1/4 Scale Model T Firetruck Go Kart Project

[theastronaut]

We started on this project about two months ago. It was built pretty cheaply and had all hand controls- throttle/brakes/clutch. The owner wanted it updated with normal foot brakes/throttle, and electric start engine, and wanted the body/frame restored. He also wants working lights, a bell, engine cover, ladders, hose reel, and a tail board on the back.


Here's a cart we borrowed for reference that was made by the same company. It's newer than the one we are restoring and has some updates already.





And this is the one we'll be restoring. I forgot to get good overall shots.







Wood spoke wheels.




3hp Briggs engine, hand operated belt drive.




Fenders are fiberglass and are in rough shape. We've found NOS boards and they're supposed to ship today.




Tin can "headlights" that will be replaced with chrome housings with 4" clear H3 fog lights.




Hand throttle.




The "grill" was painted dots. We'll make a real grill insert.

[theastronaut]

After tear down, blasting the body panels, and prepping the panels for high build primer.




We built a new rear cab panel to make it a single seater. The hump in the back rest made it pretty uncomfortable for anyone over 7 years old.




Electric start Honda GX160 engine.

[theastronaut]

Grill opening cut out.




Stainless mesh for the grill insert.




Insert backed with a piece of steel painted flat black.




Assembled in the grill. We'll have the grill surround nickel plated.




Building a new frame from 1.25 x .125 wall square tubing. The old frame was too far gone to reuse, and it was less work to start fresh instead of modifying the old frame. The old frame was angle iron so it was a lot weaker too.




The original wheels were wood spoke and they wouldn't have held up to the bigger engine for long. We found a source for aluminum spoke wheels that bolt to kart hubs that will work perfectly. The casting texture was uneven so we sprayed a light/dry coat of SEM Texture Coating to even out the surface. They'll be painted a medium cast color, with a polished rim and center hub.






Made tubular steel suspension pieces for the steering and front axle radius rods using .058" DOM tubing and weld in rod ends with L/R hand chromoly heim joints.

[theastronaut]

Hydraulic disc brake parts.






New smooth rear cab panel.




New floor pan.




Made a curved headlight bar. It's hollow tube so we can hide the wires inside it.




Test color/texture for the wheels.




5" chrome fog lights to use as the headlights. We bought 3 watt LED bulbs to keep the strain on the battery to a minimum.

[theastronaut]

Been awhile since I updated this. Got the body/frame painted and assembled. Dad is going to do the upholstery next. We have lengthened the stock engine wiring harness and separated the switch from the original switch box. Still a ton of little details to address before it's finished.








Nickel plated grill shell with polished stainless mesh insert.




We mounted the engine and axle on a cradle so it can all be removed easily. The only things that will have to be disconnected are the gas/brake linkage rods and the wiring harness.




Body was assembled with polished stainless button head bolts.




Solid axle, lightweight sprocket, slotted brake rotor, and braided stainless brake flex hose. Can't talk the owner into 8" wide kart slicks!

[Tom Vogel]

Wow.

[Bishops Trucks]

Thats awesome. Should be a real head turner driving that around.

[flashed]

Very nice ,I like it.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Do y'all do anything that isn't incredibly awesome?

Love it.

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by Tom Vogel

Wow.

Originally Posted by Bishops Trucks

Thats awesome. Should be a real head turner driving that around.

Originally Posted by flashed

Very nice ,I like it.

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Do y'all do anything that isn't incredibly awesome?

Love it.

Thanks!!!

[Keith Seymore]

Wow. At this point you shoulda stretched the wheelbase and put a Chevy small block in it...



Seriously though, Looks great!

K

[Low Elco]

That's tight! I'd have to have mine slammed on turf tires in the back. Too cool.

[theastronaut]

Small update, built stainless bumpers for it and mounted the headlight bar.

[theastronaut]

Pretty much finished with the headlight bar. Its hollow so the wires will be hidden inside. I notched the stem of the headlights so the wires can go through the side of the stem instead of out the bottom. I'll use a chrome acorn nut and washer on the bottom for more of a finished look. The bar will be nickel plated to match the grill.






The owner decided that he wanted a truck bed for it so I made a cardboard template to check the size and proportions. It looks a little long in the picture but it's actually shorter than the original Model T beds. I made a shorter version but it didn't "fit" so I kept adding to the length until we all agreed on it.

[Clyde65]

I like the pickup bed better than the car.....but I am also biased.

[dalbers]

That thing is awesome!

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

I like the pickup bed better than the car.....but I am also biased.

The title of the thread is "model T firetruck" !

Love the headlight bar!

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

I like the pickup bed better than the car.....but I am also biased.

It definitely needed something to finish off the rear.

Originally Posted by dalbers

That thing is awesome!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

The title of the thread is "model T firetruck" !

Love the headlight bar!

Thanks, the headlight bar is off to the chrome shop to be nickel plated to match the grill.

[RyanHammon]

That is coming out really good! I have one just like it

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by RyanHammon

That is coming out really good! I have one just like it

Nice!!


The headlight bar is back from the chrome shop and I've started making the bed sides.

[scotts72heavyhalf]

Beautiful work!