tapping it? Seems like the engine wants to turn.

[slonomo]

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[geoffw]

Lookin good!

First G1 swap Ive seen so far..It outta be interesting!

[Fish4ducks]

That is looking great keep up the good work. I wish i would have went Vegas carts 440!!!!

[bokeasmowl]

Slo, I just drilled, cut and re tapped the crank on my motor last week. It took a friend and myself to tap it as the motor was wanting to turn as well. We took a long breaker bar and held the motor still by placing it between the fins in the flywheel. My flywheel is a billit aluminum one though so it might be a bit tougher for you. Get some help with it and be careful tapping and use plenty of lubricant when it's cutting new threads. We just used old motor oil. Less than a 1/4" into my crank we broke the tap, luckily it came out easy.