My dad is a Shrine clown and as part of his parade "act" he drives a small go cart. He has plans to build a wooden body on to the cart to make it look like a small fire truck, which blends in with his clown character. Friends of his have done the same thing but personalized for their characters and it's worked well. They just build a frame on the cart, cover it with G1S plywood, bondo the seams, paint and decorate as they see fit. The only "problem" is that every couple of years they need to redo the body, or at least the seams and paint, just due to normal wear and such.

I was thinking, there should be no reason why, once he gets the body built, that we couldn't just cover it all with fiberglass and epoxy the heck out of it, isn't there? I was watching a show this afternoon where they build a wooden canoe and then coated it with fiberglass with three coats of the epoxy.
If there is anyone who has worked in fiberglass before, can you confirm that this makes sense or not? Also, once it's coated and the fiberglass has dried and cured is there any reason why it couldn't be painted?

I just think this would make for a much more professional looking product and one that is more durable as well.

Thoughts?

The show was telling the truth,it's a great method and yes it can be sanded and painted.
You could take this method further and build your parts from styrofoam.Glue the pieces together with Liquid Nails,shape them with 36 grit sandpaper,and coat with fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin.Then sand smooth,apply bondo and sand that smooth,prime and paint.That's how the pro's build custom car body parts.

I am building a shifter go cart on a tag frame put a kx 250 motor on it almost done just need to work on the shifter any ideas?

turn the shifter that's on the engine either up or down, and run a rod from it to where you want your shifter to be, and put whatever your using for the shifter, connect the rod to it—you can use threaded rod and heim joints on both ends—sounds like fun, always wanted to do that !!!

I am trying to build a go cart frame thats able to handle a 600cc engine, what size welder am I going to need?

A standard wire welder that runs off 110 volts should do the trick. They set on a bench top and don't cost an arm and a leg.

My freind and i have already build a frame and completed the body. We have no idea if we should use an electric motor or a gas one. I thought electric would be better because gas prices have gotten much higher and you could charge the battery overnight with no problem. So i am mostly interested in electric engines how much horsepower should it have??? Please in need help on which brand to buy ans what model of engine. Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you would be far better off with a gas engine. The cost of an electric engine, to push that would be too much… I'd suggest looking for a gas engine, they are cheaper in the long run

I have a 6.5hp horizontal shaft engine and a $150 budget. I have a picture of what i would like the final shape to be. (a reverse trike frame steering in the front rear wheel drive and if possible it be a 2 seater [300lb capacity]) any help would be great. If you think i need a bigger motor to have that capacity please say so.

That motor is fine. It won’t be a speed demon but it will move decently fast.

I had gotten a brand new 6.5 HP Engine and a Three wheeler frame that i am putting a golf cart front axle in the front. Thats all i got

Being able to weld is a +.

You will need metal for connections and reinforcements.

Brakes

Clutch and drive system.

Etc.

http://www.mfgsupply.com/GoMini.html/mv_session_id=w4PERLjp

the motor is 5.0 hp has a sideways shaft and 2 good sprockets on the drive if i get a frame without wheels can someone tell me what else i need to buy and maybe the cost?

http://www.gokartgalaxy.com/

http://www.diyden.net/

You'll need a steering system, brakes, tires, wheels, shocks?, axles, etc….may run a few hundred up to several hundred or more depending on how available they are. Some guys modify old lawn tractors or cobble parts from them.

I can't wield and I have like no money. I'm only 14. I want to build a metal go cart with a frame that goes over the head. Any ideas?
I can't wield and I have like no money. I'm only 14. I want to build a metal go cart with a frame that goes over the head. Any ideas? Also, do I buy the engine or make it?

14 AND NO MONEY… hardly an ideal start. Do you have parents, Uncles; a buddy in an auto body shop or junk yard?

No real offense meant; but the task sounds pretty daunting. It also reminds me of my first and only downhill racer. Long before GO KARTS were considered.

It was a 1x 12 pine plank salvaged, with salvaged baby carriage wheels, 2 x 4's rope a broom handle shaft, a seat; and could beat any other in town.

My friend and I want to build a go cart and we have a frame and a 14hp riding lawnmower engine. We don't know how to make this work. We don't want to spend very much money but we want it to be a pretty freakin awesome go-cart. If anyone knows how to complete our project please leave an answer or e-mail me. Thanks alot!

i would use the rear drive axle from the mower you got it from, and usually their are the two pulleys that the mower used from the drive, the one on the engine side is usually a smaller one and the axle side is a bigger one. switch those two around, or if that is too low of a ratio, i.e. the motor doesnt have enough power to drive it, get two pulleys of the same size, preferably using the size of the bigger pulley. plus that way, it shouldnt matter though cause you would have the gear selector from the mower, it should work in the lower gears.

Aluminum would not be strong enough.